Arctic Adventure: My Life in the Frozen North Paperback – February 6, 2013

This book is remarkably well written with a refreshing sense of individual strength and humor.

Incredible book, it feels like you're living his adventures (and some tragic stuff too) as he's describing them.

This is a review of the original, 1935 edition:Freuchen is surely a brave, adventurous soul and a superb teller of tales. There is no question regarding the hazards which he faced in the Arctic --- he lost a foot to frostbite. Whether or not he embellished his account with details and dialogue remembered or constructed is an open question. It is hard to believe that someone is taking detailed notes while starving to death or rappelling down a 50-foot ice cliff --- and that all that detail and dialogue could survive to appear in print decades later.Nonetheless, a fun read, with lots of excellent pictures and least a basic supply of maps.Freuchen's book lacks a lot of context, however. I highly recommend first reading Stephen Bown's "White Eskimo" --- a biography of Knud Rasmussen. Freuchen and Rasmussen were often partners, with Freuchen as very much the junior partner --- roles which both accepted without complaint. Bohn provides much more background about how and why Freuchen and Rasmussen were in the Arctic, as well as some additional maps.Both Freuchen and Rasmussen are very interesting just as individual characters --- in addition to the diverse cultures, environments, and hazards they encountered. Freuchen married a native woman (who died from the Spanish Flu), and both explorers reportedly had children with other native women. They also had Danish wives. Family life was always secondary to the call of Arctic --- perhaps a necessity for adventurers like these in the early 20th century.

Wow. This is a wondrous account of his life in the far north. It has it all. Life, death and near death adventures. Mr. Freuchen is an incredibly inspiring man. Such a life lived. He is so adventurous, and filled with such gratitude and love. I am indeed fortunate to have stumbled across this pioneer in an article from the New Yorker.

I read an early hardcover edition from my local library - it includes dozens of photographs that accompany the powerful story line very nicely. The author from age 17 to 50, his family, native friends, etc. etc. The photographs added a lot of color to the story. For whatever reason all photographs have been omitted from this new edition. If I were you I'd try to read an edition that contains the original photos.

Amazing people. I couldn’t imagine the cold they are comfortable with.

While this is one of the best books I and my family have ever read, THE PAPERBACK EDITION CONTAINS NO PHOTOS! Had I known this, I would have spent the extra to get an old library copy. Just sayin'. . .

Well written, hard to stop reading.