Book Description

Nineteenth century missionary and explorer David Livingstone recalls his extensive journeys through Africa, his close calls with wild predators, and his confrontations with the slave trade. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

This is a biography
This is an interesting book, with many quotations from the great explorer, including 100 or so pages of his last journal entries (with minimal and helpful editorial comments).

It has some fascinating comments from the anonymous author, including details regarding the Sahara's sub-marine past (existence, in the nineteenth century Sahara, of fossils of contemporary forms of marine life, and great areas of salt flats), and also later intimations of lost civilisations beneath the great desert's sands.

However, not all of the book's 640 pages, by any means, are direct quotes from the missionary/explorer, which I felt I was led to expect.

The book is, nevertheless, a fascinating volume originally published in 1874, just one year after Livingstone's death. It contains generous extracts from the associated writings of American journalist Stanley, and of contemporary explorers/hunters. It is, therefore, well worth the read and a good first volume for those interested in Livingstone and/or the Africa of his days. I was especially intrigued by the accounts of the various native tribes and native villages Livingstone met with. I also enjoyed reading of the geology, geography, and zoology of the continent. ... Read more

Book Description

When William Beebe needed to know what was going on in the depths of the ocean, he had himself lowered a half-mile down in a four-foot steel sphere to see-five times deeper than anyone had ever gone in the 1930s. When he wanted to trace the evolution of pheasants in 1910, he trekked on foot through the mountains and jungles of the Far East to locate every species. To decipher the complex ecology of the tropics, he studied the interactions of every creature and plant in a small area from the top down, setting the emerging field of tropical ecology into dynamic motion.

William Beebe's curiosity about the natural world was insatiable, and he did nothing by halves. As the first biographer to see the letters and private journals Beebe kept from 1887 until his death in 1962, science writer Carol Grant Gould brings the life and times of this groundbreaking scientist and explorer compellingly to light.

From the Galapagos Islands to the jungles of British Guiana, from the Bronx Zoo to the deep seas, Beebe's biography is a riveting adventure. A best-selling author in his own time, Beebe was a fearless explorer and thoughtful scientist who put his life on the line in pursuit of knowledge. The unique glimpses he provided into the complex web of interactions that keeps the earth alive and breathing have inspired generations of conservationists and ecologists. This exciting biography of a great naturalist brings William Beebe at last to the recognition he deserves.

Book Description

Throughout history there have been women, endowed with curiosity and abundant spirit, who stepped out of the cave, cast off the shackles of expectation, and struck out for new territory. In this ode to bold, brash, and sometimes just plain dangerous women, Barbara Holland reanimates those rebels who defied convention and challenged authority on a truly grand scale: they traveled the world, commanded pirate ships, spied on the enemy, established foreign countries, scaled 19,000-foot passes, and lobbied to change the Constitution. Some were merry and flamboyant; others depressive and solitary. Some dressed up as men; others cherished their Victorian gowns. Many were ambivalent or absentminded mothers. But every one of them was fearless, eccentric, and fiercely independent. Barbara Holland evokes their energy in this unconventional book that will acquaint you with the likes of Grace O’Malley, a blazing terror of the Irish seas in the 1500s, and surprise you with a fresh perspective on legends like Bonnie Parker of “Bonnie and Clyde” fame. With wit, wisdom, and irreverent flair, They Went Whistling makes a compelling case for the virtue of getting into trouble. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Herstory with plenty of Girl Power!
Barbara Holland's book "They Went Whistling" is a delight! Holland uses wit, sarcasm and a vast knowledge of many incredible women. This book highlights not only well known women (Cleopatra, Joan of Arc) but also remarkable lesser known women. These ladies were not the "fairer sex" by any means. Their stories exude courage, brawn and too little glory. For those looking for some herstory this book is a MUST read. I found myself laughing, gasping and making list of women who I wanted to read more about. The stories blend together beautifully in a easy and smooth flow. Holland's wit is so catching and real I soon felt like she was a good friend or relative telling me stories of the past. Thank you Ms. Holland for the education and experience.

No Glass Ceilings Here
The women in Barbara Holland's latest book are so refreshing in their feminism simply because they would not even know what the word means. They never looked at a label in their lives and had absolutely no idea there was a glass ceiling much less that they crashed through it. The feminist cliches of today would bore them silly. This is what makes this book so wonderful to read. These women simply did what they wanted to do, when they wanted to do it, and most were over-achievers in the creative and interesting departments. Barbara Holland's dry wit supplies the reader with an ample supply of everything from chuckles to belly laughs. Holland reveals the often unseen heroism and strength of these women and shows everyone, men and women, what true individuality is all about. The brief biographies delve into the lives of Cleopatra, Queen Boudicca of Britain, Dr. James Barry (A woman who shall forever remain anonymous since no one knew until 'his' autopsy), Joan of Arc, Lizzie Borden, Isabella Bird, and Bonnie Parker. There really are too many to mention since Holland discusses some in passing and others in greater depth. She does this always with humor, respect, and a no-nonsense-myths-and-rumors-be-damned attitude. This is a world and an attitude, a writing style and an intelligence, one hates to see end on page 268. I only hope Ms. Holland will decide to write a second volume. We all need the intellectual adrenalin.

She's Done It Again
Wow! She's done it again. "They Went Whistling" is a fantastic read. Barbara Holland consistently amazes me with her incredible ability to find even the most obscure facts in her research and then distills them into a most delightful, informative and humorous book. Ever since I read "In Private Life" at least 20 years ago, giggling out loud alone in my kitchen, I wouldn't miss anything she writes.

In her book, "Hail to the Chiefs," Holland dug up facts and anecdotes about past presidents of the United States and served them up on a delicious dish of hilarious humor. In "They Went Whistling," she has managed to do the same, but this time she has chosen, along with famous women, some we would never have heard of without Holland's wonderful and descriptive tales. I loved learning that Cleopatra was not the "ultimate siren" or the "pure sexual temptation" that the Romans and Hollywood made her out to be. Instead, "according to Plutarch, she spoke nine or ten languages," and, as Holland says, "Cleopatra knew a thing or two about pharmaceuticals...she'd written a book on cosmetics full of ingredients unknown to Estee Lauder."

And then there's Daisy Bates, in her Victorian garb, running around with the Australian Aborigines, learning "a hundred and twenty-nine languages." Bates also "had a son that didn't particularly appeal to her," but, Holland says, "as a general rule the whistling women made absentminded mothers."

Indeed, I agree with the accolades Russell Baker and Dave Berry offer to Holland's books. I believe she is one of the finest writers of this century. She writes with a grace and style unmatched.

disappointments galore
Barbara Holland may have intended to research these women's lives in order to show us their strengths. Or perhaps possibly to provide superficial entertainment. The book starts off running, and goes rapidly from one woman to another, whipping through thier lives with sarcasm and lightheartedness.

Ms. Holland seems only impressed with women in history who mimicked the social behaviour, and clothing of men in their time. So if a particular woman rode horseback and used a rifle, Ms. Holland deemed her worthy of praise as an empowered and free spirit.

Ms. Holland has yet to learn about empowerment, and about the self-expression of real women throughout history. Also unfortunate and offensive are her thoughtless and irresponsible comments scattered throughout the book, particularily when she mentions Native Americans, for example in her account of the adventures of Ann Baily (p.161-162) who seemingly killed "Indians" for adventure, ... "Even after the Indian threat had finally been subdued, and the remaining hostile Indians relocated, she continued to ride restlessly over her wilderness territory". Indeed. What a free spirit.

Also offensive is Ms. Hollands reference to the life of Bedouin Arabs in North Africa. In telling the tale of Jane Digby, an 'expert' on Arab society and culture, who was working as a spy for the British in the region, Ms. Holland writes on page 98 "... she alone knew the Arabs from ground level, sharing their fleas and addictions and diseases."

I bought Barbara Holland's book to use in my teaching, as part of a women-centred curriculum. Factual resources are not always available on women's lives, especially when they stray from mainstream or stereotypical social roles. I pride myself on collecting such books. As a teacher in a women-centred school, I am afraid this book was a total waste of money, and ended up being a source of discussion for its frequent racist and irresponsible authorship.

Page 269 quote: "The author is greatly indebted to all those genuine biographers whose patient work she has shamelessly plundered". What biographers? Since the book is void of any reference to biographical material, I am wondering why it is listed as biography? If I had read it as fiction, her surface 'humour' and wildly opinionated remarks would have been more tolerable.

On the final page of the book Ms. Holland confesses that if she could do it over, she might have been a pirate instead of an author. Perhaps she would then have been able to write about first hand experience, and not romanticise about wealthy European and American women of the past, who were bored of their traditional roles in society.

What a Pleasure!
I recently had the good fortune to hear Barbara Holland read from her latest book, They Went Whistling. Though it is quite different from Bingo Night at the Fire Hall, Endangered Pleasures, and Wasn't the Grass Greener, it was equally wonderful -- as is everything Holland writes. While the others are warm, witty, and wistful social commentaries, in They Went Whistling Holland delights us with the unique adventures of women who dared to set out, usually alone, in directions far from the expected. As usual, Holland's remarkable humor and "asides" thread through a wealth of information to weave yet another thoroughly satisfying read. Bravo again! ... Read more

Book Description

James Cook never laid eyes on the sea until he was in his teens. He then began an extraordinary rise from farmboy outsider to the hallowed rank of captain of the Royal Navy, leading three historic journeys that would forever link his name with fearless exploration (and inspire pop-culture heroes like Captain Hook and Captain James T. Kirk). In Farther Than Any Man, noted modern-day adventurer Martin Dugard strips away the myth of Cook and instead portrays a complex, conflicted man of tremendous ambition (at times to a fault), intellect (though Cook was routinely underestimated) and sheer hardheadedness.

When Great Britain announced a major circumnavigation in 1768 -- a mission cloaked in science, but aimed at the pursuit of world power -- it came as a political surprise that James Cook was given command. Cook's surveying skills had contributed to the British victory over France in the Seven Years' War in 1763, but no commoner had ever commanded a Royal Navy vessel.Endeavor's stunning three-year journey changed the face of modern exploration, charting the vast Pacific waters, the eastern coasts of New Zealand and Australia, and making landfall in Tahiti, Tierra del Fuego, and Rio de Janeiro.

After returning home a hero, Cook yearned to get back to sea.He soon took control of the Resolution and returned to his beloved Pacific, in search of the elusive Southern Continent.It was on this trip that Cook's taste for power became an obsession, and his legendary kindness to island natives became an expectation of worship -- traits that would lead him first to greatness, then to catastrophe.

Full of action, lush description, and fascinating historical characters like King George III and Master William Bligh, Dugard's gripping account of the life and gruesome demise of Capt. James Cook is a thrilling story of a discoverer hell-bent on traveling farther than any man. ... Read more

Reviews (19)

THE STORY OF A MAN WHO MADE THE WORLD HIS OYSTER
An engaging biography of Captain James Cook, arguably the greatest explorer ever. The book covers Cook's humble beginnings as an ordinary seaman, his progress up the ranks of the merchant marine and his unlikely ascension to the rank of captain in the Royal Navy. The account of his major voyages is a spellbinding narrative that explains clearly that Cook's contribution to world discovery remains unparalleled.

An excellent history, Farther Than Any Man tells both sides of the Cook story; his cartographic genius--creating maps and charts that remained the standard well in the twentieth century, his unflinching courage and determination, his boundless vision, and his dominating ego that ultimately led to his untimely death in Hawaii.

Farther Than Any Man is a page-turner that you won't be able to put down. Read it, as I did, prior to a trip to New Zealand and the Cook Islands or, perhaps more realistically, next week to learn more about the world we live in.

Good overview
"Farther than Any Man" is a good beginning overview of the remarkable life and career of Captain James Cook, who circumnavigated the world twice, discovered Autralia's Great Barrier Reef as well as Hawaii, and missed discovering Antarctica by 50 miles, all in the 1700s. It reads briskly, which makes it highly suitable for a popular audience. Some of the places Cook visited are only touched on briefly, but overall we get a good idea of what life was like onboard ship and what drove Cook to venture "farther than any man." We see his character develop from shy underling to commanding presence, as he escapes the class politics of England to make the Pacific his personal exploring playground until the tragic downfall of his third voyage. Dugard has obviously visited many of the places that Cook did, but he mercifully confines his narrative to Cook and his time, instead of inserting long, boring personal adventures of the author the way Tony Horwitz did in "Blue Latitudes." Meanwhile, I think Dugard's own book "Into Africa" about Stanley and Livingstone exceeds his Cook book in depth and detail, but I came to this book knowing little of where Cook went or what he did, and I came away with a serviceable knowledge and an appreciation of the man's accomplishments. (One other thing, there is a nice general map of Cook's voyages but I could have used a little more visual detail or a few other maps with it. I would also like to have seen a portait of Cook.)

THE STORY OF A MAN WHO MADE THE WORLD HIS OYSTER
FARTHER THAN ANY MAN is an engaging biography of Captain James Cook, arguably the greatest explorer ever. The book covers Cook's humble beginnings as an ordinary seaman, his progress up the ranks of the merchant marine and his unlikely ascension to the rank of captain in the Royal Navy. The account of his major voyages is a spellbinding narrative that explains clearly that Cook's contribution to world discovery remains unparalleled.

An excellent history, FARTHER THAN ANY MAN tells both sides of the Cook story; his cartographic genius--creating maps and charts that remained the standard well in the twentieth century, his unflinching courage and determination, his boundless vision, and his dominating ego that ultimately led to his untimely death in Hawaii.

FARTHER THAN ANY MAN is a page-turner that you won't be able to put down. Read it, as I did, prior to a trip to New Zealand and the Cook Islands or, perhaps more realistically, next week to learn more about the world we live in.

Every Journey needs a beginning
By no means a definitive account of Cook's life, but certainly a readable introduction to the legacy of this man.

Martin Dugard has touched lightly on many of the pressures Cook must surely have felt - His family, his birthright and position in society, his ambition, the relationship with his father, England's position in the World and the birth of Empire. It would be impossible to do all of this justice in just 300 pages, and I don't believe that Dugard is really attempting to. Instead, he offers the topics like a light buffet - take what you want, go and look for more on what interests you.

This informal style, laced with conjecture as to conversations or motives, will infuriate the purist historians. This book will also not appeal to those who hold Cook up as a definitive British hero. The author speculates on Cook's rationales and motives, but the message clear: Cook did indeed go father than any man. He led the world into a new era, both through his geographical discoveries and the courage he displayed in attaining them.

French Navigator Jean-François de Galaup de La Pérouse said of Cook that his work was so all-encompassing, there was little for his successors to do but admire it. This is not an all-encompassing account of Cook, but an easy place to begin your own voyage of discovery.

A journalist's jolly jaunt
Dugard's account of the life of explorer James Cook is a light, easily read introduction to England's greatest explorer. Dugard stresses the travails of a man of humble beginnings who, through force of his own will and some fortuitous connections garnered command of the first solo expedition into the South Pacific. He describes Cook's early voyages on colliers, moving on to his decade-long exploration of the Newfoundland coasts. Lured away by the glories of the Royal Navy, Cook entered that force as a lowly seaman but rose rapidly to junior officer due to his cartography skills and forceful sense of drive.

Dugard dubs Cook "the original adventurer." Other expeditions had concentrated on map-ping coastlines along regularly used routes or finding harbours to serve as sanctuaries or supply bases. Cook's voyage in the Endeavour was the first journey dedicated to scientific studies. Cook's mandate was to convey a team of scientists to Tahiti. There they would study the rare phenomenon of Venus' transit across the face of the sun, adding to the navigator's store of tools. From that mid-Pacific isle, however, Cook was free to seek the legendary Southern Continent, particularly Antarctica. Given a mandate to wander the Pacific, Cook found yet another landmass, the island continent of Australia.

Dugard portrays Cook as impelled by several ambitions. To become the premier explorer of the Pacific, to bask in the adoration of its peoples, and show Britain's class-bound society that the son of a farm labourer was the equal of any aristocrat. He achieved all these aims, but at the usual cost to a man overcome by hubris. He went too far, barely staving off mutiny by a crew that adored him. In the end, of course, an act of arrogance cost him his life in Hawaii. Through all this tale of a man burdened by ambition, Dugard offers us glimpses of Elizabeth Cook who remained in England almost mindlessly cheering on her husband's goals. While Cook sailed as far as from the Earth to the Moon, Elizabeth bore and buried a succession of children. When the reader feels the urge to learn of her outlook in more detail, Dugard reminds us of her burning the Cook correspondence, eliminating any record of her thoughts. Unrestrained by evidence, Dugard blithely presents her viewpoint, derived from assumptions.

Given the wealth of books available on Cook and his voyages, this one stands well down on the list of "must read" titles. Only someone with a superficial interest in the explorer and his journeys would find this useful. A good introductory overview, its lack of bibliography or even an index renders this title merely a journalist's superficial exercise. There are simply too many scholarly books on Cook, some well written, to warrant spending much time with this one. Save it for the beach or cottage. ... Read more

Book Description

Jerri Nielsen was a forty-six-year-old doctor working in Ohio when she made the decision to take a year's sabbatical at Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station on Antarctica, the most remote and perilous place on Earth. The "Polies," as they are known, live in almost total darkness for six months of the year, in winter temperatures as low as 100 degrees below zero--with no way in or out before the spring.

During the long winter of 1999, Dr. Nielsen, solely responsible for the mental and physical fitness of a team of researchers, construction workers, and support staff, discovered a lump in her breast. Consulting via email with doctors in the United States, she performed a biopsy on herself, and in July began chemotherapy treatments to ensure her survival until condition permitted her rescue in October. A daring rescue by the Air National Guard ensued, who landed, dropped off a replacement physician, and minutes later took off with Dr. Nielsen.

This is Dr. Nielsen's own account of her experience at the Pole, the sea change as she becomes "of the Ice," and her realization that as she would rather be on Antarctica than anywhere else on earth. It is also a thrilling adventure of researchers and scientists embattled by a hostile environment; a penetrating exploration of the dynamics of an isolated, intensely connected community faced with adversity; and, at its core, a powerfully moving drama of love and loss, of one woman's voyage of self-discovery through an extraordinary struggle for survival. ... Read more

Reviews (120)

Inspirational and Life Changing
After seeing Dr. Nielsen on Primetime Live I knew I HAD to read this book which appeals to readers on so many different levels. The fascinating story and drama of individuals who winter at the south pole is an example of a lifestyle few of us would ever consider or could even image. Dr. Nielsen's fight against the cancer raging in her body as she struggles to continue her duties as the pole's only physician is awe inspriring. However the most beautiful and potentially life changing aspect of the book for me was her description of this "perfect society" where people are valued and appreciated for the true gifts they bring from their souls and not judged superficially by irrelevent things like physical appearance as our society is so apt to do. The truest message comes through Dr. Nielsen's assertions that the mechanic is just (if not MORE) important than the doctor at the pole. We could all learn from this metaphor to make society a better place in which to live. Finally as far as the controvery regarding Dr. Nielsen "leaving" her children to pursue this adventure I personally believed her story, but since only the family involved could know the whole truth it is not any readers place to judge her motives.

Brave Woman, So-So Book
It's interesting that so many reviewers accuse those writing a negative review of not reading the book, but criticicizing the person. I think many of those raving about the book are doing the same thing--they admire Jerri's bravery and pluck so much that they don't notice the book's flaws. The first few chapters are truly fascinating, and although I too wonder about the other side (if there is one) of the divorce saga, Jerri comes off as likable and perceptive. However, the book is overlong, and after a while, everything becomes monotonous. The first time "Big" John and "Tool Time Tim" (everyone has a nickname on the pole) fix the generator, it's interesting. The third or fourth, it's like, been there, done that. Also, the numerous e-mails printed verbatim gets a bit tiresome. There's hardly any prose at all in the last few chapters. I guess that's understandable--Jerri probably didn't remember too much of those months. and the e-mails might be all she has to go on. I recommend this book to those with an interest in arctic adventures or breast cancer, but as a general interest story, it lags a bit towards the end.

Doctor, diagnose thyself.
The book cover proclaims "A doctor's incredible battle for survival at the South Pole". Indeed, the battle for survival is incredible and heartwarming.

The life Dr. Nielsen and her companions lived and others continue to live at the South Pole is described in fascinating detail.

The book is worth your time. However, I recommend skimming through any section of the book that seems to drag or you find annoying.

In my reading, I found the author's description of her circumstances and reasoning for her need to escape traditional civilization a bit annoying. In addition, some of the reprinted email exchanges added little if anything to the story.

A Candid Look at a true Mission Impossible
Having Breast Cancer is bad enough, Having to be a doctor and treat that breast cancer is worse, but being stuck in Antartica while all of this is happening is the worst. Jerri writes a wonderful memoir about that time on Antartica, without holding back anything. I loved this book. It showed the triumph of the human spirit in the real world.

Life on the Ice with Cancer
The plot of Ice Bound is very good. It was very informative about a lot of the effects of chemotherapy and cancer. Dr. Jerri Nielsen did a very good job on desribing what it was like to live on the Ice. She also did a good job on desribing cancer and other medical terminology without being too technical. That way, people who are not doctors can still follow the book. I thought it was very interesting how she and others were able to come together when she need it most. ... Read more

Book Description

This first-person account of the Endurance crew's famed odyssey across the frozen Antarctic is one of the most amazing adventure stories ever.

In the summer of 1914, Sir Ernest Shackleton and his men set out to make the first sea-to-sea crossing of the most inhospitable continent on earth. One year later, halfway to their objective and their ship destroyed by ice, the expedition began an unbelievable journey back to the fringe of civilization. South is their story of battles against incredible obstacles for nearly two years, surviving on ice floes, sailing hundreds of miles on tumultuous seas, battling the unimaginable cold of the Antarctic winter, enduring debilitating hunger, injury, and misfortune, and finally overcoming improbable odds to reach help.

As Shackleton himself wrote at the time of the book's original publication in 1920, this is "a book of high adventure, strenuous days and lonely nights, unique experiences, and, above all, records of unflinching determination, supreme loyalty, and generous self-sacrifice on the part of my men." It is a story that resonates to this day as the classic tale of survival, resolve, and leadership.

Alfred Lansing's Endurance made the journey famous; Shackleton's book brings it dramatically to life. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

A True Leader
Shackleton was an amazing man full of true grit and true leadership. Among the many things that stand out in his story of survival is the importance of keeping a journal. Even after many supplies and equipment were left on the ice, the men were instructed to continue to carry their journals. And what if they had not? Where would be the true story that outshines most fictional adventure stories in the minds and imaginations of many, including myself?

If you want to read more about Antarctica, I suggest T.H. Baughman's "Before the Heroes Came."

Sheer will and nerve.
Ernest Shackleton's description of his voyage into and subsequent escape from Antartica is amazing. The matter of fact tone with which he describes his adventure seems wildly juxtaposed on the events which he led his men safely through. It's an interesting read which gives some glimpse into the calm and mechanically rational mind of Shackleton, the reason he and his men survived. I highly recommend this book.

Edge of Your Seat
Fascinating and exciting book. Shackelton writes in the most British of style -- he describes an ice floe splitting beneath his tent in the same plain delivery as the description of a depth sounding. The book is overflowing with the most amazing of events, placing Shackelton's crew in an adventure every bit as great as Lewis and Clark's expedition (read the Ambrose book "Undaunted Courage" if you like this one).

This is a fine edition, as it includes approx. eighty photographs of the expedition. From the outset of the voyage to the harrowing crossing of St. George Island, this guy would put today's extreme adventure-seekers to shame.

Riviting true grit adventure, endurance, and survival
Ernest Shackleton treats us to adventure and daring against dangers that most of us can only imagine ... 30 below zero, 90 mph winds, killer whales, crushing ice, dead reckoning across the open sea. His ship is stuck in the ice for 10 months before being crushed, throwing 27 men and 100 dogs on the ice flow that is ever shrinking. Escaping from the roaring crushing ice to the open sea is a death defying feat that only leads to more danger from giant swells and frozen sea spray that soaks cloths and sleeping bags and threatens to sink their tiny boats ...and they are still 800 miles from any civilization.

Incredible, absolutely. And through it all Shackleton manages to describe the beauty of the ice and the wonderment of all that surrounds the hapless little ship and its mighty men.

A reading must for those of us who lust after adventure.

Awsome, an inspiration, an unsung hero.
A fascinating and chilling account of almost two years of living under some of the most adverse conditions conceivable. Shackleton is a master at managing a limited amount of resources and in practicing the psychology necessary to keep his men alive. He writes in a totally understated narrative yet the reader can actually feel the blowing snow, smell the burning seal blubber and and taste the hoosh. Shackleton is truly an unsung hero! ... Read more

Book Description

The Secret Lives of Alexandra David-Neel is the definitive biography of the explorer Lawrence Durrell called "the most astonishing woman of our time." Alexandra David-Neel was the first European to explore Tibet at a time when foreigners were banned; few have led a life of adventure to equal hers or made so much of it.

In Tibet and Sikkim, David-Neel lived among hermits and shamans while studying first hand the secret mystical practices of Tibetan Buddhism, including out-of-body travel, telepathy, vampiric shamanism, and tantric sex. After returning to France, she wrote more than thirty books, among them My Journey to Lhasa and Magic and Mystery in Tibet. She has had a profound influence on Beat culture and the emergence of American Buddhism.

Drawing from rare source material, including information obtained from the secret files of the India office, Barbara and Michael Foster have written a vividly detailed chronicle-of both David-Neel's quest to conquer her personal demons and of the outer journey that made her one of the most celebrated figures of her day. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Read Alexandra's own 'My Journey to Lhasa'
The best chapters of 'The Secret Lives of Alexandra David-Neel:'
owe much to Alexandra's own account of her journey to Lhasa. Her own books are wonderful to read, all of them , but in particular her 'My Journey to Lhasa' Beacon Press republished it as a paperback in 1993, ISBN 0-8070-5903-X
I can guarantee you will have a most enjoyable read.

Fascinating Biography
It is my great pleasure to let Amazon readers know about the exploits of Alexandra David-Neel, the explorer of Tibet, which the Fosters chronicle so vividly in the biography, THE SECRET LIVES OF ALEXANDRA DAVID-NEEL. This bio reads more like a novel or adventure tale due to the wonderfully-detailed scenes with such authentic touches I felt as if I were truly there, and often worried about David-Neel's ability to survive. Obviously the Fosters have done their research incredibly well and write graceful,lucid prose; I was captivated from the first sentence and actually resented having to put down the book to take care of chores. This is is one of the best biographies I have ever read. The story cries out to be told visually on the big screen.

Unique Woman Explorer at Turn of Century
Little known crossdressing Victorian Frenchwoman undertakes a dangerous journey of discovery in forbidden country disguised as a monk and lives to tell her tale to the world. Thoroughly well researched,and well crafted The Secret Lives of Alexandra David-Neel is the biography of a remarkable woman. A woman born to the mannered and circumscribed Victorian era who chose to strike out on her own initiative to explore the spiritual secrets and she was among the first Europeans to report about it from inside to the rest of the world.
I found it a fascinating read about a remarkable woman of whom I knew nothing, a woman who accomplished amazing things in her life. I recommend this biography by Barbara and Michael Foster to anyone interested in tales of high adventure in exploration, in the golden age of exploration and of unknown exotic lands. If the story of resolutely fearless woman pursuing her dream of exploring Forbidden Tibet whets your appetite I recommned you read this well crafted biography. I can recommend it without reservation. ZaneMason

Why I enjoyed reading Alexandra David-Neel's biography
I feel compelled to let people know about a book my best friend gave me for my birthday, The Secret Lives of Alexandra David-Neel. This biography is a riveting read about a woman who did the impossible. A rare bird, she combined intellectual acuteness with a spirit of adventure that took her on a wonderful journey to Lhasa. The Foster's tell her exciting life with verve and in a very readable style. The bio also gave me a worthwhile introduction to buddhism.

Accomplished and exhaustively researched account
An accomplished and exhaustively researched account of the life of Alexandra David-Neel, explorer, scholar, mystic and heroine to generations. The Fosters' meticulous research and obvious affinity for their subject results in a highly readable work that is part historical detective work, part travelog, and part cultural study. This book of broad based appeal will captivate students of history, armchair travellers, and anyone interested in Tibet and its people. There is no other comparable work available on this fascinating and timely subject. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Excellent look at early 20th century wilderness expeditions.
Patterson makes a 200 mile snowshoe trek in 50 below weather to pick up the mail seem like slightly unusual walk to the post office!

This is a Far North adventure you'll never forget!
"Dangerous River" is one of the finest Far North adventures ever written. R. M. Patterson and his partner Gordon Matthews were the last of a breed of men who tackled the Far North with nothing but stamina, courage, and consummate skill with rifle, pack and canoe. Trapping and searching for gold in the legendary South Nahanni River country in the 1920's, Patterson describes their adventures in language that makes the reader yearn to see one the premier rivers of the world. Patterson's style is laced with wonderfully dry British humor as well as a poet's skill in describing the breathtaking landscapes. You feel as though you're right beside him throughout his adventures and hungering to go there yourself. You can't ask more a writer and his book than that!

Exceptional wilderness story of gold-rush era Canada
This tale of wilderness adventure is set in the unexplored region of the South Nahanni river valley in the Nortwest Territories, Canada. It tells of unexplained deaths (the reason it was called Dead-Man's Valley), and the survival tactics and techniques of explorers during the gold-rush days of the area. Patterson spins the tale in a way which makes you feel the icy cold winters and the lavish and wildlife filled summers. His writings are non-fictional, and he includes maps and photographs taken while he was there. It is exciting, and laden with danger about the rapids, ice-flows, and Indian legends. I highly recommend it to anyone with a love of the outdoors, adventure, or wilderness history!

The Classic Canadian wilderness canoe adventure.
Paddling upstream through "Hells Gate" rapids and past 4000 feet canyons on the South Nahanni River in Canada's Northwest Territories in the 1920's before the advent of the bush plane was northern adventure at it's best. After reading the book, I took the canoe trip and the beauty of the scenery actually exceeded the best descriptive prose in the novel. Look up Black Feather outfitters in Toronto and sign up. Rob Evan ... Read more

Book Description

Did Peary reach the North Pole? Was Admiral Byrd the first to fly over it? Did Frederick Cook actually make the first ascent of Mt. McKinley? Spanning 450 years of history, Great Exploration Hoaxes tells the spellbinding stories of ten men who pursued glory at any cost even the truth. Acclaimed author and explorer David Roberts delves deeply into the psychology behind the stunt and asks why these individuals, all of whom were exceptionally able, would perpetrate fraud on such a grand and public scale and defend it to their deaths, even in the face of damning evidence, and why these dubious achievements are still so hotly debated, often hundreds of years afterward.

Demonstrating that the qualities that brought an individual so close to his goal were often the same ones that drove him to fake success, Great Exploration Hoaxes is history at its best: entertaining, provocative, and revealing of human nature.

David Roberts is the author of thirteen books, the most recent of which are A Newer World: Kit Carson, John C. Fremont, and the Claiming of the American West and True Summit: What Really Happened on the Legendary Ascent of Annapurna. He was also responsible for the rediscovery of the lost Arctic classic In the Land of White Death, by Valerian Albanov, published in English for the first time in 2000 by The Modern Library.

In the 1960s and 1970s, Roberts led or co-led thirteen Alaskan mountaineering expeditions, making such first ascents as the west face of Mount Huntington, Shot Tower, and the direct north face of Denali.

... Read more

Reviews (4)

Great stories don't always have to end with success
This book is not only looks into the hoaxes by the psyche of the hoaxsters. Why would they do it? What were their motivations? What do they have in common. Equally interesting is the individual who actually accomplished his exploration but was accused of pulling a hoax. He had all the evidence to prove his claim but would not use it! Why? His psyche had common ground with hoaxsters. To find out more you will have to read the book. It is an interesting read.

Roberts Digs for Dirt
The problem with Dave Roberts is that he has established himself in a particular genre - i.e. intense, concise and slightly acerbic adventure writing. As a result, you tend to expect that approach from all his writing, which isn't really fair, but there you have it.

In Great Exploration Hoaxes, Roberts steps outside his usual format to do some research. I'm not really surprised. Comments in the introductions to his previous collections make it clear he is intrigued by the workings of the human psyche as well as the thrill of high risk adventure. However, this book is definitely a departure, and reads like a series of well-written research papers - which I guess, in essence, they are.

There is nothing wrong with Great Exploration Hoaxes. It is a good read and I recommend it, especially if you are interested in what history says versus what actually happened. The problem lies with Robets tackling historical data. It is hard to bring the dead back to life, especially when their writing is not available for comment. For example, Roberts does a fine job of getting the reader interested in John Cabot, but must rely on the work of Cabot's contemporaries and other researchers to substantiate his theories.

Roberts is at his best when he is relating the story and not supporting his hypothesis with data. But since he is trying to debunk some old myths, he naturally has to support his statements. It is an uneasy alliance that works, but is not the usual Roberts fare.

I recommend the book, but will be looking forward to Roberts' next tale of his own wanderings and resulting insights.

Revealing hoaxsters and raising doubts about others...
The author presents an interesting collection of well documented essays (and a few historical photographs) that intrigue and educate the reader about some of the greatest adventurer and discovery hoaxes over the centuries. His most interesting inquiry is saved for the reader to ponder. "How many claimed discoveries and adventures that we unquestionably and faithfully accept as true were also mere fantasy?" Did Hannibal really cross the Alps? Was it Tenzig Norgay first to summit on Everest or was it Hillary? If Neil Armstrong was the first man on the moon, who took the famous picture of him descending from the space capsule planting a foot firmly onto Moon soil? This book can get you thinking.

Readable, Breezy Look at Fascinating Hoaxes
David Roberts, in the re-released Great Exploration Hoaxes by Modern Library Exploration, looks at nine exploration hoaxes and one poor fellow (Abyssinian James Bruce) whose adventures turned out to be true while being believed as a hoax in his own lifetime. The short chapters detailing each hoax are fascinating and the book is a wonderfully entertaining little read. Once one reads the first hoax one will be hooked and the rest of the book will quickly cascade from one folly to another. The author presents each case quite clearly and, though, supporters of various of these explorers, such as Peary and the North Pole, will balk, the average reader will come away with a little wisdom and a touch of cynicism about the great adventure yarns we all grew up learning. And that can be a good thing. A delighful little collection of adventures that should lead the reader to other true adventure stories with a greater understanding and appreciation. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Noble, Extraordinary Life
William Simon's is an extraordinary lifestory, and reading his memoir, published posthumously this year following his death in 2000, was thoroughly enjoyable. Simon's life had so many incarnations -- prescient Wall Street trader, principled public servant (energy czar and treasury secretary), conservative intellectual, pathbreaking merchant banker, champion of the U.S. Olympic movement, philanthropist, intrepid adventurer, Eucharistic Minister -- that it's hard to fathom one person leading such an eclectic, richly diverse life.

Known for his sharp opinions while in public office, Simon is largely magnanimous in recounting his life experiences. For example, he declines to elaborate on the reasons for his falling out with a longtime colleague and business partner, saying only that he trusted someone he thought was his friend. He pulls no puches, however, in expressing outrage at wrongheaded government decisions, such as the 1989 FIRREA Act (which suddenly made struggling S&Ls insolvent), Pres. Carter's Olympic boycott (which accomplished little other than prompting Soviet retaliation four years later) and foolish government meddling in the oil market (rationing, price controls, etc. which largely created the 1970s energy "crisis").

The memoir offers several colorful, revealing anecdotes. For example, Simon's pointed counsel to Ronald Reagan, urging him to drop former Pres Ford from consideration for the Vice Presidency. (I never heard or read of this before; Lou Cannon makes no mention of it in his new biography of Reagan's pre-presidential years.) Also, Simon's confrontation -- nearly leading to blows -- with an inebriated Vice President Rockefeller. This is fascinating stuff.

Equally fascinating are the chapters on Simon's pioneering role in the use of Leverage Buyouts to restore underperforming companies to sound profitability. Simon eschewed hostile LBOs, preferring to work cooperatively with, and empowering, management, and deftly abandonded the business when it attracted a surfeit of "takeover artist" capital in the late 1980s.

Simon's separation from, and reconcilliation with, his wife of 40 years is particularly poignant, as is his ministry to indigent AIDs patients and other destitute people. The caring and compassion behind a gruff -- sometimes mercurial exterior -- is palpable.

William Simon led an amazing, noble life. Emulating such an extraordinary human being is beyond the reach of most of us. But thanks to this new book, we can at least read about and admire him. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Roy Chapman Andrews was never much of a scholar, and anyone who looked at his high school report card might have foretold an undistinguished future. But, from an early age, Andrews's ambitions lay outside the social norm; an ardent fan of Robinson Crusoe and a devoted outdoorsman, Andrews wanted nothing more than to be an adventurer. He got his chance when he talked his way onto the staff of the American Museum of Natural History in 1906, under whose auspices, 15 years later, he was to mount the first of his central Asian expeditions. This decade-long program of exploration took Andrews and his team into the heart of the Gobi, one of the last uncharted regions on earth.

Convinced for ideological as much as scientific reasons that humans originated not in Africa but in Asia, Andrews spent much of his time in the field seeking evidence of early man. That search would prove fruitless, for, as biographer Charles Gallenkamp notes, "nary a scrap of genuinely ancient human bone was ever retrieved by the Central Asian Expeditions." What Andrews and his colleagues did find, however, has propelled dozens of scientific missions ever since: huge caches of dinosaur bones at places such as Mongolia's Flaming Cliffs. These fossils helped demonstrate geological connections between Asia and North America, and they added dozens of new species to the paleontological record.

All the while, Andrews contended with bandits, corrupt officials, invading armies, disease, and other dangers. After finishing Gallenkamp's vigorous book, readers will understand why Andrews should have served as the model for the movie character Indiana Jones--who, if anything, pales by comparison to the real thing. --Gregory McNamee ... Read more

Reviews (14)

A Real Indiana Jones
Before the Jurassic Park boom, little boys all had an enthusiasm for dinosaurs, and much of that enthusiasm was fueled by an explorer who only now has his first full biography, _Dragon Hunter: Roy Chapman Andrews and the Central Asiatic Expeditions_ (Viking) by Charles Gallenkamp. It is a great monument to a forgotten explorer and collector.

Andrews began an autobiographical volume with a foreword that included the words, "I was born to be an explorer. There was never any decision to make. I couldn't do anything else and be happy." He had humble beginnings in Benoit, Wisconsin, but dreamed of exploring for the American Museum of Natural History in New York. He literally told the director there that if it were just a matter of mopping the museum floors, that was what he wanted to do. And he did it, eventually becoming the director of the museum. From floors he went to taxidermy, and then to field expeditions about whales, and then to his five huge famous expeditions into Mongolia from 1922 to 1930. Andrews had superb skills at planning and organizing his expeditions, but was he was a brilliant salesman, enlisting the financial aid of members of New York society. The descriptions of his expeditions make exciting reading, as sandstorms, snowstorms, and brigands all battered the cars, camels, and explorers. But he brought back dinosaur eggs, which caused a sensation, _Velociraptor_, and much more.

_Dragon Hunter_ is a well researched and at times exciting telling of the adventures of an American original. Gallenkamp has usefully summarized the Mongolian regional politics as well as New York society of the time, and has made it clear just how the publicity-happy Andrews became a sensation in his day. His record had been sadly neglected by the museum, which is now making amends. The book ends with an epilogue to show how the finds that Andrews fought to get back to the museum have proved a foundation of much of modern paleontology. We have explorers of other types now, but we will not see explorations of this grandeur, size, and style again.

A Marvelous Book about a Genuine Explorer-Adventurer
Charles Gallenkamp's Dragon Hunter presents itself as a marvelous book from a number of perspectives. Roy Chapman Andrews was the real thing-a genuine explorer-adventurer who expanded the horizons of science and captured the public imagination. His complexity can be found in his ability to live in a palace in Beijing surrounded by servants, gourmet food, and polo ponies, and then wander off into the Gobi for five months (carrying of course a gourmet cook, white tablecloths, and enough rifles to fend off bandits).

I love the American Museum of Natural History, and I grew up on stories of Chapman's great expeditions, the discovery of dinosaur eggs, and a host of other romantic-scientific tales (Beebe in the South Pacific looking for birds, Akeley in Africa, the list goes on). This book covers an amazing range of realities.

Gallenkamp addresses an array of subjects, including the intricacies of Chinese and Mongolian politics in the 1920s and 1930s, the consequences of the breakdown of society in the form of rising banditry and rising corruption, the emerging anti-western sentiment as scientists became robbers of the nation's heritage, the drama of scientific research, the evolving history of evolution, and the intricacies of running a museum. He also accurately depicts the nature of celebrity status in a peacetime western world seeking glamour through adventure (this being the age of Byrd flying to the North Pole, Lindberg flying the Atlantic, etc).

This book interestingly notes how science evolves and one generation's knowledge becomes another generation's discarded inaccuracies. Andrews went to central Asia searching for the origins of man. We now know those origins lie in Africa. Andrews found a carnivorous dinosaur lying on some eggs that they thought belonged to a horned dinosaur and assumed it was eating them (thus, the dinosaur's name became "egg thief that loves ceratopsians"). Now we know that those eggs actually belonged to the Ovirapter and were being mothered, not eaten. Many of Andrews' best discoveries are still on exhibit at the Museum in New York and well worth seeing.

Today, as Michael Novacek notes in his foreword, Mongolia and China are again open to exploration, and science is moving on. The American Museum has annual expeditions into the Gobi and cooperates widely with Chinese and Mongolian scientists. Ultimately, Gallenkamp's Dragon Hunter takes a major step in the restoration of Andrews' reputation as a serious contributor to modern science.

An Excellent True Life Adventure for the Dinosaur Lover
This book is a biographical account of the remarkable career of Roy Chapman Andrews. Andrews was among the most celebrated and colorful explorers of the 20th century, responsible for mounting several major expeditions to penetrate the mysterious (to the West) depths of the Gobi Desert. These expeditions resulted in some of the most important paleontological discoveries in history.

"Dragon Hunter" is best characterized as a true life adventure story. It focuses on Andrews himself and his flair for solving the unsolvable. With his vivid imagination, Andrews conceived of an audacious plan to explore one of the harshest environments on earth --- in automobiles (keep in mind, this is in the 1920s). With his uncanny flair for spreading enthusiasm like a contagion, he was able to raise money for the expedition from some of the great tycoons of the era in amounts deemed impossible by his contemporaries. With his intense energy and bravado, he was able to overcome seemingly insurmountable logistical problems; rampant banditry, political chaos, warring factions, severe weather, bad communications, political corruption, death threats, you name it.

This makes for a fascinating read, all set in the exotic and dangerous China of the last emperor, a romantic and intriguing world we may never see again.

I should warn you, however, not to expect too much on the science of the expeditions, as I did. While there is some information on the scientific significance of the finds, the book really focuses on the story of "how" they were found and what implications they had for the success of the expeditions over some 8 to 10 years. To understand the paleontology of the Gobi, you will need to look to other sources. ("Dinosaurs of the Flaming Cliffs" by Michael J. Novacek might be a good place to start.)

This is hardly a criticism though. The book purports to be a biography, and that's what it is. If you enjoy a mix of history and adventure, this book is worth your time.

Old and outworn
There's nothing new here. If you want a better overview with new material, see: "Morgan, V. L. and Lucas, S. G., 2002, Walter Granger, 1872-1941, Paleontologist: New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin 19, p. 1-58."

A life of adventure
Roy Chapman was a product of his times. He could appear at home in a Mongolian dust storm and an Upper East Side pallor. The book balances the many facets of his life, giving equal time to the travel, science, and personnel accomplishments of Roy Chapman. There is no doubt that he was a product of his times, backed by the rich, he traveled to the developing world, excavated thousands of relics and dinosaur bones and took them out of the country for display in a New York museum. In today's political landscape this could no longer occur, but to lessen his accomplishments by applying today's standards to his time period is revisionist history of the worst guide. The author does a solid job defending Roy Chapman from these illogical attacks. Roy Chapman's rise from small town high school graduate to global explorer and director of a major museum is the basis of the American spirit ... Read more

Book Description

"Exciting, original, and highly readable. . . . This is a rich,challenging, original and beautifully written account of Muir's innerdevelopment as an environmental thinker." -John A. Tallmadge, president of the Association for the Study of Literature andthe Environment

As a founder of the Sierra Club and promoter of the national parks, as apassionate nature writer and as a principal figure of the environmentalmovement, John Muir stands as a powerful symbol of connection with the naturalworld. But how did Muir's own relationship with nature begin? In this pioneeringbook, Steven J. Holmes offers a dramatically new interpretation of Muir'sformative years, one that reveals the agony as well as the elation of hisearliest experiences of nature.

From his childhood in Scotland and Wisconsin through his young adulthood in theMidwest and Canada, Muir struggled-often without success-to find a place forhimself both in nature and in society. Far from granting comfort, the naturalworld confronted the young Muir with a full range of practical, emotional, andreligious conflicts. Only with the help of his family, his religion, and theextraordinary power of nature itself could Muir in his late twenties find awelcoming vision of nature as home-a vision that would shape his lifelongenvironmental experience, most immediately in his transformative travels throughthe South and to the Yosemite Valley.

More than a biography, The Young John Muir is a remarkable exploration of thehuman relationship with wilderness. Accessible and engaging, the book willappeal to anyone interested in the individual struggle to come to terms with thepower of nature.

For the first time placing the development of Muir's environmentalconsciousness in the context of his human relationships, this majorreinterpretation of the early life of John Muir emphasizes Muir's childhood andyouth rather than adulthood. Holmes shows how Muir's youthful experiences andinfluences caused him to perceive his natural surroundings as a religiously- charged "home," continuous with the emotional and cultural meanings of hisactual home. ... Read more

Book Description

In the tradition of Jon Krakauer’s Into the Wild and Peter Jenkins’s Looking for Alaska, a riveting adventure story of one man’s passion tounderstand and protect the grizzly bear—and his last foolhardy, violent encounter withone

Ursus arctos horribilis, commonly known as the grizzly or brown bear, is one ofthe most feared animals on the planet. As its most outspoken protector, TimothyTreadwell tirelessly sought to overturn the perception of grizzlies as dangerouslyaggressive. It was therefore a media sensation when in October 2003 Treadwell and hisgirlfriend were fatally mauled by a bear in Alaska’s Katmai National Park, the first suchattack in the park in eighty-five years. The horrifying audiotape of Treadwell’s final,frantic screams begged the question: How could this happen?

In The Grizzly Maze, Nick Jans, who for years has written expertly and lyricallyabout the Alaskan wilderness, ventures to answer this question. Based on exclusiveaccess to the killing site and his own and other’s expert knowledge of Alaskan bears, Jansplots out Treadwell’s final expedition and encounter with the grizzly. In doing so, Jansprovides a moving and complex portrait of the man known as the "Bear Whisperer,"whose controversial ideas earned him the scorn of hunters, the adoration of some animallovers, and the skepticism of naturalists. The Grizzly Maze also offers adefinitive, close-up look at bears, bear behavior, and our complicated relationship withthem.It promises to be the blockbuster adventure read of the season. ... Read more

Amazon.com

As a special investigator for the U.S. Department of Labor in the late 1970s, Nick Mangieri came across extensive examples of top-level government corruption. But, he maintains, his superiors told him to look the other way and tried to ruin his career when he refused to play ball. Broken Badge is his story, told in a language as unfiltered and uncompromising as his point of view. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Mission Impossible in Real Life!
Nick has a very special way of relating real events. I found this book very compelling and exciting to read, not only because of the author's straightforward style, but because these were real events.

If you like intrigue and real-life crime type stories... buy this book!

True Crime
Mangieri's books bring to mind the nonfiction of Peter Maas, author of Serpico.However, Mangieri's work has a sharper edge, simply by virtue of the fact that it is based on his personal experiences and is told in his own words.His books are well worth our attention.

John: A Reader from the Southwestern USA
Outstanding read.I salute the author for his honesty and resolve.Having been assigned to Washington,DC as a member of the armed forces my observations paralleled that of the author's. As a Federal Investigator the author uncovered wrongdoing and by the oath of his office pursued thecorruption.A Great Read!This is the Real World Folks!Read it!Youwon't put it down until you close the rear cover.The author should havereceived a medal.

There is some real suspense here.
This book gives the reader a vivid experience of the day-to-day reality of a white-collar crime investigator. Although the blurb tells us that the author didn't get his main targets, nevertheless he came very close tothwarting his adversaries (who certainly knew they'd been in a fight), andreaders will be surprised to see what successes Mangieri had and how hisefforts fell short. It's also encouraging to read about some of the alliesMangieri picked up, groups who work largely out of the spotlight but helpgreatly in keeping corruption and incompetence from wrecking our systemaltogether.

A fascinating read!
I really enjoyed this book, which tells of corruption in an important government investigator's job. Nick Mangieri dealt with very difficult issues that most of us don't have to face in our day-to-day lives. Despitethe pressure, he kept his head and his integrity intact. We can all learn alot from his story. ... Read more

Book Description

With all the adventure, derring-do, and bloodcurdling battle scenes of his earlier book,Nathaniel’s Nutmeg, acclaimed historian Giles Milton dazzles readers with thetrue story of William Adams—the first Englishman to set foot in Japan (and theinspiration for James Clavell’s bestselling novel Shogun). Beginning withAdams’s startling letter to the East India Company in 1611—more than a decade afterhe’d arrived in Japan—Samurai William chronicles the first foray by the Westinto that mysterious closed-off land. Drawing upon the journals and letters of Adams aswell as the other Englishmen who came looking for him, Samurai Williampresents a unique glimpse of Japan before it once again closed itself off from the worldfor another two hundred years. ... Read more

Reviews (24)

Going native in Japan
Going native in Japan

According to the book's title, this is the story of the British sailor William Adams, who landed in Japan in 1600 and stayed there until his death in 1620. He became a trusted consultant to the shogun and Emperor Ieyasu who admired his seafaring skills of navigation and also shipbuilding.

Williams was, by no means, the first European in Japan. Preceding him by about half a century were Spaniards and Portuguese. Mostly, they were Jesuits and Franciscans bent on converting the local population to the Catholic faith. Soon further English and Dutch traders arrived, and the continuous conflict between Catholics and Protestants was ready to begin.

Both the British and the Dutch established a Factory, to control trade and get rich quickly. The start capital for the British enterprise was supplied by the East India Company under Sir Thomas Smythe. Richard Cocks ran the Factory. He hired Adams for his invaluable connections to the Japanese `court. More than once Adams saved the future of the company and the lives of some of the English.

Milton shows us the surprise of the Westerners at the high culture of Japan. He describes that culture in quite some detail so that the British experience can be judged correctly in comparison with the home country. Milton also gives us most interesting details on the trading of the day and the miscalculation that happened too often. Not surprisingly he mentions the trade in nutmeg, a link to one of his previous books.

The Factory was completely mismanaged and had to close on Dec. 24, 1623. At the same time the grandson of shogun Ieyasu started a campaigns against all foreigners, throwing them out of the country and effectively closing the door on Japan for the next 200 years.

Samurai William, who left a wife and daughter behind in England , started a new life with a Japanese family. He certainly was unique in being the only Westerner to achieve and maintain such influence over the emperor of Japan.By rights he is famous to this day. But Milton gives us the story of the English settlement and trading post, rather neglecting the story of William Adams. Also, he insists on constantly using the original English language of the time - even when it is not at all necessary to give flavor to the narrative. This gets to be very irritating.

Another Piece of Popular History from Milton
Giles Milton has written another popular piece of history for the fans of Nathaniel's Nutmeg (the events of that book even make an important cameo appearance in this book, Samurai William). William Adams is the title character, as per the subtitle of the Englishman who opened Japan, and he is a fascinating subject for a work of non-fiction. Giles Milton, though, is also lucky to have a supporting cast of Dutch and Englishmen to add further adventure and villiany to the main story. The major caveat of the book is that it is told entirely from the perspective of the Europeans. This works to a certain extent in this book as the author is presenting how one culture (European) views another. This will dissappoint those who wanted to learn more about Japan and the Japanese themselves during this period. It is an exciting tale well told even if it does not match Giles Milton's finest piece of work, the highly recommended B