The Oxford Book of Exploration (Oxford Books of Prose & Verse) - Softcover

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9780199583201: The Oxford Book of Exploration (Oxford Books of Prose & Verse)

Softcover

ISBN 10: 019958320X ISBN 13: 9780199583201

Publisher: Oxford University Press, 2010

Selected by Robin Hanbury-Tenison, described by the Sunday Times as the 'greatest explorer of the last twenty years', this is a comprehensive anthology of the writings of explorers through the ages, now fully revised and updated. The ultimate in travel writing, these are the words of those who changed the world through their pioneering search for new lands, new peoples, and new experiences.

Divided into geographical sections, the book takes us to Asia with Vasco da Gama, Francis Younghusband, and Wilfred Thesiger, to the Americas with John Cabot, Sir Francis Drake, and Alexander Von Humboldt, to Africa with Dr David Livingstone and Mary Kingsley, to the Pacific with Ferdinand Magellan and James Cook, and to the Poles with Robert Peary and Wally Herbert. Driven by a desire to discover that transcends all other considerations, the vivid writings of these extraordinary people reveal what makes them go beyond the possible and earn the right to be known as

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About the Author:

Robin Hanbury-Tenison is a well-known explorer, author, conservationist, broadcaster, film-maker, and campaigner. Named by the Sunday Times in 1982 as 'the greatest explorer of the past 20 years', he made the first land crossing of South America at its widest point, and the first river
crossing of South America from north to south from the Orinoco to Buenos Aires. He was one of the founders of Survival International, the worldwide movement to support tribal peoples, and has been awarded an OBE for his work in lobbying on their behalf. He is a regular contributor reviews to
newspapers and magazines, has made several films of his expeditions for television, and broadcasts regularly in radio and on TV.

From Library Journal:

The compiler of this volume, himself an explorer, author, and world traveler, has put together a sampler of some of the best of the vast literature of exploration from around the world. It consists of carefully selected brief excerpts from the writings of Chinese foot and camel travelers of c.300 A.D. to 20th-century explorers on polar expeditions by balloon and airplane. Each excerpt is accompanied by a brief description of the expedition and a reference to the complete source of the excerpt. Unfortunately, Hanbury-Tenison's somewhat arbitrary distinction between "exploration" literature (included) and "travel" literature (excluded) serves to rule out many of the distinctive voices of women travelers. The result is nevertheless a series of fascinating vignettes that introduce the reader to the world of exploration literature, delight armchair travelers, and invite further reading. Suitable for both young adult and adult readers and a worthwhile addition to all libraries.
- Barbara Walden, Univ. of Minnesota Libs., Minneapolis
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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