In 1818 John Ross led an expedition to search for the Northwest Passage. He got as far as Baffin Bay; but when he reached the only practicable entrance to the passage he declared it to be no more than a bay enclosed by mountains. In subsequent years he was widely derided for that error and carried the scars of public and professional humiliation for the rest of his life. In 1829 he mounted a private expedition to search for the passage; during which he became trapped in the Canadian Arctic and survived a four-year ordeal of isolation and hardship. He proved that whatever his shortcomings as an explorer; he could never be accused of lacking courage. James Clark Ross was one of the most experienced and respected explorers of his day. He led or took part in eight expeditions to the Arctic; including John Ross' 1818 and 1829 expeditions and three with the great explorer William Edward Parry. He also led a highly successful scientific expedition to the Antarctic in 1839-43. His many important discoveries included locating the North Magnetic Pole; and he ensured the presence of the Ross family name throughout both polar regions: Ross Island; Ross Ice Shelf; and Ross Sea in the Antarctic; James Ross Strait; Ross Bay; Ross Point; and Rossøya in the Arctic. Drawing on family papers and extensive research; M.J. Ross traces the careers of these two very different men; highlighting their achievements and defeats; and presents a detailed picture of their private lives.
#21403 in Books Broadway Books 2008-08-12 2008-08-12Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.00 x .80 x 5.20l; .67 #File Name: 0767926242368 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. The "Real" All Americans at CarlisleBy WBAdrianThis is an outstanding book about the Carlisle football team of the early 1900's; principally because it describes the history of Richard Henry Pratt and his "experiment" with prisoners at Fort Marion; Florida; that led up to his founding and building of the Carlisle Indian School in 1879. While the author (Jenkins) accepted the faulty narrative that Pratt's design for Carlisle was to destroy Indian languages; cultures and children; she was generally accurate in describing the educational development of Carlisle under Pratt's leadership and the deterioration of education after Pratt was removed in 1904. Jenkins acknowledged the crucial role of Albert Exendine; a Delaware Indian student at Carlisle who mentored Jim Thorpe and was instrumental in the success of the Carlisle football team. Exendine was born in Indian Territory (now Bartlesville; Oklahoma) and preceded Thorpe at Carlisle four years earlier. He was the first Indian to complete a law degree at Dickinson College (in Carlisle) and became a successful football coach and Indian activist who believed that the removal of Pratt and the closing of Carlisle (1918) "set Indian education back 100 years." (pg. 306). Scholars of the history of Indian education have badly missed Pratt's legacy at Carlisle; and Jenkins' book gives a reasonably balanced story for readers to decide.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. The Real All Americans: The Team That Changed a Game; a People; a NationBy Kindle CustomerI was so delighted to see Sally Jenkins on Cspan Book TV talking about her book and immediately ordered several copies. It is an excellent historical account of the Native American athletes educated at Carlisle Indian School and reveals much about the aftermath of the colonization of the U.S. Superintendent Pratt was a quintessential colonial master who inspired some of his students to excel beyond their wildest dreams. It affords a probing look in to that era; an era not usually described in the general history of the U.S. Jim Thorpe was probably the best known athlete of his time and after winning many awards he was disgraced and only many years after his death was his family able to recover some of his reputation.The book offers insights into class and race of that time and of the present. Athletic ability brilliance can provide a way out of poverty but the colonial masters still control the game.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Not really a football book--something betterBy DougpoundFirst off--it's not a football book. It certainly covers football--which can be interesting--but maybe that's 20% of the book. Most of it is a great book on the challenges of the Carlisle School and the Native American community post Civil War until around 1920. I get that's a harder way to market a book; but either way; it's well worth reading.