From the author of A Venetian Affair and Lucia comes a charming odyssey in the path of the mysterious Zen brothers; who explored parts of the New World a century before Columbus; and became both a source of scandal and a cause célèbre among geographers in the following centuries. This delightful journey begins with Andrea di Robilant’s serendipitous discovery of a travel narrative published in Venice in 1558 by the Renaissance statesman Nicolò Zen: the text and its fascinating nautical map re-created the travels of two of the author’s ancestors; brothers who explored the North Atlantic in the 1380s and 1390s. Di Robilant set out to discover why later; in the nineteenth century; the Zens’ account came under attack as one of the greatest frauds in geographical history. Was their map—and even their journey—partially or perhaps entirely faked? In Irresistible North the author follows the Zens’ route from the Faeroes to Shetland to Iceland and Greenland; greeted by characters who help unravel the enigmas in the Zens’ account. The medieval world comes to life as di Robilant guides us through a landscape enlivened by the ghosts of power-hungry earls and bishops of the old Norwegian realm and magical tales of hot springs and smoking mountains. In this rich telling—an original work of history and a travel book in one—the magnetism of the north draws us in as powerfully as it drew the Zen brothers more than six centuries ago.
#3078471 in Books Mahood Wayne 2003-07-31 2003-07-29Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.02 x 1.00 x 5.98l; 1.64 #File Name: 030681238X368 pagesISBN13: 9780306812385Condition: NewNotes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Tracking provided on most orders. Buy with Confidence! Millions of books sold!
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. One of the Good GeneralsBy Dr. A. L. StoddardA truly remarkable patriot!!! He was a wealthy; upper crust gentleman who volunteered to serve in the Union army without pay. He was kind and considerate to friends and enemies alike. His soldiers found him to be approachable and always concerned about their well-being . He was a "political" general without the military training of the West Point graduates and lacked some of their tactical sense; but in my opinion; was a better general than those West Pointers who built their reputations with the blood of their fallen troops; for example; Grant; Sherman; and Sheridan. Worth reading!!0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Having gone to SUNY Geneseo and being familiar with New ...By BmanHaving gone to SUNY Geneseo and being familiar with New York State history I was familiar with the Wadsworth name. However; this book brings a fullness of color around the general and his family that I never would have understood with reading it.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Well-written biography of a little-known Civil War General from NY State.By David J. DupreyThis was a very readable biography of a little-known Civil War General.As the other reviewers have detailed the events of what this biography covers; I won't duplicate that here. James S. Wadsworth is often classified as a "Political General" even though he was never elected to political office; although he did lose his run for Governor of New York. He entered service at an advanced age and was a self-made millionaire with no formal military training.While there is little surviving correspondence and/or diaries from James S. Wadsworth; the author makes up for that lack of the subject's voice by relying on his family's surviving correspondence and speculation from the author's research when necessary.The beginning of the book covers Wadsworth's family history which can normally be the least interesting part of a Military biography. But; to this author's credit; I found it interesting reading and not just because I am also a native Upstate NY'er. I've read many biographies and not all are able to make the non-military periods interesting or spends too much time on it; when we all want to get to the War Years.After reading this book; I have come away with a great respect for Wadsworth; who served his nation when he did not have to and "lead from the front" because he felt it was the only way to lead men into combat.This book exceeded my expectations that I had regarding how engaging the writing would be and how interesting the non-War years would be. I did not find myself getting bored reading this book or wanting to skip ahead.
