NONFICTION

Antarctica's Lost Aviator: The Epic Adventure to Explore the Last Frontier on Earth

by Jeff Maynard
Pegasus. Feb. 2019. 352p. notes. bibliog. index. ISBN 9781643130125. $27.95; ebk. ISBN 9781643130965. BIOG
COPY ISBN
Maynard (The Unseen Anzac) presents a biography of American polar explorer Lincoln Ellsworth (1880-1951), who, with his pilot, was the first to fly across Antarctica in 1935. After a traumatic childhood, marred by the death of his mother and the disapproval of his father, Ellsworth struggled to find purpose and happiness in his adult life despite his family's coal mining fortune. Seeking solace in exploring the natural world, Ellsworth eventually turned to polar exploration as a potential path to emulate the bravery of his idols Wyatt Earp and Roald Amundsen. Maynard, who has written two previous works related to Australian explorer George Hubert Wilkins, brings meticulous research skills and considerable prior expertise to the strangely fascinating tale of the depressive, indecisive, and sometimes hapless Ellsworth.
VERDICT While this well-organized work provides a vivid tale of the age of polar exploration, Maynard has chosen a challenging, enigmatic subject in Ellsworth and occasionally struggles to maintain a balanced approach toward the explorer's lesser qualities. Best suited to serious readers interested in the history of polar research who may also consider Beekman Pool's Polar Extremes: The World of Lincoln Ellsworth.
Reviewed by Ingrid Levin, Salve Regina Univ. Lib., Newport, RI , Dec 21, 2018
Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.

RELATED 

MEDIA

The Last Shot: City Streets, Basketball Dreams
by Frey, Darcy
NONFICTION

The Shape of Power: Stories of Race and American Sculpture
by Lemmey, Karen & others
NONFICTION

A Guide to Medical Cannabis: Your Roadmap to Understanding and Using Cannabis and CBD for Health
by Hasse, Javier & Nicolás Jose Rodriguez
NONFICTION

One Thousand Vines: A New Way To Understand Wine
by Lepeltier, Pascaline
NONFICTION

The Best American Science and Nature Writing 2024
by McKibben, Bill & Jaime Green
NONFICTION

Hungry Beautiful Animals: The Joyful Case for Going Vegan
by Halteman, Matthew C.
More
ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?