What do you think?
Rate this book
The Last Viking: The Life of Roald Amundsen
The Last Viking unravels the life of the man who stands head and shoulders above all those who raced to map the last corners of the world. In 1900, the four great geographical mysteries—the Northwest Passage, the Northeast Passage, the South Pole, and the North Pole—remained blank spots on the globe. Within twenty years Roald Amundsen would claim all four prizes. Renowned for his determination and technical skills, both feared and beloved by his men, Amundsen is a legend of the heroic age of exploration, which shortly thereafter would be tamed by technology, commerce, and publicity. Féted in his lifetime as an international celebrity, pursued by women and creditors, he died in the Arctic on a rescue mission for an inept rival explorer.
Stephen R. Bown has unearthed archival material to give Amundsen's life the grim immediacy of Apsley Cherry-Garrard's The Worst Journey in the World , the exciting detail of The Endurance , and the suspense of a Jon Krakauer tale. The Last Viking is both a thrilling literary biography and a cracking good story.
Stephen R. Bown has unearthed archival material to give Amundsen's life the grim immediacy of Apsley Cherry-Garrard's The Worst Journey in the World , the exciting detail of The Endurance , and the suspense of a Jon Krakauer tale. The Last Viking is both a thrilling literary biography and a cracking good story.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2012
About the author
Stephen R. Bown
19 books159 followerswww.facebook.com/srbown
I am a critically acclaimed author of nine literary non-fiction books on the history of science, exploration and ideas. I take a biographical and narrative approach to my writing, using the techniques of fiction writing – strong storytelling, creative language, emphasizing people, their decisions, actions and motivations – to tell factually and historically accurate stories. I believe that people and their behavior never change, only the context is different. My lifelong interest in history is fueled by the lessons to be learned from studying the successes and failures of history's greatest thinkers, leaders and innovators, those who challenged conventional thinking and entrenched power structures to change their world. I am particularly interested in how the world we live in today was formed by individuals who were responding to the big challenges of their time, and in particular, how and why those individuals became pioneers.
I live in a small town in the Rocky Mountains with my wife Nicky and two kids. When I'm not writing I'm usually reading, mountain biking, hiking and camping in the summer, and downhill and cross country skiing in the winter.
My website www.stephenrbown.net includes more information about my books including reviews and awards.
I am a critically acclaimed author of nine literary non-fiction books on the history of science, exploration and ideas. I take a biographical and narrative approach to my writing, using the techniques of fiction writing – strong storytelling, creative language, emphasizing people, their decisions, actions and motivations – to tell factually and historically accurate stories. I believe that people and their behavior never change, only the context is different. My lifelong interest in history is fueled by the lessons to be learned from studying the successes and failures of history's greatest thinkers, leaders and innovators, those who challenged conventional thinking and entrenched power structures to change their world. I am particularly interested in how the world we live in today was formed by individuals who were responding to the big challenges of their time, and in particular, how and why those individuals became pioneers.
I live in a small town in the Rocky Mountains with my wife Nicky and two kids. When I'm not writing I'm usually reading, mountain biking, hiking and camping in the summer, and downhill and cross country skiing in the winter.
My website www.stephenrbown.net includes more information about my books including reviews and awards.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 190 reviews
April 13, 2024
Interesująca biografia chociaż wolałabym by była jeszcze bardziej szczegółowa zwłaszcza pod kątem wypraw badawczych.
June 4, 2017
An interesting take on a man whom I’d not really read much about. I knew Amundsen mainly as the cad who had unsportingly beat Scott to the South Pole - as if the British Empire with its dogged insistence on ponies, unsuitable equipment and man-hauling of sledges had somehow been “awarded” the right to get there first.
But Roald Amundsen was much more than that. He was the consummate independent polar explorer, learning his survival skills from the most appropriate sources. For his first conquest, those were the Inuit. Unlike almost all westerners at the time, Amundsen had a deep respect for their culture and lived among them when he over-wintered in the Arctic for two successive years, becoming the first to discover an actual Northwest Passage.
After this, he’d already raised funds to go to the North Pole when two US explorers, Peary and Cook, independently announced they had just been there (falsely, it later turned out), so Amundsen had to apply a little subterfuge to go South instead – something that undoubtedly contributed to his reputation as a bit of a buccaneer. So it was that the first person to transit the North-West Passage became the first to the South Pole.
After WW1, there were a couple of less spectacular voyages - locked in the ice of the North East Passage for years at a time - before he decided that his era of land exploration was over, and took to the new technology of flight. He made it almost to the North Pole by float plane, and after that right across the Pole to Alaska by airship, and proving that there was no actual polar land-mass there. But on these last two expeditions it seemed to me that he’d lost the edge that he’d developed earlier – these were voyages that were inches from disaster, where previously he’d planned meticulously for every eventuality.
After all those firsts, he recognized that in his fifties, he was becoming too old for Arctic exploration. Despite this, he rather reluctantly joined in a search for a missing explorer, Nobilo, who had been a rival on the airship expedition – reluctantly because he evidently felt a moral obligation to prove there were no hard feelings. He never returned.
The writing is pretty good though it could have used a better editor. And while Brown tends to be a bit of a booster, he isn’t entirely uncritical of Amundsen. He points out how Amundsen’s self-deprecatory manner and habit of minimizing his difficulties probably contributed to his un-earned image as just a “lucky” explorer rather than a supremely loyal and capable one. Brown also presents a previously-unknown side to Amundsen – he was surprisingly, somewhat more feted in the US than in his native Norway, although in later years he did become a celebrity there too. He spent a considerable time on the US lecture circuit to raise funds. He was apparently a bit of a showman and enjoyed the publicity, though not the routine of being on the road – that was just a necessary evil to allow him his next exploration. Great stuff!
But Roald Amundsen was much more than that. He was the consummate independent polar explorer, learning his survival skills from the most appropriate sources. For his first conquest, those were the Inuit. Unlike almost all westerners at the time, Amundsen had a deep respect for their culture and lived among them when he over-wintered in the Arctic for two successive years, becoming the first to discover an actual Northwest Passage.
After this, he’d already raised funds to go to the North Pole when two US explorers, Peary and Cook, independently announced they had just been there (falsely, it later turned out), so Amundsen had to apply a little subterfuge to go South instead – something that undoubtedly contributed to his reputation as a bit of a buccaneer. So it was that the first person to transit the North-West Passage became the first to the South Pole.
After WW1, there were a couple of less spectacular voyages - locked in the ice of the North East Passage for years at a time - before he decided that his era of land exploration was over, and took to the new technology of flight. He made it almost to the North Pole by float plane, and after that right across the Pole to Alaska by airship, and proving that there was no actual polar land-mass there. But on these last two expeditions it seemed to me that he’d lost the edge that he’d developed earlier – these were voyages that were inches from disaster, where previously he’d planned meticulously for every eventuality.
After all those firsts, he recognized that in his fifties, he was becoming too old for Arctic exploration. Despite this, he rather reluctantly joined in a search for a missing explorer, Nobilo, who had been a rival on the airship expedition – reluctantly because he evidently felt a moral obligation to prove there were no hard feelings. He never returned.
The writing is pretty good though it could have used a better editor. And while Brown tends to be a bit of a booster, he isn’t entirely uncritical of Amundsen. He points out how Amundsen’s self-deprecatory manner and habit of minimizing his difficulties probably contributed to his un-earned image as just a “lucky” explorer rather than a supremely loyal and capable one. Brown also presents a previously-unknown side to Amundsen – he was surprisingly, somewhat more feted in the US than in his native Norway, although in later years he did become a celebrity there too. He spent a considerable time on the US lecture circuit to raise funds. He was apparently a bit of a showman and enjoyed the publicity, though not the routine of being on the road – that was just a necessary evil to allow him his next exploration. Great stuff!
February 19, 2017
I was interested in reading this book, because I grew up knowing a lot about 'Scott of the Antarctic ' and very little about Amundsen. I was especially interested in reading the sections of the book relating to the Antarctic, because I have recently sailed round Cape Horn, and stopped at the 3 main South American/Falklands ports that supply the bases in Antarctica. For years, I have been interested in the NorthWest Passage and in Alaska, so there was also a lot in these sections to interest me.
I thought this was a well written book. I learnt a lot about Amundsen, about his preparations for his trips, about what occurred on them, about Norway and its independence, about life in many countries at the time.
I recommend this book. My only proviso is that Stephen Bown has an adulatory approach to Amundsen. He seems to have 'an answer' for any possible criticism of him. The problem with this, is that I don't know whether this book gives any more accurate an account of Amundsen, than the biased approach against Amundsen that prevailed in Britain for much of the last century.
I thought this was a well written book. I learnt a lot about Amundsen, about his preparations for his trips, about what occurred on them, about Norway and its independence, about life in many countries at the time.
I recommend this book. My only proviso is that Stephen Bown has an adulatory approach to Amundsen. He seems to have 'an answer' for any possible criticism of him. The problem with this, is that I don't know whether this book gives any more accurate an account of Amundsen, than the biased approach against Amundsen that prevailed in Britain for much of the last century.
March 10, 2017
WARNING: This book may induce severe cases of daydreaming about being a Polar adventurer. At least it did for me. There is an intense raw beauty to the bravery and boldness to the age of exploration before the days of extreme Risk Mitigation and aversion. When men and women were willing to put everything on the line to pursue an objective relentlessly irregardless of the immense risk. Roald Amundsen embodied the very best traits of an adventurer: dreamer, pragmatic, dogged determination, perseverance, disciplined, humble, with a deep appreciation for learning from other cultures and the importance of group dynamics and cohesion for success. He was meticulous in his planning and execution and knew how to court the media, especially the American Media to great effect. I think these traits are also what made him so wildly popular in the United States during the 1920s, Americans identified with his practicality and willingness to shed any hubris in pursuit of his goal. A man larger than life, and with his death marked the end of the 500 year age of exploration
August 12, 2023
Great read about the life of the last great explorer.
April 11, 2013
This book added significantly to my knowledge of polar exploration. The story of Roald Amundsen is really interesting and is well researched and well told by the author Stephen Bown. 4 1/2 stars... I really liked it.
Besides learning the history of the events of Amundsen's life and having another look into the world of of 100 years ago, The Last Viking demonstrates the qualities of great leadership, bold ideas, bold action, and very careful planning. Unlike some other explorers, Amundsen was willing to learn and adapt in his quest to meet his goals. This is a very human portrait of an exceptional man who accomplished exceptional things.
A few small criticisms. I wish Bown had spent a little more time putting Amundsen's Northwest Passage explorations more firmly in the context of earlier attempts at that prize. Bown does mention Franklin's and others explorations a few times. I wish he would have given the reader a few more pages of grounding in those endeavors. (For interested readers, the book Resolute is an outstanding history of those voyages.)
I was a little surprised that Bown gives no mention at all to other attempts to reach the North Pole by balloon. I read a book last year, The Ice Balloon, that covered those attempts very well. I thought Bown should have referenced that.
Neither of those two books appears in Bown's bibliography.
Another wish: better maps. Many places that Bown refers to in the text aren't on the accompanying maps. That was really my only ongoing complaint about the book.
Those points aside, the book is excellent and will interest many readers.
Besides learning the history of the events of Amundsen's life and having another look into the world of of 100 years ago, The Last Viking demonstrates the qualities of great leadership, bold ideas, bold action, and very careful planning. Unlike some other explorers, Amundsen was willing to learn and adapt in his quest to meet his goals. This is a very human portrait of an exceptional man who accomplished exceptional things.
A few small criticisms. I wish Bown had spent a little more time putting Amundsen's Northwest Passage explorations more firmly in the context of earlier attempts at that prize. Bown does mention Franklin's and others explorations a few times. I wish he would have given the reader a few more pages of grounding in those endeavors. (For interested readers, the book Resolute is an outstanding history of those voyages.)
I was a little surprised that Bown gives no mention at all to other attempts to reach the North Pole by balloon. I read a book last year, The Ice Balloon, that covered those attempts very well. I thought Bown should have referenced that.
Neither of those two books appears in Bown's bibliography.
Another wish: better maps. Many places that Bown refers to in the text aren't on the accompanying maps. That was really my only ongoing complaint about the book.
Those points aside, the book is excellent and will interest many readers.
January 19, 2013
It’s fascinating to learn about people who have a singular goal and dedicate their entire life to reaching that goal. The beginning of the book describes a young Amundsen sleeping with his windows open at night, in the winter, in Norway, to start hardening himself for Arctic conditions and the adventures build from there. There is no comparison in fiction to the true stories of explorers. The bravery and determination of others is so inspiring.
The easiest thing to discuss regarding Amundsen is his race against Scott to the South Pole. My first introduction to Amundsen was at the Fram Museum in Oslo when I was a teenager. One of the only specifics I remember from the museum was that the Norwegians and the British were both trying to be the first to reach the South Pole, and the Norwegians brought dogs while the British brought ponies, so the Norwegians made it first. That one fact has always stood out in my mind about the South Pole, and it always made perfect sense. While reading The Last Viking, I was a little surprised to read that history often plays Amundsen as villain to Scott’s hero. After I finished the book, of course I went online to find more expedition photos, and a quick Google search for “Amundsen South Pole” reinforces the villain/hero roles. It would never have occurred to me to consider him a villain before reading this book, and especially not after. I think Bown addresses it accurately when he notes that Scott was tragically carrying all the baggage of the British Empire with him to the pole. Amundsen had spent years in the Arctic learning survival techniques from the Inuit, while the British mindset still considered the methods civilized people far superior to those of the "uncivilized".
Reaching the South Pole was only one of Amundsen’s many amazing accomplishments and adventures. I don’t want to give away too many details about the rest; it’s worth reading the book. I was a little worried that the book would taper off after his more well known expeditions, but it stayed strong through his adventures on the airship Norge and through the end of his life. (Side note: When I was younger, I would constantly picture people walking around inside the big balloon part of a blimp or airship, instead of in the small basket at the bottom. Years later, I still had to remind myself every other paragraph that they weren’t inside the hydrogen filled compartment. The book would mention how crowded it was, and I would immediately think, “Why would they be crowded- oh, right.” I’m not sure why I can’t get that to stick in my brain.)
Of course after reading any book that I love, I have to add a dozen or so books to my mental “to-read” list: a book about Scott, a book about the history of Norway, a reread of Call of the Wild…
The easiest thing to discuss regarding Amundsen is his race against Scott to the South Pole. My first introduction to Amundsen was at the Fram Museum in Oslo when I was a teenager. One of the only specifics I remember from the museum was that the Norwegians and the British were both trying to be the first to reach the South Pole, and the Norwegians brought dogs while the British brought ponies, so the Norwegians made it first. That one fact has always stood out in my mind about the South Pole, and it always made perfect sense. While reading The Last Viking, I was a little surprised to read that history often plays Amundsen as villain to Scott’s hero. After I finished the book, of course I went online to find more expedition photos, and a quick Google search for “Amundsen South Pole” reinforces the villain/hero roles. It would never have occurred to me to consider him a villain before reading this book, and especially not after. I think Bown addresses it accurately when he notes that Scott was tragically carrying all the baggage of the British Empire with him to the pole. Amundsen had spent years in the Arctic learning survival techniques from the Inuit, while the British mindset still considered the methods civilized people far superior to those of the "uncivilized".
Reaching the South Pole was only one of Amundsen’s many amazing accomplishments and adventures. I don’t want to give away too many details about the rest; it’s worth reading the book. I was a little worried that the book would taper off after his more well known expeditions, but it stayed strong through his adventures on the airship Norge and through the end of his life. (Side note: When I was younger, I would constantly picture people walking around inside the big balloon part of a blimp or airship, instead of in the small basket at the bottom. Years later, I still had to remind myself every other paragraph that they weren’t inside the hydrogen filled compartment. The book would mention how crowded it was, and I would immediately think, “Why would they be crowded- oh, right.” I’m not sure why I can’t get that to stick in my brain.)
Of course after reading any book that I love, I have to add a dozen or so books to my mental “to-read” list: a book about Scott, a book about the history of Norway, a reread of Call of the Wild…
August 28, 2019
Stephen R. Brown's The Last Viking is a deeply-researched, thrilling account of Roald Amundsen's epic life. Brown's narrative moves quickly and is engaging. The greatest value of this outstanding book is the deep research, which resulted in looking at Amundsen in a new way. The Last Viking will appeal to fans of narrative nonfiction, adventure, history, and the early twentieth century. Of course, anyone who falls into the "in love with Norway" category like I do needs to read this book to understand Norway and its people and culture better. -- Bob Batchelor, author, The Bourbon King: The Life and Crimes of George Remus, Prohibition's Evil Genius (Diversion Books)
July 7, 2015
I remember as a schoolboy being led to believe that Robert Falcon Scott’s expedition was 'cheated' of their moment of glory at the South Pole by the Norwegian, Roald Amundsen. I urge you to read this book to set the record straight.
Canadian biographer Steven R. Bown shows us a flawed hero, worshipped by his men yet a womaniser, careless with his money, who lived his life to the full. The fascinating accounts of Amundsen’s adventures are balanced with details of the considerable effort and planning behind each of his voyages.
Early on, Amundsen realised that there was inevitably tension between the ship's captain and the expedition leader, so he promptly gained his captain's papers to solve the problem. For similar reasons he never included doctors on his teams, a policy that almost cost him his life. In the Arctic he was attacked by a polar bear, which smashed his shoulder and ripped great gashes on his back. He had the ship’s cook stitch him up as best he could but suffered from his injuries for many years.
Amundsen's fascination with the Inuit culture is a perfect example of his attitude to exploration. As well as learning how to survive in the ice, how to manage sled dogs and the secrets of their reindeer-hide clothing, he studied their whole approach to life. This proved invaluable when he reached the Antarctic. While Scott struggled with unreliable snow-tractors, 'man-hauling' sledges and ponies, Amundsen's small team travelled light from one 'storage depot' to the next, with teams of dogs ideally suited to the conditions.
Although he never met Scott, Amundsen’s party were visited by the Terra Nova shortly before they left for the pole. Almost obsessive about keeping his own ship, the Fran clean and well-ordered, Amundsen was appalled by the condition of Scott’s ship and thought it did not reflect well on the leadership of the British expedition.
Captain Roald Amundsen at the wheel
during the North Pole expedition, 1920
(Wikimedia Commons)
The global interest in his adventures meant he could earn a fortune from his books and lecture tours, which he used to finance new expeditions. Less easy for modern readers to understand is the way he took two young Chukchi Eskimo girls to America, and then to Norway, apparently to prove they were capable of gaining a 'proper' education.
I knew little of Amundsen’s achievements in discovering the North-West passage, or of his high-risk attempts to fly to the North Pole in various aircraft. His ultimately successful voyage in an Italian airship is one of the most gripping accounts in the book.
Thanks to Stephen Bown, Roald Amundsen is now one of my all-time heroes. I would like to leave the last word to another, Earnest Shackleton, who responded to Amundsen's speech to the Royal Geographic Society, saying, "throughout the lecture tonight I never heard the word 'I' mentioned, it was always 'we'. I think that is the way Amundsen got his men to work along with him, and it brought the successful conclusion."
Tony Riches
Canadian biographer Steven R. Bown shows us a flawed hero, worshipped by his men yet a womaniser, careless with his money, who lived his life to the full. The fascinating accounts of Amundsen’s adventures are balanced with details of the considerable effort and planning behind each of his voyages.
Early on, Amundsen realised that there was inevitably tension between the ship's captain and the expedition leader, so he promptly gained his captain's papers to solve the problem. For similar reasons he never included doctors on his teams, a policy that almost cost him his life. In the Arctic he was attacked by a polar bear, which smashed his shoulder and ripped great gashes on his back. He had the ship’s cook stitch him up as best he could but suffered from his injuries for many years.
Amundsen's fascination with the Inuit culture is a perfect example of his attitude to exploration. As well as learning how to survive in the ice, how to manage sled dogs and the secrets of their reindeer-hide clothing, he studied their whole approach to life. This proved invaluable when he reached the Antarctic. While Scott struggled with unreliable snow-tractors, 'man-hauling' sledges and ponies, Amundsen's small team travelled light from one 'storage depot' to the next, with teams of dogs ideally suited to the conditions.
Although he never met Scott, Amundsen’s party were visited by the Terra Nova shortly before they left for the pole. Almost obsessive about keeping his own ship, the Fran clean and well-ordered, Amundsen was appalled by the condition of Scott’s ship and thought it did not reflect well on the leadership of the British expedition.
Captain Roald Amundsen at the wheel
during the North Pole expedition, 1920
(Wikimedia Commons)
The global interest in his adventures meant he could earn a fortune from his books and lecture tours, which he used to finance new expeditions. Less easy for modern readers to understand is the way he took two young Chukchi Eskimo girls to America, and then to Norway, apparently to prove they were capable of gaining a 'proper' education.
I knew little of Amundsen’s achievements in discovering the North-West passage, or of his high-risk attempts to fly to the North Pole in various aircraft. His ultimately successful voyage in an Italian airship is one of the most gripping accounts in the book.
Thanks to Stephen Bown, Roald Amundsen is now one of my all-time heroes. I would like to leave the last word to another, Earnest Shackleton, who responded to Amundsen's speech to the Royal Geographic Society, saying, "throughout the lecture tonight I never heard the word 'I' mentioned, it was always 'we'. I think that is the way Amundsen got his men to work along with him, and it brought the successful conclusion."
Tony Riches
September 3, 2015
I highly recommend this book to all!
This book depicts the exploration of the North and South poles by a Norwegian explorer called Roald Amundsen. It also tells of how he navigates the north west and south east passages. Amundsen was the first to discover the North and South Poles and he did it in a short twenty years.
The author manages quite well to tell a lively story while keeping all the facts in tact.
Enjoy and Be Blessed.
Diamond
This book depicts the exploration of the North and South poles by a Norwegian explorer called Roald Amundsen. It also tells of how he navigates the north west and south east passages. Amundsen was the first to discover the North and South Poles and he did it in a short twenty years.
The author manages quite well to tell a lively story while keeping all the facts in tact.
Enjoy and Be Blessed.
Diamond
October 19, 2020
Stephen R. Bown's The Last Viking: The Life of Roald Amundsen is a biography of the Norwegian explorer who made it across the northwest passage and later beat the Brits to the South Pole. Although I've read Lansing's Endurance, which is about Shackleton, and Michael Palin's Erebus, which tells the story of the Franklin expedition, I came to The Last Viking because of Joseph Henrich's The Secret of Our Success. Henrich, an anthropologist, argues that culture is a sort of external memory that shapes our lives and evolution. He suggests Amundsen beat his British rivals because he was willing to learn survival techniques embedded in local cultures, in this case the Inuit culture. In Henrich's words:
For the Netsilik, this island is rich in resources for food, clothing, shelter, and tool-making. […] The reason Franklin’s men could not survive is that humans don’t adapt to novel environments the way other animals do or by using our individual intelligence. None of the 105 big brains figured out how to use driftwood, which was available on King William Island’s west coast where they camped, to make the reserve composite bows, which the Inuit used when stalking caribou. They further lacked the vast body of cultural know-how about building snow houses, creating fresh water, hunting seals, making kayaks, spearing salmon and tailoring cold-weather clothing (23 -4).Bown's account of Amundsen's life supports Henrich's analysis. Amundsen had daring and bravado, but he mostly comes across as a pragmatic planner rather than a romantic hero. Oddly, in spite of his successes, and in spite of his dramatic death, I suspect readers prefer the romantic pride (arrogance?) and tragic suffering we see in the adventures of the British explorers.
December 13, 2018
I like to think that I live in the north, and compared to a lot of other people, I do. ( 61.4978° N for the win! ) But this book makes me realize that there is still a lot of planet between me and the North Pole, and that the people who live in those latitudes are far tougher than I will ever be.
Bown's biography of Amundsen highlights the polar explorer's exceptional logistics and leadership skills. Amundsen learned early on that what he didn't prepare for would likely kill him, and most of his expeditions involved years of study and preparation for every contingency. He embraced new technologies like planes and airships, but was equally comfortable mastering traditional technologies like dogsleds and snow construction. (His respect for the Inuit as cultural equals was critical to learning his key survival skills.)
The book doesn't gloss over Amundsen's flaws -- he was prickly, financially irresponsible, and had no problem being a bit of a con man to get an expedition off the ground. But he is a truly inspirational figure, if only because I figure that if my survival doesn't depend on chopping out an airstrip before I'm too weak to move, then life can't be that bad.
Bown's biography of Amundsen highlights the polar explorer's exceptional logistics and leadership skills. Amundsen learned early on that what he didn't prepare for would likely kill him, and most of his expeditions involved years of study and preparation for every contingency. He embraced new technologies like planes and airships, but was equally comfortable mastering traditional technologies like dogsleds and snow construction. (His respect for the Inuit as cultural equals was critical to learning his key survival skills.)
The book doesn't gloss over Amundsen's flaws -- he was prickly, financially irresponsible, and had no problem being a bit of a con man to get an expedition off the ground. But he is a truly inspirational figure, if only because I figure that if my survival doesn't depend on chopping out an airstrip before I'm too weak to move, then life can't be that bad.
August 29, 2022
I have a long obsession with arctic explorers, partly stemming from my minor in Scandinavian studies, and Norwegians having claim to a large portion of the Age of Exploration. When I was in Norway, I got to visit the Fram Museum where the original interior of the exploration ship, the Fram, is preserved and where the exploits of Fridtjof Nansen, Otto Sverdrup, and Roald Amundsen are described.
I have also read a lot of books about polar explorers, like Douglas Mawsen and Ernest Shackleton. Therefore, I had heard a lot about Amundsen, but always in the periphery. His legend looms large when discussing this day and age. Amundsen was the first man to travel to the North and South poles. He was a bold and enigmatic adventurer and it was fascinating to listen to this account of his life.
I have also read a lot of books about polar explorers, like Douglas Mawsen and Ernest Shackleton. Therefore, I had heard a lot about Amundsen, but always in the periphery. His legend looms large when discussing this day and age. Amundsen was the first man to travel to the North and South poles. He was a bold and enigmatic adventurer and it was fascinating to listen to this account of his life.
May 8, 2016
One of the greatest stories of all-time, in my opinion, is the story of Ernest Shackleton and his ill-fated crew of the Endurance. Shackleton was an early 20th Century polar explorer, but is probably better known today for his leadership abilities in unthinkable circumstances.
Multiple films, documentaries and books were produced at the 100th anniversary of the Endurance adventure.
The ship was crushed in the shifting ice pack in the Antarctic. The crew of 28 set up camp on the ice, and then they relocated via lifeboats to a desolate island of ice and snow, Elephant Island. Shackleton and a few men attempt to go for help by sailing to a whaling station on South Georgia Island 800 miles away. Despite sailing through ridiculous conditions of hurricane force winds, gigantic waves, minimal food and no navigation but the stars, they make it to the island. But shit, they’re on the wrong side of the island and they have to scale snow-capped mountains, which they do with no map in 36 hours. Shackleton then finds a ship that will assist in a rescue of his men stranded on ice island, but it takes four attempts due to the ice. But they finally get there and save everyone. The whole thing took about three years, 1914-1917.
Those years became known as the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration.
Shackleton was certainly a hero, but he was also unsuccessful in his major exploration attempts.
“The Last Viking: The Life of Roald Amundsen” by Stephen Bown tells the life story of a guy who got the job done ... Roald Amundsen, the greatest polar explorer of all-time ... first to the South Pole, first to the North Pole, who successfully navigated the Northwest and Northeast Passage.
Shackleton’s bad luck was epic and really incomparable, but bad luck was fairly routine in polar exploration. There was a good chance that you were going to suffer and suffer for a long time and suffer to the brink of death. But there were nations lining up to explore the globe and achieve great feats.
Roald was inspired as a young man to do big things. He saw how well received fellow countryman Fridtjof Nansen when Nansen returned to Norway after crossing Greenland. Roald thought, “That’s what I want to do.” He slept with his windows open in the winter. He got the training that he needed to work on a ship and later to captain a ship and an expedition. He was laser-focused and learned from those who went before him and put those lessons into practice.
He went on several expeditions to very cold places; most of them took years.
The most riveting section of The Last Viking centered on the race to the South Pole. I was aware of the basic details of the story from a leadership class I took. In the class, Amundsen is portrayed as the sensible strategist and the hands-on leader and was compared favorably to the British expedition in every way. So it appears that history may be coming around at long last for Amundsen.
In 2011, the world celebrated the 100-year anniversary of Amundsen’s feat. Everyone on the crew kept journals and everyone lived, so there are a lot of great details, but those journals were written in Norwegian and it wasn’t until the anniversary that this treasure trove was finally translated and made available in English. In Roald’s official books of his exploits, he downplayed the difficulties of the missions.
The author did a good job of researching the man and the times. Amundsen is a flawed man, but what he accomplished is indisputable. He had financial problems. He had public disputes with business partners. He had affairs with married women.
The British Royal Geographical Society held sway in much of the scientific community and when their boy ended up taking an eternal ice nap, for whatever reason, they discredited Amundsen. Not disputing the feat, but his motivations and tactics. They depicted him as being relentlessly ambitious, which I think is comical, and that he wasn’t motivated by pure scientific goals, which is also funny. That was a guise that these explorers used to get funding. The larger goal was to get to the Pole. Amundsen had the best plan and he executed.
America did not care about that scientific stuff. Amundsen toured the U.S. over and over, telling his stories over and over. The New York Times wrote over 400 stories on Amundsen.
But because of his often poor financials, later in life, he had to cede total control of his expeditions. The pilot of the airship, the Norge, that flew to the North Pole was Italian named Nobile. He was a military man and he was under orders from Mussolini to go get some glory for Italy. That story was unbelievable and almost funny too. Getting to the North Pole turned out to be the easy part, the exit flight over uncharted territory was fraught with dangers.
My grandfather was born in Trondheim, Norway. In 1906 at the age of 17, Andreas Haave boarded a ship for America, all alone, speaking no English. I was going to like Roald Amundsen and The Last Viking no matter what, but I like the book and it sparked a larger interest in me to learn more about my Norwegian roots and my new interest in the heroes of that age … the polar explorers, the aviators … that spirit.
One of my favorite parts about the book was Roald’s relationship with Nansen, his inspiration who became his mentor. In fact, Amundsen borrowed Nansen’s famous ship for the South Pole expedition. The ship was named Fram, which is Norwegian for ‘forward.’ I like that. I like that a lot.
Fram is on display in its own museum in Oslo. I’m going to have to visit.
Multiple films, documentaries and books were produced at the 100th anniversary of the Endurance adventure.
The ship was crushed in the shifting ice pack in the Antarctic. The crew of 28 set up camp on the ice, and then they relocated via lifeboats to a desolate island of ice and snow, Elephant Island. Shackleton and a few men attempt to go for help by sailing to a whaling station on South Georgia Island 800 miles away. Despite sailing through ridiculous conditions of hurricane force winds, gigantic waves, minimal food and no navigation but the stars, they make it to the island. But shit, they’re on the wrong side of the island and they have to scale snow-capped mountains, which they do with no map in 36 hours. Shackleton then finds a ship that will assist in a rescue of his men stranded on ice island, but it takes four attempts due to the ice. But they finally get there and save everyone. The whole thing took about three years, 1914-1917.
Those years became known as the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration.
Shackleton was certainly a hero, but he was also unsuccessful in his major exploration attempts.
“The Last Viking: The Life of Roald Amundsen” by Stephen Bown tells the life story of a guy who got the job done ... Roald Amundsen, the greatest polar explorer of all-time ... first to the South Pole, first to the North Pole, who successfully navigated the Northwest and Northeast Passage.
Shackleton’s bad luck was epic and really incomparable, but bad luck was fairly routine in polar exploration. There was a good chance that you were going to suffer and suffer for a long time and suffer to the brink of death. But there were nations lining up to explore the globe and achieve great feats.
Roald was inspired as a young man to do big things. He saw how well received fellow countryman Fridtjof Nansen when Nansen returned to Norway after crossing Greenland. Roald thought, “That’s what I want to do.” He slept with his windows open in the winter. He got the training that he needed to work on a ship and later to captain a ship and an expedition. He was laser-focused and learned from those who went before him and put those lessons into practice.
He went on several expeditions to very cold places; most of them took years.
The most riveting section of The Last Viking centered on the race to the South Pole. I was aware of the basic details of the story from a leadership class I took. In the class, Amundsen is portrayed as the sensible strategist and the hands-on leader and was compared favorably to the British expedition in every way. So it appears that history may be coming around at long last for Amundsen.
In 2011, the world celebrated the 100-year anniversary of Amundsen’s feat. Everyone on the crew kept journals and everyone lived, so there are a lot of great details, but those journals were written in Norwegian and it wasn’t until the anniversary that this treasure trove was finally translated and made available in English. In Roald’s official books of his exploits, he downplayed the difficulties of the missions.
The author did a good job of researching the man and the times. Amundsen is a flawed man, but what he accomplished is indisputable. He had financial problems. He had public disputes with business partners. He had affairs with married women.
The British Royal Geographical Society held sway in much of the scientific community and when their boy ended up taking an eternal ice nap, for whatever reason, they discredited Amundsen. Not disputing the feat, but his motivations and tactics. They depicted him as being relentlessly ambitious, which I think is comical, and that he wasn’t motivated by pure scientific goals, which is also funny. That was a guise that these explorers used to get funding. The larger goal was to get to the Pole. Amundsen had the best plan and he executed.
America did not care about that scientific stuff. Amundsen toured the U.S. over and over, telling his stories over and over. The New York Times wrote over 400 stories on Amundsen.
But because of his often poor financials, later in life, he had to cede total control of his expeditions. The pilot of the airship, the Norge, that flew to the North Pole was Italian named Nobile. He was a military man and he was under orders from Mussolini to go get some glory for Italy. That story was unbelievable and almost funny too. Getting to the North Pole turned out to be the easy part, the exit flight over uncharted territory was fraught with dangers.
My grandfather was born in Trondheim, Norway. In 1906 at the age of 17, Andreas Haave boarded a ship for America, all alone, speaking no English. I was going to like Roald Amundsen and The Last Viking no matter what, but I like the book and it sparked a larger interest in me to learn more about my Norwegian roots and my new interest in the heroes of that age … the polar explorers, the aviators … that spirit.
One of my favorite parts about the book was Roald’s relationship with Nansen, his inspiration who became his mentor. In fact, Amundsen borrowed Nansen’s famous ship for the South Pole expedition. The ship was named Fram, which is Norwegian for ‘forward.’ I like that. I like that a lot.
Fram is on display in its own museum in Oslo. I’m going to have to visit.
July 12, 2018
The author scored a tremendous hit on two fronts. One is transporting the reader into another time and place, letting us experience the dangers, difficulties, and excitements of polar exploration with Roald Amudsen and his crew. Two is bringing out a coherent image of Roald Amudsen, who has lived most of his life shrouded in controversy (and for good reason). This really reads like an adventure book, while at the same time being highly educative about the life of an explorer.
If you have at least a little inkling to read about the explorers of old - I can't recommed this book highly enough.
If you have at least a little inkling to read about the explorers of old - I can't recommed this book highly enough.
January 28, 2020
Historia życia ostatniego wikinga, człowieka, który był na obu biegunach w czasach, gdy taka podróż oznaczała brak kontaktu ze światem przez kilka lat. Doskonale zorganizowany i przewidujący, otwarty na wiedzę rdzennych ludów, świetny dowódzca.
Biografia Amundsena to także ciekawy zapis działań marketingowych w czasach świetności prasy i braku powszechnych środków komunikacji. Są tu też rzeczy niezmienne od lat, które znają i wspólcześni podróżnicy: zadłużenie, zdobywanie sponsorów i jeżdżenie z wykładami po kraju w celu sfinansowania kolejnej wyprawy.
Biografia Amundsena to także ciekawy zapis działań marketingowych w czasach świetności prasy i braku powszechnych środków komunikacji. Są tu też rzeczy niezmienne od lat, które znają i wspólcześni podróżnicy: zadłużenie, zdobywanie sponsorów i jeżdżenie z wykładami po kraju w celu sfinansowania kolejnej wyprawy.
March 22, 2021
AMUNDSEN – obywatel świata, obieżyświat, pasjonata. Bardzo dobra biografia.
December 12, 2023
As an amateur sailor, I enjoyed every moment reading the book. Amundsen's determination to achieve his goals can be a model in any field of life.
June 12, 2022
I'm really grateful mr Brown for presenting me a great persona of Roald Amundsen. Wonderful experience, beautiful journey through last scrap of lands that wasn't discovered. People who sacrifice their lives for such a greatness, like Amundsen, should be "influencers" of modern world. It's sad how things have changed over the past 100 years. As for the style of the book... Easy to read, the author conducted great research which led to the creation of great non fiction story. I will definitely pick up another book of mr Brown.
December 26, 2020
Świetnie opracowana biografia jednego z największych polarników . Czyta się ją powieść przygodowa, a przecież to opis charakteru wielkiego człowieka, który realnie żył i spełniał swoje marzenia.
April 11, 2022
If you created a fictional character in a movie or book like Amundsen, it would not seem remotely believable or possible. Amundsen’s accomplishments and antics are even more legendary and larger than life than I knew.
As a boy he dreamed of a life of polar exploration, so he left his window open all night to start climatizing himself for the cold. As an adult he finally gets to go on a major expedition, and survives being stranded all winter in Antarctica on the Belgica while others die or go insane. He is first to successfully navigate the Northwest Passage. He still can’t get fundraising for his own South Pole expedition but he can for the North Pole, so he pretends to plan a North Pole expedition all year, only telling the crew at the last minute they are going to the South Pole, and just sails away before any of his backers can do anything. Who does that? And it actually worked is the crazy part. Then he flies these death trap early planes on cockamamie missions to the North Pole, after another near death disaster he actually makes it. Sadly it does not seem he was really fulfilled by his amazing accomplishments. He was always trying to get married women to leave their husbands for him. His final autobiography was a 1/3 complaining about one of last expedition mates, 1/3 blaming his brother for why he is bankrupt, and only 1/3 of his actual accomplishments. Then the arch nemesis he spent so much of his book complaining about goes missing on an expedition. Amundsen decides despite the hard feelings to go and try to rescue him. Amundsen dies and the arch nemesis ends up being fine.
Again sounds unbelievable if you were to make up a character with a story like this. The book is totally on Amunden’s side about everything, but still interesting to consider that perspective. Highly recommended.
As a boy he dreamed of a life of polar exploration, so he left his window open all night to start climatizing himself for the cold. As an adult he finally gets to go on a major expedition, and survives being stranded all winter in Antarctica on the Belgica while others die or go insane. He is first to successfully navigate the Northwest Passage. He still can’t get fundraising for his own South Pole expedition but he can for the North Pole, so he pretends to plan a North Pole expedition all year, only telling the crew at the last minute they are going to the South Pole, and just sails away before any of his backers can do anything. Who does that? And it actually worked is the crazy part. Then he flies these death trap early planes on cockamamie missions to the North Pole, after another near death disaster he actually makes it. Sadly it does not seem he was really fulfilled by his amazing accomplishments. He was always trying to get married women to leave their husbands for him. His final autobiography was a 1/3 complaining about one of last expedition mates, 1/3 blaming his brother for why he is bankrupt, and only 1/3 of his actual accomplishments. Then the arch nemesis he spent so much of his book complaining about goes missing on an expedition. Amundsen decides despite the hard feelings to go and try to rescue him. Amundsen dies and the arch nemesis ends up being fine.
Again sounds unbelievable if you were to make up a character with a story like this. The book is totally on Amunden’s side about everything, but still interesting to consider that perspective. Highly recommended.
March 24, 2019
Highly recommend.
January 13, 2017
An outstanding account of Amundsen's fascinating life.
April 17, 2013
I love the biography/autobiography/memoir genre. I'm always enthralled by stories about people who have lived their lives with courage, intelligence, and determination - and Amundsen certainly fits that description.
Stephen R. Bown's The Last Viking did not disappoint and performed an admirable feat in creating an accurate and unbiased accounting of Amundsen's lifetime of exploration. I was most impressed to learn that Amundsen had spent years in the Arctic learning the survival techniques of the Inuit which he then utilized during his expeditions, which greatly contributed to their success.
Amundsen’s life was full of awesome accomplishments and while not without his detractors, especially during his lifetime, his bravery & intelligence in preparing for and carrying out his expeditions is nothing short of admirable.
Great book! Makes me want to learn more about: the history of Norway, Scott's expeditions, the Inuit and their customs . . .
Stephen R. Bown's The Last Viking did not disappoint and performed an admirable feat in creating an accurate and unbiased accounting of Amundsen's lifetime of exploration. I was most impressed to learn that Amundsen had spent years in the Arctic learning the survival techniques of the Inuit which he then utilized during his expeditions, which greatly contributed to their success.
Amundsen’s life was full of awesome accomplishments and while not without his detractors, especially during his lifetime, his bravery & intelligence in preparing for and carrying out his expeditions is nothing short of admirable.
Great book! Makes me want to learn more about: the history of Norway, Scott's expeditions, the Inuit and their customs . . .
October 27, 2012
Spellbinding. Occasionally bordering on hagiographic, but only briefly and even then (IMO) forgivably: some people truly are larger than life. It would be dishonest to pretend otherwise.
Amundsen was a fascinating man, living during the end of one age and the beginning of a new one. Most remarkable not for his strength of character but for his ability to observe and adapt and learn: Arctic survival from the Inuit; the importance of personality in small teams; the unfortunate realities of dealing with media in a shrinking world.
Well written, organized, researched. Gripping: I had a hard time putting it down. Insightful and rewarding. Much, much more than a story about a man: it's a rich look at a different time (and world), when there were still places left unexplored, still Adventures to be had.
Amundsen was a fascinating man, living during the end of one age and the beginning of a new one. Most remarkable not for his strength of character but for his ability to observe and adapt and learn: Arctic survival from the Inuit; the importance of personality in small teams; the unfortunate realities of dealing with media in a shrinking world.
Well written, organized, researched. Gripping: I had a hard time putting it down. Insightful and rewarding. Much, much more than a story about a man: it's a rich look at a different time (and world), when there were still places left unexplored, still Adventures to be had.
April 5, 2016
After being fascinated with the search for the Northwest Passage for years and having my socks well and truly blown off after visiting the AMAZING Fram Museum in Olso, I was very eager to learn more about Amundsen. The book was very good, and did well to put most events in wider general context. I would agree with another reviewer who said some of the NW passage historical context was brushed over. Of course Franklin was going to be mentioned, but it's a pity John Rae (my personal hero!) only got a few lines. Rae and Amundsen were both wise enough to adopt Inuit ways of life to survive the Arctic condition, which was undoubtably the reason they had a success story to tell!
June 12, 2013
This is a very interesting book on Roald Amundsen, who besides his well known South Polar expedition, had many trips in the Arctic. Roald Amundsen is described primarily in a positive light. The book brings out how what he gleaned from Inuit culture helped in his race to the South Pole. It tells of how well he picked his exploration teams and their strong loyalty to him. I wish the book had more of a bibliography, but otherwise it was a very interesting book.
January 15, 2013
An excellent overview of Amundsen's entire career. Bown offers a thorough background that explains Amundsen's approach to his South Pole expedition. I would have enjoyed reading more about particular expeditions, especially the Northwest Passage and South Pole, but I think most readers will appreciate the author's focus on telling the broader story of Amundsen's life.
August 7, 2013
I love it! I couldn't put it down. A biography of Roald Amundsen with his expedition details: Northwest Passage, both Poles and the Northeast Passage. Bown does a fabulous job in creating suspense when necessary and paints Amundsen with a "larger-than-life" personality. It is a story that would inspire any child or "kid-at-heart" [me] to go off and explore the undiscovered world.
June 30, 2013
In 1914, the experienced polar explorer Roald Amundsen "raced" the poorly prepared Robert Falcon Scott to the South Pole. He won, and Scott died. This book goes beyond the once-controversial event that made him famous worldwide and looks at how he became an explorer and what happened later.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 190 reviews