Travelogues Books

I would highly recommend this book to anyone planning a trip to the Everest region. Loved the book, only wish I could get a hard cover version.

Some years ago, I travelled through Nepal, but didn't take as many splendid photos as Tim Hauf, the author of Solu-Khumbu: The Trek to Everest. His book brings all my own travel experiences back most vividly, as well as simultaneously taking my breath away. The author's diary notes bring the physical hardships of travelling in those remote areas precisely up front and personal (to say the least regarding "GI" interruptions!). It was a treat to view his photos, as they made me feel I was walking right along side of the author, seeing and feeling with all my senses all that those haunting and mesmerizing mountains and Nepal's friendly people offer to the Western trekker. I'm too old, now, to attempt that kind of travel, but I open this book and lo and behold, I'm "on the road, again."

Kudos to Tim Hauf, and a heartfelt "thanks for the memories".

The author has captured, perfectly, the land and people of eastern Nepal. This is a photo journal one can read over and over with great pleasure.

My husband and I made the trek to Everest three years in a row and like another reviewer said, Tim took the pictures we wish we'd taken. We started out treks in Lukla and the pictures made us wish we had started in Jiri. The text is excellent, but the photos are incredible. They show just what the trek is like and we've gone thru the book several times since we received it, reliving the three most memorable vacations of our long lives. I would recommend this book to anyone who has made the trek and to anyone who would like to!

This is a personal tale of the approach to Mount Everest rather than the often told climb of Everest. In this the author gives the reader a feeling of the Himalayan people, the livestyles of those generous and courageous helpers to the trekker. By sharing his own story of trekking alongside his gorgeous photos, Tim gives the reader a personal excursion without the toil. The reader celebrates the end of those 29 days of trekking as a heroic act that he also has just completed. I can't recommend this book highly enough, and I am not a trekker!

Many Americans know Washington Irving as the author of "the Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and "Rip Van Winkle". Few realize that he was also a world traveler, scholarly fluent in Arabic and Spanish and something of an Hispanophile, to the say least.
Irving's book is largely responsible for the widespread romantic image of Spain. It is a collection of observation, history, fairy tale, written in Irving's unique blend of romanticism and healthy skepticism. It is roughly framed by his journey to the Alhambra and his departure from it, an in between we are given a tour of the grounds and hear a few tales (including tales of Moorish ghosts on headless horses) which are roughly intertwined as in the Arabian Nights. Indeed, this little book is the 'Arabian Nights' of the west.
Before visit the Alhambra read this book. If you are not planning on going, read it and you'll probably change your mind.

I am a Moor and I relate to the stories well. The stories reminded me of the things to avoid for the things that will come. A Moorish Empire will rise again.
Irving starts with his personal journey then he has several stories of gallant and modest characters which makes you feel your in the garden or the palace. It brings back what love was and how it should be. I really like the story of the Father striving to keep his son from learning about love. I know no matter what you do you can never lock love away because of its power and its vast estate one would have to know it is impossible. This is a worth while reader for anyone who knows and wants the best from humanity for it is the Moors who created civilization and it is their station to restore it.

On 7/24/04 through Amazon Marketplace I purchased this used book.
It arrived within the week and was excellently packed and shipped by bea4books@yahoo.com. A lovely "Thanks for Buying!" note was included with the invoice. The book is in very good condition with wonderful pictures. A surprise was that it had belonged to the Austin Public Library - a favorite city of mine. I'll be ordering more through you! Thank you.

Washington Irving is credited with bringing the glorious history and unbelievable beauty of the Alhambra, in the city of Granada, (the last stronghold of the Moors in the South of Spain) to Western conciousness.

After spending a day at the Alhambra last Summer, and passing by the closed apartments that he occupied, I decided to listen to his book while driving one hour each way to work. (any short trips won't work because all of the 'tales' are lengthy)

My title says it all. If you are a student of dry history this book is not for you. Only about 20-30 minutes will satisfy your curiosity for the facts. If you enjoy legend and lore this book is it. The bulk of the book tells numerous stories of princes and princeses, kings and soldiers, common laborers such as mule drivers and water carriers, loves found and loves lost, and especially the perrenial human lust for long lost and buried treasure, etc., all told with a wonderous style and feel for southern Spain of the 13-th to 15-th centuries.

The factual account of how Columbus finally came to agreement with Isabella and Ferdinand to sign the contract for the three ships, almost by chance in 1492, while the two sovereigns were outside Granada laying the final siege of the Alhambra fortress, is mind blowing. History came 'that close' to having Columbus sail three French ships instead of the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria.

If you want just the facts, look elsewhere. But if you are planning a trip to Granada and the Alhambra, definitely pick up this book, along with a second, more fact based, and give a read or listen. I wish I had done that before my trip. It would have given much more life and enjoyment to the place as I walked through the various rooms and towers and gardens that Irving so lovingly describes.

This wonderful book written by a well-loved American author details his travels in Spain, and more specifically in the Castle Alhambra. These tales are delightful, and seemlessly weave from fact to fiction to history to folklore. It is a true travel log, done oh so many years ago, and done with Irving's whimcical and enchanting style. The sketches give a good description of Spain and travel in the early 1800's. Older children and adolescents would probably enjoy these sketches.

At first I thought it was very difficult to listen to. I got throught the first CD and put it aside.

I want to know where he found this trip and how much did it cost because I would like to do this too. Anyone else know?

Anyhow, yet again there is always a twist and I have found not be the emotional type when it comes to hard times but once on my own and thinking about it I feel bad for when good people pass on because there are so many other nasty people that we could do without.

I wish I was more like Dana none the less. I am not optomistic at all.

Anyhow in the end the book was very good and yes I would say read/listen to it.....Also, I still want to know where you found this trip at.

I commute 4x a week to work, which is roughly 130 miles round trip (but very worth every mile), and I am always looking for books on CD to listen to on the ride. This story was wonderful to listen to; it made the drive fly by. I found myself excited to get in my car for my trip back and forth, just to hear the next chapter and adventure. The stories of Nicholas Sparks' childhood were my favorite part.

Excellent memoir. Kept my attention the entire book and you really felt for the characters. I love all of Nicholas Sparks' fiction books, but this one, you got to know Nicholas Sparks' and read about his interesting life. My husband loved it, too. Very, very good read. Highly recommend!

As i was traveling with my boyfriend to Florida to visit with my family i acciedntly bought this book. i meant to buy something else by Nicholas Sparks but it just so happens that is was Three weeks with my brother. I dont not have any brothers and up until this point i didnt think that the realastionships between brothers and sisters could be so close. I loved how this book tied in the relationship that the two brothers had as well as the relationship with the whole family. I myself have not done too much traveling around the world and loved the insight that the book gave me. I actually have looked into a trip to see some of the locations that the two brothers went to.
This book was very inspirational. It allowed me to want to connect more with my family as well as my surroundings. I loved it......

It took me a while to get into the autobiography of Nicholas Sparks, but if you can get past the beginning, it is a very emotional story. I listened to it while I was driving and I was tearing up a few times, which isn't too good while driving, LOL. I think this would actually make a good movie.

Great Book! Highly recommended. I read it in once sitting. Great pics as well. Would I do it... no way!!! I agree with the author... he definitely has determination (and guts)!!!

Very interesting description of his adventures through the heart of Africa. It encourages me to strike out for the wilds.

I read this book in-flight on my way to Africa. It kept me entertained for much of the trip. The text is well written, informative with a touch of humour (as is evident from the title). There are many photos which bring life to the adventure. I highly recommend it.

Traveling by car through Europe to Africa is something that would be difficult to do today, but it is interesting to read what the author experienced and how the people lived. It encourages me to travel in challenging places.

I have always been interested in Africa, and I found the day-to-day journal account of the journey to be really interesting. I would recommend it highly.

Thie is a good book for those traveling to Czech Republic to understand the culture.

A great read, even if you've never even thought about setting foot inside the Czech Republic. David Farley's tale of a traditional pig slaughter gone wrong is hysterical--right up there with David Sedaris' best work; Jessie Sholl's story of meeting her future husband is sweetly romantic; and Paulina Porizkova (the model, actress and author of A Model Summer) shares the funny story of her return to her home country as a celebrity after leaving in exile as a child. Many more tales are included; all are worth reading. If this is representative of the rest of the Travelers' Tales books, I'll be picking up more in the series.

I've never been to Prague, but traveled there by way of this book. David Farley deftly weaves together the contributors' essays about a city and state of mind that inhabits the dreams of many.... Some of the topics and styles didn't pull me in immediately, but the feel of the book elevated them to a perfect place- like puzzle pieces fitting together and revealing a wondrous landscape, language and outlook.

Okay. Add this to your shopping cart and then check out my book: [...]

The Travelers' Tales destination books provide a fully-rounded picture of a destination and this Prague and the Czech Republic goes down like a pint of good pilsner. Despite story angles that are all over the map---in a good way---the chosen essays are consistently good in a way that's usually hard to pull off over the course of an entire collection. This is probably due, in part, to Prague being known as a refuge of poets, novelists, and those who aspire to be one or the other.

There are a few well-known writers in the collection: Ivan Kilma provides the intro and there are stories from Jan Morris and Thomas Swick. Overall though, it manages to collect a pool of characters, mostly unknown, who have something to say about a place often dubbed the second coming of Henry Miller's Paris.

Several overall themes flow throughout: the rebirth after communism, the struggle adapting to a free market, the hordes of barfing tourists that have rapidly changed the city, the legacy of Nazi atrocities, and the pursuit of a real life well lived. Then there's the foreboding air created by menacing castles, the bones sculptures of Sedlec, and Kafka's stories of senseless frustration. Through Travelers' Tales Prague and the Czech Republic, we can all get a good glimpse of a different world.

Reviewed by Sharon Hudgins, author of "The Other Side of Russia: A Slice of Life in Siberia and the Russian Far East."

Whether you're planning a trip to Prague or have visited there many times before (as I have), you'll definitely want to add this excellent book to your travel library. This "Travelers' Tales" compilation--edited by David Farley and Jessie Scholl--is NOT the typical collection of tourists' accounts or wannabe writers' amateur essays. The editors have selected more than three dozen stories by some of today's best travel writers (including themselves), from well known Czechs to Americans who have lived in (and fallen in love with) Prague and other places in the Czech Republic. Each story provides insight into a different aspect of a city and country that have captured the imaginations of travelers and writers for several centuries. History, politics, and sociology share space on the pages with personal experiences, poignant memories, and quirky adventures. (You'll even learn how this talented editor-couple first met in Prague.) If you're headed for Prague, buy this book to read on the plane--and then read it again after you return, just for the joy of it. Highly recommended!

I read this book from back to back and am impressed at how easy a read it is. Not only does Mr. Riel recreate the scenes from his life, he provides great insight on the realities of traveling in off-the-beaten path countries. I highly recommend it for the independent traveler. 5 stars!

Two Laps Around the World is much more than a travelogue. Granted there's great information on what to see and do, but much more as Bob and Lisa lead us to a deeper level in their global journeys. They seek to meet and talk to the people, to understand the culture, religions, and then reflect so beautifully on the differences--and sameness. They indeed challenge us to break out of the safe "tourist bubble." I enjoyed the Life Lessons and Global Rules noted throughout the book. This would be a great gift for any traveler. . .and a book to revisit often. .

Mary Jo Stouffer, Tucson AZ

"Two Laps" is a great way to get ideas on what to do when visiting another country. I purchased the book just before my second trip to Istanbul and used it as a guide for friends as to what to see. Bob and Lisa always seem to hit the highlights as well as some interesting off the beaten path destinations. The insight they provide into the customs and cultures they visit is refreshing and informative.

An easy read, this book is a must for anyone who wants to learn the value of a "life sabbatical" or how to appreciate the simplicity, diversity and innate beauty in other cultures.

An enjoyable and informative view of the vast cultural differences experienced on this around the world journey. A fun read that puts you along side Bob and Lisa as they share their stories of meeting other interesting travelers and natives from around the globe. A great way to see the world without leaving your couch.

It's a fun and easy read - but this book is radical and I hope high schoolers, college students, blue collar workers, and white collar workers read it. The US and world would be better for it. Because it's more than an interesting and accessible travelogue of a young couple's adventures traveling around the world twice. It shows that world travel is not just for the rich and super rich. It brings forward the radical concept that regular people need to spend time away from life in these United States and experience people and places in other parts of the world. Take a break from the forward march of school and job? Yes! Read this book and see if that idea makes sense to you.

Whispering in the Giant's Ear: A Frontline Chronicle from Bolivia's War on Globalization by William Powers. I found out more information about him on his website[...]. The book covers the author's experiences on the ground in Bolivia over the country's dramatic last five years. The book is eloquently written, filled with anecdotes from Mr. Powers' time there, and many other essential details one should know when visiting this lesser known place. This book provides a highly readable history of Bolivia and its current challenges. Additionally, it provides a detailed look into the relationship between a "gringo" do-gooder and the locals. It's a must read for anyone planning on visiting Bolivia any time soon.

I have just finished Whispering in the Giant's Ear and felt compelled to write a review. So much of what Powers has written about Bolivia has struck a chord with me, as I have just returned from Bolivia on assignment for a Canadian magazine. As I read this book, I found myself on the edge of my seat, anxious to see how Powers dealt with many of the same contradictions and frustrations I witnessed traveling through the Andes and into the low-lying areas in the east. This book's obsession with the fine line between romanticism and pragmatism, the spiritual difficulty in assigning "value" to a forest in order to ensure its protection, makes it an absolutely crucial (and very entertaining) read for anyone interesting in globalization, indigenous rights, environmentalism, global warming, Kyoto, NGOs... the list goes on. Pick up this book. Expose yourself to one of the most heart-wrenching (and under-reported) social dramas currently unfolding on our planet.

So much good writing is being done about the need to develop sustainable life styles that it's difficult to sort out the best. This is a very important and readable book in that context. William Powers was there in Bolivia struggling with the tension between an indigenous Amazon tribe and the attempt of apparently well-meaning nonprofits and industrialists to change the natives. For those who think we can go back to living in the pre-industrial world, and for those who are looking for a better answer, this is an engaging story of great importance.

I learned of the concept of carbon credits when I read Big Coal. It seemed like an interesting idea, but I was curious about investigating it from the perspective of those countries participating on the other side of things. Whispering in the Giant's Ear was an excellent choice to reveal the conseqenses of our exploitation of non-renewable resources on "less developed" nations. Powers does an outstanding job of providing an interesting narrative with which to educate the reader about the role carbon credits are playing in the struggle of indigenous people to gain political power in a nation that is caught up in the process of globalization. The number of characters is not so many as to cause confusion, but enough to provide insight into several segments of Bolivian society. A sympathetic portrait of the indigenous peoples of the poorest of South American nations.

I have to say, I'm envious of Bill Powers' writing abilities and his experience in Bolivia. Thanks to his detailed descriptions of character conversations, speeches, emotions, reactions, etc., I feel like I could easily recognize any of his Conservation International colleagues - Salvador, Smithers, Len - if I saw any one of them on the street...or deep in the Bolivian jungle. I did wonder whatever happened to the author's relationships with Daniel and Anaí - two of the author's close friends - but at the same time both side-stories were pleasantly left open to the possibilities. This book provides a highly readable, history of Bolivia and it's current political and environmental challenges. In addition, it provides a detailed look into the relationships between a "gringo" do-gooder and his Bolivian counterparts.

I've read almost every book written on exploration of the South Pole, and this book - by Apsley Cherry-Garrard, a member of Scott's expedition who never wrote anything else - is one of the best. The other reviews here give many of the details, so I won't repeat them, but this is worth reading by anyone who loves a great adventure story.

The Worst Journey in the World By Apsley Cherry-Garrard

Apsley Cherry-Garrard was a privileged English gentleman of twenty-four when he paid 1,000 pounds to accompany Robert Falcon Scott on his ill-fated "Terra Nova" expedition to the South Pole in 1911. It was the twilight of the British Empire, although no one knew it, and there was only one place on Earth left to explore: Antarctica. Scott had prepared for this expedition with his earlier "Discovery" mission, even leaving stores of supplies at various points. Things began to go bad almost as soon as the ship left port: animals sickened, the load shifted, the winds didn't blow enough or blew too much, and the ship got stuck in the Ice.
The general plan was for the group to proceed by sled hauled by themselves, not dogs or machines. This "man-hauling" concept had been abandoned as worthless by Amundsen, the Norwegian who would haunt Scott throughout the journey. Everything that could go bad, did. Animals got sick and died; food spoiled; fuel ran out; men became blinded by the snow glare and frostbitten. The idea was to slog as far South as possible as a group, and then for a smaller force led by Scott to reach the pole.
But it was far colder in the interior than Scott had believed possible - down to Minus 45 and Minus 50. With their limited equipment, survival in those conditions was impossible. Scott and his group essentially froze to death at their last camp. One man walked into a blizzard saying " I am just going outside. I may be a while." Cherry and his group found the leader and his team dead in their final camp, and built a cairn in their honor. One of the final entries in Scott's journal:
"The Norwegians have forestalled us and are first at the Pole. It is a terrible disappointment, and I am very sorry for my loyal companions. .. The Pole, yes, but under very different circumstances from those expected... Great God, this is an Awful Place!"
Cherry never doubted Scott's judgment or character, but others have. Recent biographies including Roland Huntford's "The Last Place on Earth" depict Scott as vain, headstrong, resistant to criticism and petty. Huntford, referring to Cherry's account of Scott's admission that he may have failed to use the dogs properly, says: "this is Scott's first recorded admission of a mistake...that the fault may have been his, and not the animals'. Scott...had begun to feel very doubtful that the ponies will do their job & evidently thinks Amundsen with his dogs may be doing much better. The sight of a commander not only rueing his actions, but lacking the self-control to hide it, was hardly uplifting." (Huntford, "The Last Place on Earth, P. 406) But Scott, despite his many flaws, remains a hero to most of the English speaking world. Cherry himself, having accomplished so much so young, settled into a comfortable upper middle class life in England. writing and speaking of his experience.
"The Worst Journey in the World" is a classic of human endurance and will.
It is inconceivable that men of today's world, using Scott's equipment, technique, and knowledge, could have done what he did.

# # #


Suggestions for Further Reading:
South: The Last Antarctic Expedition of Shackleton and the Endurance (The Explorers Club Classic)
The Last Place on Earth (Modern Library Exploration)

Get this book and read it to your children. Teach them of the days when men were men (and British at that!). Wean them from the cultural myth that whining and wimping and looking out for yourself alone are desirable traits. This book is about more than survival; it is about life and living. Here men give their all for the mission, for each other, for the animals in their service. You read it and wonder, could I have lived it? The book will answer, reminding you that there is more to life and more to live for, than we ever realized.

Apsley Cherry-Garrard was only 24 when he set out on Scott's ill-fated Terra Nova expedition. He was the youngest member of the group and, for my money, the best qualified for the later task of writing the complete story. Why? The Worst Journey in the World is an awe-inspiring adventure, told in such a way that you feel the young man's wide-eyed wonder as your own.

Very few novels have gripped and excited me as this book has, and far fewer nonfiction works. Cherry--as his friends called him--writes with a vigor and attention to detail and drama usually reserved for thrillers. The blizzards, storms at sea, killer whale attacks, sub-zero temperatures, and exhausting struggles with sled dogs, ponies, and yawning crevasses are vividly depicted. By the end of the book, you almost feel as though you've been on the journey with him. The "you are there" phenomenon is something I encounter very seldom in a book. This book actually managed to make me cold.

The Worst Journey in the World is not solely devoted to the adventure and the final tragedy of finding Scott and his men frozen to death. Cherry takes time out to comment on the scientific significance of their work in Antarctica, of the need for exploration regardless of immediate results, and, in conclusion, of why Scott's return from the Pole ended so bitterly. These sections of the work put the adventure into perspective, so that not only do you experience the good and bad times with the expedition, you learn what ideals drove them and what was at stake with every piece of bad luck.

The book isn't perfect, of course. Some of the scientific information Cherry relates is, of course, now outdated. The book starts off rather slowly, and the reader must pick up and remember the names of the other expeditionary members on their own--Cherry does not list or describe the others in detail until somewhere near the middle of the book.

That said, The Worst Journey in the World is still an outstanding nonfiction adventure. Once I started this book I could read nothing else. Anyone with an interest in the Antarctic, history, or exploration in general will find this book fascinating.

Highly recommended.

It's been more than ten years since I read Cherry-Garrard's account of Scott's journey to Antarctica, but I can still feel the lung-searing cold and hear the hellish, monstrous wind coming out of the center of the continent into which the journey was headed. I have never read of anything more terrible than this expedition including Shackleton's truncated Antarctic nightmare and Lewis and Clark's astonishing and dangerous overland haul from St. Louis to the Pacific.

This particular expedition was one terrible misadventure after another almost from the very start when there is a storm at sea right out of the gate as the ship carrying everyone and everything from Tierra del Fuego is swamped and so much food, materiel, and livestock are lost overboard. From there the bad luck never seems to stop. The very fact that these men continued on under circumstances that would have discouraged and then defeated most human beings is almost past credibility. In particular I remember the constant breaking down of the diesel-engined snow cats, the terrible fate of the Asian ponies, the leopard seals, and the long dark impossible trip that Garrard and one other member of the expedition take in the dead of the Antarctic winter to the Emperor Penguin breeding grounds to retrieve a few precious eggs for science. In winter. In the dark. Wearing 1911 woolen clothes, eating preseved 1911 food, and using 1911 (non-)technology. It took 1911 men to do it. I cannot imagine anyone from our time doing this with that equipment. At times I simply had to stop reading and wonder just how much more hardship human beings could stand. I've never felt so physically uncomfortable, so drained and so worried (as a mere reader!) as I was ploughing through this book which was a feat (the writing of it) in itself.

This is a story about a long-vanished era where grit and determination were measured on a different scale from what we see today. An absolute must for any lover of true adventure. It truly was the worst journey in the world against which any subsequent missioin of its kind - including extra-terrestrial - must be judged.

Gerald Durrell has written quite a few books and this is one of the funniest. He travels to Africa to find rare and exotic animals and has laugh out loud funny adventures. He also has a serious message about preserving animals and their natural habitat.

This would be a good book for middle school type readers.

I could not recommend any book more wholeheartedly than I do "A Zoo in my Luggage", along with all books by Gerald Durrell. Young and old will find the information of great interest, the writing style hilarious and entertaining, and the geographic descriptions factual and vivid with local color. I have read all of his books when I was a young mother living in West Africa, and I have ordered these books now for my grandchildren to enjoy.

Gerald Durrell spent most of his life collecting interesting animal specimens and Durrell is an interesting human specimen himself. His well chronicled life (mostly chronicled by Durrell) begins with the hilarious, and very succesfull, "My family and Other Animals". It is ably followed up with the equally hilarious "Birds, Beasts and Relatives". Both books are full of tales from the Durrell family's years on the Greek Island of Corfu, pre WWII. Little Gerry dives right into the flora and fauna of the island, including its human fauna. I own very few nonfiction books with such a plethora of memorable characters. Now, of course, we get to the volume in question. It is plenty good, and worth multiple readings over years, as is "The Overloaded Ark" and several other books detailing trips to collect animals. A word of warning, don't go nuts and buy all the zillion Durrell titles. Some of them are out of print for a reason and were most likely dashed off by Durrell to finance a collecting trip or two...

Naturalist/writer Gerald Durrell, with a writer's eye for unusual detail, a great sense of humor and absurdity, and an unquenchable enthusiasm for finding unique animals, recounts his third animal-collecting trip to the Cameroons in this classic 1960 memoir, recently reprinted. Supplying other people's zoos for many years, Durrell, on this trip, intends to collect specimens for his own zoo, one which will be open to the public and which will become a "self-supporting laboratory" with a captive breeding program to prevent the extinction of these species.

Arriving on the west coast of Cameroon, Durrell uses pidgin to converse with the Africans and refers to all animals as "beef," but he soon acquires many rare animals from the local population. A frightening canoe ride through hippo-infested waters, an attempt to capture a fifteen-foot python, a search for the blue-scalped, bald-headed Picanthartes bird, and the experience of smoking out a hollow tree keep Durrell and his staff energized and excited before they head to the highlands. There, Durrell stays with the charming Fon of Bafut, a elderly king with many wives, and he and Durrell enjoy many long evenings of talk, dance, and whisky. Soon the Fon's compound fills up with hundreds more captive reptiles, birds, and animals, including a half-grown baboon, a five-year-old chimp, and a baby chimp, all of which provide innumerable, often hilarious adventures.

Durrell provides details about the care and feeding of these animals, and he and his staff prove to be very "hands-on" caretakers, often having animals creep into their beds. The logistics of building cages and, eventually, packing them for the trip home, reveal the level of detail necessary to keep these animals healthy and calm so they can survive the trip to England. Upon his return, Durrell then begins the daunting task of trying to find a place to house these rare specimens, a task he neglected ahead of time.

A lively writer with a commitment to conservation and a tremendous sense of fun, Durrell gives the flavor of the whole trip, not just the academic details, providing realism at the same time that he reveals irrepressible humor, much of it directed at himself. His sensitivity to his surroundings, which he conveys through vibrant descriptions, makes the countryside come alive, while his anecdotes about the animals and the people he meets show his interest in expanding his knowledge while fully participating in events around him. Though there is no epilogue to bring the reader up to date on the success of Durrell's zoo or its captive breeding program, this information is readily available at: http://www.durrellwildlife.org/index.cfm?a=11 Mary Whipple

Gerald Durrell's books have touched the hearts of naturalists for decades and I admit that I have only become a fan of his in the recent years. I was introduced to his books through my local used bookstore, where I was looking for copies of James Herriot's books that were not offered at my local bookstore, and decided to pick up a few and try them out.

His stories have a incorporated a vivid energy and hilarity into his passionate memoirs of unique nature experiences that will entertain any nature-lover. While some of his scientific practices may now be considered obsolete, we are given a rare glimpse into the love and respect for all things living that has been a core aspect of any naturalist throughout the ages.

I have since bought as many of Durrell's books that I have been able to find, and treasure each and every one of them.

My grand father introduced me to this book and Jim Corbett's writing. Any one who ever longed to travel should read Freuchen and Corbett. Honestly written, with detail, wisdom, and the appreciation of irony that makes life in hardship enjoyable. I read it every fall when cold weather sets in. I agree with the previous reviewer. If you only read one book this year, make it Arctic Adventure.

Unlike many European adventurers who forced their vision upon the natives, Peter Freuchen adopted their ways. He was quite a remarkable individual. His life jumped from one life changing adventure to another. This book covers his life in the Artic, which was remarkable. Later in his life, he wrote a book which covers this material and other adventures (including Alaska, the Soviet Union) called 'Vagrant Viking'. I highly recommend that book too.

Also unlike many adventurers (such as Ernest Shackleton) Freuchen wrote incredibly well. His insights into different cultures and people and his writing style are exceptional. One passage that stood out in this book had to do with him finding out that he was going to be a father: "My whole life was changed, given impulse and purpose. Before the arrival of children a man is seldom aware of the need for them. Afterward, he can scarcely credit life as holding any interest without them." I highly recommend this book, which will be reprinted in November 2002.

This book should get an 11 and be read by every adventurer intheuniverse. It is the inspirational story of Freuchens life adventuring in and around Greenland at the turn of the century.....an amazing life, a remarkable man, a fantastic book. If you plan to read only one book in your life forget about Dosteovsky, Proust, and Shakespeare, and read this. I liked it

I have truly enjoyed this book, even more so, due to being the granddaughter of the Great Peter Fruechen. Have had several comments from different people to his books written. I am quite happy to hear of it's continuance of exceeding responds. Nicole Tuluganerk from Nunavut

Fruechen was an early Greenland explorer and wrote a brilliant chronical of his adventures. Combines vivid descriptions of the hardship, landscape and eskimos with a sharp sense of humor. Freuchen, in my opinion, is the Michael Jordan of story tellers. If I had only one book in the world to keep, this would be it.