The Arctic, a place of austere beauty and danger, is a constant source of breathtaking wonder, beguiling the senses with its strangely stunted forests, mesmerizing aurora borealis, and frozen seas.
In this National Book Award winner, Barry Lopez delves into the many facets of this far northern wonderland, exploring the survival of only a few species of wild animals, such as musk oxen, polar bears, and narwhals, through his passionate and nuanced observations. As Lopez delves into the history and culture of the Arctic’s indigenous people, he also tells the stories of intrepid yet often underprepared polar explorers who have sought to conquer this region.