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Stephen R. Bown
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The Last Viking: The Life of Roald Amundsen Hardcover – October 6, 2012

by Stephen Brown (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 896 ratings
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"An intensely researched, thoroughly enjoyable life of one of history's best explorers...A superb biography of a fiercely driven explorer who traveled across the last inaccessible areas on earth before technical advances made the journey much easier." -- Kirkus Reviews (starred)

In the early 1900s, many of the great geographical mysteries that had intrigued adventurers for centuries remained unsolved, leaving some large blank areas on the increasingly detailed maps of the world. Despite having claimed countless lives, the polar regions -- the Northwest Passage, the South Pole, the North Pole and the Northeast Passage -- were still shrouded in mystery. One man would claim all these prizes within a span of twenty years.

Roald Amundsen was an adventurer and entertainer of the highest order. Larger than life, arrogant and competitive, he was also a meticulous organizer and planner, willing to learn from the mistakes of others, and humble enough to seek the advice of indigenous peoples skilled in arctic survival -- thus avoiding the early death that was so common among others who challenged the most desolate places on the planet.

But Amundsen's life was one of sharp contrasts: reviled by the British for defeating Robert Falcon Scott in a desperate race to the South Pole, he was loved by his men, hailed as a hero in his native Norway and idolized as a charming and eccentric celebrity in the United States. Drawing on hundreds of recently uncovered press clippings, The Last Viking goes beyond Amundsen's conflicted legacy, revealing a humorous, self-deprecating storyteller who had unusual opinions and dreams; a visionary and showman who won over both his sponsors and his audiences with the same verve that characterized his geographical conquests.

Previous page
  1. Print length
    400 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Douglas & McIntyre
  4. Publication date
    October 6, 2012
  5. Dimensions
    6 x 1 x 9 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1553659376
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1553659372
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"A fascinating account of a complex and driven man who trained himself, almost from his childhood, to become an Arctic explorer." (Burnaby Now)

"I'm obsessed with polar exploration, and a Robert Falcon Scott fan, so it seemed only fair to learn about the other guy and read The Last Viking: The Life of Roald Amundsen by Stephen R. Bown. The book was fascinating and fair, a good read. I'm still a Scott fan, but now I grudgingly admire Amundsen." (Barbara Reid)

About the Author

Stephen Bown is the award-winning author of several books that tell history’s untold stories, including 1494: How a Family Feud in Medieval Spain Divided the World in Half; Madness, Betrayal and the Lash and Merchant Kings. He lives in Canmore, Alberta, with his wife and two children.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Douglas & McIntyre (October 6, 2012)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 400 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1553659376
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1553659372
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.42 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 896 ratings

About the author

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Stephen R. Bown

Stephen R. Bown

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www.facebook.com/srbown

I have written ten books on the history of exploration, science, and ideas--including books on the medical mystery of scurvy, the Treaty or Tordesillas, the lives of Captain George Vancouver and of Roald Amundsen and a doomed Russian sea voyage. My books have been published in multiple English-speaking territories, translated into nine languages and shortlisted for many awards. I have won the BC Book Prize, the Alberta Book Award, the William Mills Prize for Polar Books.

I take a biographical and narrative approach to my writing, using the techniques of fiction writing - strong storytelling, creative language, emphasizing people, their decisions, actions and motivations - to tell factually and historically accurate stories. I believe that people and their behaviour never change, only the context is different. My lifelong interest in history is fueled by the lessons to be learned from studying the successes and failures of history's greatest thinkers, leaders and innovators, those who challenged conventional thinking and entrenched power structures to change their world. I am particularly interested in how the world we live in today was formed by individuals who were responding to the big challenges of their time, and in particular, how and why those individuals became pioneers.

"I have long been interested in the North American fur trade, particularly the early days during the first tentative meetings between peoples, when the world was a very different place socially, scientifically and technologically. For whatever reason it seems that this period is often misrepresented and misunderstood. While the data- statistics and numbers and facts-are obviously a fundamental background to understanding the history, it has always been the people who have fascinated me. People who were biologically the same as you and me-just as intelligent and motivated by the same basic urges-but who lived their lives and made their decisions within the boundaries of different cultural and geographical constraints."

I live in a small town in the Rocky Mountains with my family. When I'm not writing I'm usually reading, mountain biking, hiking and camping in the summer, and downhill and cross country skiing in the winter.

My website www.stephenrbown.net includes more information about my books including reviews and awards.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
896 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Miss Weezie
5.0 out of 5 stars A great reference book on an unsung hero.
Reviewed in the United States on November 5, 2012
Verified Purchase
I'm thrilled to have found this book as I'm doing research on Amundsen for a lecture I'll be presenting to about 100 people aboard two eco-tourism trips this winter to the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and the Antarctic Peninsula.
I've been reading several different books but this is the one I've chosen to take with me for reference.
It's my 9th year as a kayak guide and lecturer in Antarctica and I've found in general our passengers get a bit overwhelmed with stories and lectures about Shackleton and Scott so I believe this will satisfy and/or open new territory and understanding.
It piqued my interest as well, both my parents were Norwegian, born about the time of Amundsen's passing. I believe not only was he a great leader but possessed keen insight into people's characters, created good working teams and, through a number of positive factors, achieved great things.
One has to admire his tireless and impeccable preparations, he never lost a man on any of his expeditions due to careful planning and execution of gear (furs), food (fresh meat) and methods of travel (skis and dog sledges).
I choose not to compare his South Pole exploration with Scott's too much, I'd found myself growing weary of others' scathing critiques.
I've chosen instead to stick only to Amundsen's story, it's so compelling and stands very well on its own.
I've found this book enlightening and refreshing in that the author has stuck with his main character and not fallen into the comparison trap.
Amundsen's story is detailed with enough of his own research we know he'd done his homework.
To do anything less might spell disaster, which others had suffered.
As you've said there had to be more behind the man than his stoic public persona, the image he fed to the world.
The private image can generally be more interesting than the public one, as this book shows.
57 people found this helpful
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Kandice M.
4.0 out of 5 stars Great historical context to a polar legend
Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2024
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I enjoyed the details of the financing and preparation for Amundsen’s many ventures, especially the saga of the flight over the North pole. In this day and age, a flight over the pole happens daily, but understanding the difficulties involved in Amundsen utilizing developing aviation technology and the involvement of Fascist Italy was compelling.
One person found this helpful
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Miss Karenina
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating account. I devoured it.
Reviewed in the United States on September 4, 2021
Verified Purchase
Generally, in my day to day life, I feel that I was born too soon... I know that I would make an excellent planetary colonist. But I am also a diligent student of the lives and accomplishments of ground - breaking mountaineers and arctic explorers.

This excellent work brings the details of Amundsen's "firsts" to light. He was, without doubt, one of, if not THE, greatest explorers on the planet. Ever. Things that you'd think would be elementary: proper planning, using skis on snow/ice at the poles, learning from arctic inhabitants... he basically pioneered.

During my read, I found myself wondering... if Cook and Peary's claims on the North Pole have been discredited, then who actually DID get there first? Gee. Guess who!

Although details about his personal life rounded out his character, to me these are secondary points that did nothing to sway my admiration for the man. He tended to keep his personal life separate from his professional life, and (especially in today's world where people tend to think you want to know all the minutiae of their business) I like that. His personal life was generally kept that way, which to me is an admirable trait.

The language barrier has been instrumental in keeping Amundsen's accomplishments from being more widely known (as explained in the book), so I for one am very glad to see his story told in English. I was late finding it (published in 2012)... don't wait any longer! Definitely recommended.
10 people found this helpful
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Robert R. Briggs
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Greatest Explorers
Reviewed in the United States on February 2, 2013
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As a fan of Arctic exploration The Last Viking is one of the best books I have read on this topic. Stephen Brown has done an outstanding job of detailing the life of one of the great explorers of all time. When we think of Roald Amundsen we usually just think of his being the first to reach the South Pole. Brown goes much further and takes us through the life of this incredible man beginning with his early days and a step by step journey through his many adventures. What really made Amundsen such a great and successful explorer was his willingness to learn from others, to study, to read, and to prepare before launching into his journeys. His first great success was his trip on the Goja through the Northwest passage. In that experience he lived with and studied the Inuit People and gained great insight as to how to how they survived in such cold and harsh climates. With that knowledge, he successfully accomplished his goal of later reaching the South Pole. Amundsen was constantly on the go and lectured and traveled extensively as he loved to tell people about his travels. The author gives us a good insight into the total life of Amundsen beyond just his exploration epics. We find how he related others, not just those on his trips, but the general public who loved hearing him speak and relate his experiences. We learn a great deal about his final trip, a joint effort with the Italians in a dirigible from Spitzbergen across the North Pole to Alaska. Truly, this man was one of the greatest explorers in history. He accomplished all he set out to do. This book is well worth your time and I highly recommend it.
8 people found this helpful
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patrick pritchett
4.0 out of 5 stars History in the making
Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2019
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Thanks to the author for including interesting info about the preparation, outfitting, and effort required to make 2-3 year trips into the polar regions. He also provides a good look into the psychological and emotional stress that these determined individuals experienced during their adventures. The story is at times difficult to follow due to the origin, motives and the training required of the explorers and the supporters of these difficult undertakings. Weeks spent at (-50F) and below. Absolutely incredible!! Take the time to read this amazing story of an amazing man.
2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Hannes Keck
5.0 out of 5 stars The Last Viking: The Life of Roald Amundsen
Reviewed in Germany on March 2, 2024
Verified Purchase
Makes for a good read.
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Vitton Mea Alberto
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting and detailed overview on Amundsen's life
Reviewed in Italy on February 26, 2022
Verified Purchase
Good book not too detailed or technical.
It gives a nice overview on the context in which the great explorer operated, touching not only adventure aspects but also "marketing" activities performed to get sponsors.
Intersting.
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flinflon
5.0 out of 5 stars Last Viking, The life of Roald Amundson
Reviewed in Canada on January 23, 2013
Verified Purchase
I really enjoyed the book as it is about my 3rd cousin. I found out a lot of information about him that my Grandfather never told me. I highly recommend it to any one interested in our early explorers.
One person found this helpful
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John Brain
5.0 out of 5 stars Amundsen ...... an enigma illuminated
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 13, 2013
Verified Purchase
This biography of Roald Amundsen, arguably the greatest of explorers of the heroic age of polar exploration, is well-written, revealing and comprehensive.

What I found most appealing was that whilst it is clear that Stephen Bown has undertaken prodigious research, this is no dry academic treatise. Instead, Bown tells a story which increasingly peels back the layers, revealing the inner man who was the complex character that Amundsen undoubtedly was.

By any account, the Norwegian Amundsen achieved so much in his life of 55 years. None of his expeditions were state sponsored, though he did receive state grants and sponsorship. Essentially he was a private individual who badgered, persuaded and inspired others to support him. He was a master mariner. He was the first to traverse the North-West passage and the first to reach the South Pole. He traversed the North-East passage. He was the first to fly (almost) to the North Pole (and arguably the first man there) and the first to traverse the Arctic in a dirigible. And he trekked many thousands of miles through desolate frozen territory surviving on the skills which he had acquired by close study of the ways of indigenous Arctic peoples. Essentially he was a modern man, informed by the past, but always open to new ways to explore, as technology developed.

What I particularly liked about this biography, in addition to its style of writing, was that whilst Bown was clearly a great admirer of Amundsen, he managed to remain even-handed. So, for instance, though he felt Amundsen's approach and method was much more likely to succeed in getting to the South Pole than were Scott's, he refrained from denigrating Scott, as others have done. In addition, he does not shrink from identifying some of Amundsen's perceived shortcomings, especially during the latter part of his life. Particularly revealing was his relationship with Nobile, the Italian whom he joined forces with to cross the Arctic in a dirigible. Amundsen's own account of this venture (included in his 'My Life as an Explorer') is vitriolic and one-sided, whereas Bown reveals much more of the two-sided nature of the clash between the 2 protagonists.

Amundsen's life ended as he evidently would have wished, not as an ageing but accomplished has-been, but on yet another mission. (A forlorn attempt to rescue Nobile from another venture). A sad end? Perhaps. But what a man! And Stephen Bown has captured the essence of that man beautifully.
4 people found this helpful
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Amazon Kunde
5.0 out of 5 stars Really good book.
Reviewed in Germany on February 26, 2020
Verified Purchase
Realy good book. Better writen that Ammunsen own story.
More details, more research, more written about relationships between characters.
Incredible inspiring life story, lot of to learn from his example and mistakes. ❤️❤️❤️
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