- Paperback: 320 pages
- Publisher: Robinson Publishing; 1st Printing edition (24 May 2007)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1845295420
- ISBN-13: 978-1845295424
- Product Dimensions: 19.2 x 12.8 x 2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 191,548 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
BBC Focus BBC Focus
Dramatic and well researched book
Great stuff!
Great stuff!
' Joyce Wilson Literary Look around- page 8 2007
I have found this book a fascinating read...a very light and
enjoyable physiological puzzle!
enjoyable physiological puzzle!
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Each of the chapters of this book deals with a different tragic expedition figure, linked by a common inability to see "the line". Most of the characters in this book in fact appear incapable of even realising there is a line, never mind that they have crossed it and gone wandering off over the horizon. Absolutely brilliant and gave me several ideas for other books I'd like to read to expand the short sketches found here.
A must read for anyone interested in what drives people to go adventuring.
A must read for anyone interested in what drives people to go adventuring.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Geoff Powter examines the extraordinary lives of twelve outsiders who through psychological,social,cultural or familial reasons, were driven to go beyond the boundaries which rein in 'normal' adventurers.
Dividing his subjects into three categories.. 'the lost' 'the bent' and 'the burdened', Powter cleverly manages to pack a lifetime into a chapter.Offering an outline of each individual's life from childhood to adulthood before detailing the specific adventures which were more often than not doomed from the outset.
Some well known names are within these pages... Polar explorer,Robert Falcon Scott,Mountaineering hedonist, Alister Crowley and North-West Passage seeker,Lord Franklin.However,some lesser known quixotic adventurers such as aviator Jean Batten, Climbers Claudio Corti and Johnny Waterman and seafarer Donald Crowhurst provide rich material for Geoff to work with.
With six of the twelve being English you wonder if GP is falling victim to the 'mad dogs and Englishmen' stereotype or are the English actually prone to heroic foolhardiness ?
Not all the adventurers die in heroic tragedy. Indeed Jean Batten for example,succeeds in her endeavours only to end her days in loneliness and a paupers grave. Earl Denham survives a mad trip to Everest with summiteer Tenzing to die at peace in old age in New Zealand.
However,more often than not, the quest is all consuming !
Recommended.
Dividing his subjects into three categories.. 'the lost' 'the bent' and 'the burdened', Powter cleverly manages to pack a lifetime into a chapter.Offering an outline of each individual's life from childhood to adulthood before detailing the specific adventures which were more often than not doomed from the outset.
Some well known names are within these pages... Polar explorer,Robert Falcon Scott,Mountaineering hedonist, Alister Crowley and North-West Passage seeker,Lord Franklin.However,some lesser known quixotic adventurers such as aviator Jean Batten, Climbers Claudio Corti and Johnny Waterman and seafarer Donald Crowhurst provide rich material for Geoff to work with.
With six of the twelve being English you wonder if GP is falling victim to the 'mad dogs and Englishmen' stereotype or are the English actually prone to heroic foolhardiness ?
Not all the adventurers die in heroic tragedy. Indeed Jean Batten for example,succeeds in her endeavours only to end her days in loneliness and a paupers grave. Earl Denham survives a mad trip to Everest with summiteer Tenzing to die at peace in old age in New Zealand.
However,more often than not, the quest is all consuming !
Recommended.
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