Although the Antarctic ice pack and some offshore islands had been sighted and even landed upon briefly as early as the 1820s; it was not until an eccentric Anglo-Norwegian explorer; Carsten F. Borchgrevink; went ashore in 1895 that a human being set foot on the Antarctic continent. Borchgrevink; snubbed by the British establishment; had stolen a march on several planned competing expeditions from Germany and Scandinavia.
#435817 in Books 2010-01-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 5.51 x .46 x 8.50l; .58 #File Name: 0803232837204 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A Must Have Book for Lovers of the History of New York CityBy Linda F.This is an enthralling book that goes back in time to the real founders of New York - the Dutch. The Dutch West India company to be exact.New Netherland as it was originally named was also settled for profit; however; the Dutch were far kinder to the Native Americans who lived there well before white men came - even though there were some skirmishes.I lived for many decades of my life in the areas talked about in the book outside New York City. So; it was great to learn about the origins of the settlements and explains why there are SO many Dutch names that are sprinkled throughout the area.If you love history; and the history of New York specifically; your knowledge cannot be complete without this book.4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Best TranslationBy Sylvia HawleyVan Der Donck's descriptions are among the earliest and fondest of Manhattan and the native peoples who traded with the Dutch settlers after Henry Hudson first found the harbor in 1609. A wonderful companion read is Russell Shorto's "The Island at the Center of the World: The Epic Story of Dutch Manhattan and The Forgotten Colony That Shaped America." Together; they depict (in rich and readable form) how it all happened for better and worse. Van Der Donck was born in Breda; Dutch Republic; and trained in law at Leiden University. Leiden was the refuge of the Pilgrim Fathers whose puritanism made them unwelcome in England. Leiden was where they could print their philosophies freely and then sneak them into England. Leiden University was where Hugo Grotius was teaching and Van Der Donck was influenced. It was the 1600s and there was a tide in history away from church authority or at least Catholic hierarchy in favor of one's individual relationship with the divine. There was a tide for more social equality away from the rigidly top-down structures that more characterized the thinking of royal families and Popes . . . much of the change took place in Holland. There; people had to help one another and cooperate to preserve their land from the sea. The pilgrims who left Leiden for Plymouth Rock wanted to preserve their purity of being even from those open-minded Dutch whose free printing presses were so valued. The Dutch West India Company settled what we now call New York mostly to hold their claim on the fur trade. Van Der Donck's descriptions were written when he had a period of exile and was not allowed to return to "New Netherland." He writes beautifully and lovingly (in Dutch) of the land he later returned to. Shorto's view is more comprehensive and he tells the whole story; so to speak; and a wonderful story it is. Too long lost and so wonderfully written. Van Der Donck; in the 1600s; himself wrote beautifully. Prof. Gehring's excellent translation makes it especially accessible in English. Shorto's work is contemporary and masterfully told. Am highly recommending both works for the vital history and insights they offer.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. ... of the Hudson River Valley then this is an excellent reference. It has information that could have easily ...By Ruthmarie G. HicksIf you are interested in the early history of the Hudson River Valley then this is an excellent reference. It has information that could have easily been lost. Having said that it's not a "fun" read; but has a tremendous amount of information that you probably won't find anywhere else.
