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9781939995421

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Frederick Schwatka made major contributions to the nineteenth century's unfolding of knowledge of Arctic geography, history and ethnography, but his own story has remained largely untold. This gap has now been filled. Douglas Wamsley demonstrates his usual thoroughness and sensitivity in presenting a complete and nuanced biography of Frederick Schwatka. A fascinating read. -Kenn Harper, Arctic historian, author of Minik the New York Eskimo and the series In Those Days: Collected Writings in Arctic History For those who might ask why an obscure, largely forgotten explorer should warrant a full biography, Wamsley's book provides some compelling answers. From Frederick Schwatka's birth in Galena, Illinois in 1849, to the family settlement and his childhood in Oregon, to his West Point admission, to his military career, and above all to his record sledging journey and contribution to the Franklin Search, and finally to his desolute and impoverished end: through all of this Wamsley shows a talent for strong narrative coupled with a genius for ferreting out the secrets of the relevant archives. His very readable book is a major contribution to the literature of Arctic exploration. - David Stam, Senior Scholar, History Department, Syracuse University, author of Adventures in Polar Reading Wamsley's diligence in research, already evident in his previous book, Polar Hayes, illuminates and clarifies many poorly understood chapters of Schwatka's career, and vividly brings to life this courageous yet complicated man. Today, with both of Franklin's ships now found, and the work of archaeologists now corroborating and extending many of Schwatka's discoveries, there could hardly be imagined a better time for his return to the Arctic stage. - from the Foreword by Russell A. Potter

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