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Escape from Alcatraz: Farewell to the Rock, was published in 1963 just weeks before the last prisoner was escorted off Devil's Island and Alcatraz. The book chronicles details the Rock's transition from a Spanish fort to the maximum-security prison that housed infamous inmates including Robert Stroud, the "Birdman of Alcatraz", and mobster Al Capone. Also included are the escape attempts by Frank Morris and two accomplices, becoming the basis for the 1979 Clint Eastwood movie of the same name.Author J. Campbell Bruce (1906-1996) was a feature writer for the San Francisco Chronicle, a lecturer, and a regular contributor to national magazines.

Journey into Summer, first published in 1960, is the third part in naturalist Edwin Way Teale's popular series of four books known as The American Seasons. Following from North With the Spring (1951), the story of a 17,000-mile journey, and Autumn Across America (1956), a 20,000-mile journey from Cape Cod to California, Journey Into Summer takes the reader from northern New England along the shores of the Great Lakes, south through the corn belt, and west to the Rocky Mountains, for a total of 19,000 miles of nature exploration during a typical American summer.Author Edwin Way Teale (1899-1980) was an American naturalist, photographer, and Pulitzer Prize-winning writer. Teale's writings, due to his keen sense of observation, provided a valuable record of environmental conditions across North America. His most famous book series, The American Seasons, documented over 75,000 miles of automobile travel across North America.

20,000 Miles South: A Pan American Adventure in a Seagoing Jeep from the Arctic Circle to Tierra del Fuego, first published in 1957, is the inspiring story of Helen and Frank Schreiber (and their German shepherd, Dinah), who successfully journeyed from the Arctic Circle in Alaska to the southern tip of Tierra del Fuego in Argentina. The couple accomplished this in a modified war-surplus amphibious jeep, capable of traveling on water as well as land. Despite the poor or non-existent roads, innumerable mechanical difficulties, and delays while obscure but necessary documents were processed, the couple reached their southern destination in 18 months of travel. Included are 38 pages of maps and illustrations by co-author Helen Schreiber.From the dust-jacket: Helen and Frank Schreider are true adventurers. Their dream was to drive the length of the Americas, from the town of Circle, Alaska (just outside the Arctic Circle), to the world's southernmost town, Ushuaia, in Tierra del Fuego. Dinah, their German shepherd, went with them. They are the first people in history to have made this trip. They came back with a whale of a story.

Guide to the Plants of the Wallowa Mountains of Northeastern Oregon, first published in 1975, is acomprehensive flora of the botanically rich Wallowa Mountains of northeast Oregon. Introductory sections discuss the natural history of the Wallowa Mountains, and their geology, vegetation zones and botanical history. Keys to each family, genus, and species are provided, as are descriptions of each species. Small line drawings are provided for many of the plants included in the flora, as well as a glossary of botanical terms and an index to scientific and common names used in the text. Author Georgia Mason (1910-2007) received a M.S. in General Science from Oregon State University in 1960. In the decade between 1961 and 1971, she spent the summer months botanizing alone in the rugged, isolated Wallowa Mountains. Mason was acting curator of the University of Oregon Herbarium in Eugene in 1961-1962, and again between 1970 and 1976. Following her retirement, she published her second book, Plants of Wet to Moist Habitats in and around Eugene, Oregon.

Island in the Sky, first published in 1944, is aviator Ernest Gann's exciting, realistic novel of survival in the far north of Canada. The Corsair, a plane attached to the Army Air Transport Command during the Second World War, is forced to land after heavy icing of the wings makes the plane unflyable. The crew look to Dooley, the pilot for guidance in order to survive the frigid conditions, and from support bases and search aircraft, a rescue mission is mounted. Island in the Sky was the subject of a 1953 movie starring John Wayne.

Who Walk Alone, first published in 1940, is author Perry Burgess' moving account of the life of Ned Langford, then a patient at the leper colony on Culion Island, Philippines (known as the "Sanctuary of Sorrow"). Langford had first gone to the Philippines as a volunteer in the Spanish-American War, and while there fell in love with a Filipino girl named Carita. Two years later, when back in America, Langford learned that Carita's brother had contracted leprosy, and nine years after that, Langford learned that he, too, was a victim of the disease. He underwent a year of treatment in New York; then chose exile to the Culion colony, where he was to spend the next 25 years. During that time, he helped organize work and businesses in the community, and married Carita, herself ill with leprosy (and later cured). Who Walk Alone remains a classic account of conditions in a leper colony (before modern-day treatments were known), as well as a source of inspiration, hope, and courage when faced with what could have been overwhelming adversity. Included are 17 pages of illustrations.

Confederate Agent: A Discovery In History, first published in 1954, is the detailed account of the little-known Confederate rebellion during the Civil War known as the "Northwest Conspiracy". Led by Captain Thomas Hines, C.S.A., the aim of the conspiracy was to "destroy the Union from within, getting Illinois, Indiana and Ohio to join the Confederacy, while New York City was in flames, Chicago was ready for rebellion, and 100,000 Northern Confederates stood ready to strike" (from original edition dust-jacket). Author James Horan's extensive research reveals the extent of the conspiracy, and follows the rebellion through its planning, failed execution, and prosecution of its leaders. Illustrated with photographs and copies of original documents.

Retire to Adventure!, first published in 1962, is the lively account by Harrison and Shirley Karr of their travels in the 1950s across Canada, the United States, and Mexico. Traveling first by an early model of teardrop trailer, then a larger Airstream, the author recounts their experiences with the aim of helping others achieve a satisfying retirement, rich in experiences and memories. Illustrated with 16 pages of photographs.From the Foreword: "Since I retired in 1954 my wife Shirley and I have spent a major part of the time traveling the highways and byways of the United States, Canada, and Mexico in a travel trailer. Always we have been searching for adventure - adventure suitable to our years and physical capacities. Other adventurers no doubt have faced greater hardships and dangers, and have performed more feats of daring. But not one of them, I feel sure, has derived more downright fun from searching for and finding lively adventure. The following pages recount some of the outstanding events in our eight years of carefree wandering. If this book succeeds in making some small contribution to the literature on adventure, the contribution will be this: it suggests a mode of adventuring that is available to almost any retired person of reasonably good health and a modicum of financial independence."

The Cars in My Life, first published in 1963, was authored by car manufacturer Walter Owen ("W. O.") Bentley (1888-1971). Considered by many to be Britain's most distinguished car designer, he founded Bentley Motors in 1919, and led the marque to multiple victories at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. After selling his namesake company to Rolls-Royce Limited in 1931, he was employed as a designer for Lagonda, Aston Martin, and Armstrong Siddeley. Bentley was especially noted for his designs of high performance motors, such as the 3 liter Bentley and V12 Lagonda. As Bentley writes: "The Cars in My Life is a book of theories and opinions, a hotch-potch of ideas on motor cars, motoring and the motor industry. I also say something about the cars I have known, some of the cars for which I have been responsible, and even some of the cars which never came to anything. Stirred into the stew as spice, are a few theories on the principle of motor car design and something about the people I have known in the world of motoring."

Hill Towns of Italy, first published in 1963, is a close look at a number of Italy's picturesque hill towns and villages. More than just a travel guide, author Lucy Notestein discusses each region's art, architecture, history, culture, cuisine, and more. Indexed, and illustrated throughout by pen-and-ink sketches. From the Preface: "The essence of travel is discovery. It is a personal adventure in curiosity. This book is but an introduction to Italian hill towns. There are hundreds of other hill towns worth exploring, and it is my hope that the reader of this book will be inspired to set out for himself to see what is on many a hilltop and on the other side, in the Pistoian Alps, for instance, or to the east of Florence by Poppi, in much of the Marches, in the Abruzzi, in Latium, in Calabria, Apulia, and Sicily. Italy is inexhaustible. There are ancient peoples with whom to get acquainted, personages of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, painting, sculpture, architecture, regional customs, and always views."

Men, Birds, and Adventure, first published in 1962, is a fascinating look at the early exploration of America by naturalists and adventurers, with an emphasis on the birds they discovered and described. From the Foreword: They were the men who discovered America and all its parts, and, in the exploring, they found America's birds. The often incredible hardship and hunger, the punishment of weather and of terrain, and the ultimate triumph of truth, all played their part in man's ornithological adventures, from the shores of the Atlantic to the waters of the Pacific, from Mexico to the Arctic Ocean. These stories are not fiction; they are all facts, many of them obtained from the journals of the adventurers, who could be astonishingly calm about their near brushes with disaster. John Burroughs wrote: "What I offer ... is a careful and conscientious record of actual observations and experiences, and it is true as it stands written, every word of it." The adventurers after birds were really the ones who wrote this book . . . true, every word of it. Includes black and white illustrations, a bibliography and index. Author Virginia Eifert (1911-1966), was the author of numerous books and a long-time employee of the Illinois State Museum.

Black Wings, published in 1934 during the Great Depression, is the autobiography of black aviation pioneer, engineer, and entrepreneur William Powell. In 1917 he enlisted in officer training school and served in a segregated unit during World War I. During the war Powell was gassed by the enemy, and he suffered health problems throughout his life from this poison gas attack. After the war Powell opened service stations in Chicago. He became interested in aviation, but the only school that would train him was located in Los Angeles. He sold his businesses in Chicago and moved to the West Coast. After receiving his pilot's license in 1932, Powell set out to motivate other African Americans to pursue a career in aviation. Powell eventually opened an all-black flight school, produced a movie, published monthly journals, offered scholarships to young African Americans, and founded the first African American owned airplane manufacturer. Powell died in 1942.

The Epic of Mount Everest, first published in 1926, is the exciting story of the first attempts to reach the summit of Mount Everest, including that of George Mallory and Andrew Irvine, who disappeared and died in the 1924 expedition. Considered "must reading" for mountaineers, The Epic of Mount Everest provides a fascinating insight into the men, methods, and struggles of early mountain-climbers. Included are 15 pages of illustrations and 2 maps. Sir Francis Edward Younghusband (1863-1942) was an officer in the British Army, as well as an explorer and author. He is most noted for his writings on Asia and foreign policy.

The Golden Ham, first published in 1956, recounts the career of entertainer and comedian Jackie Gleason (1916-1987) from his beginnings in show-business to the mid-1950s when he was at the peak of his early success with The Honeymooners. In his foreword, author Jim Bishop says of Jackie Gleason that when the comedian read the manuscript for the first time "he did not ask that anything be either omitted or altered. And yet there were parts of this biography that made him wince." For The Golden Ham is candid biography. To it Mr. Bishop brought his painstaking interest in detail, his reporter's curiosity, his layman's interest in the world of the theater, and his detachment. And most important, he began and ended his job with Jackie Gleason's guarantee that nothing Bishop wrote would be censored. The result is a kind of theatrical biography that is entirely new and, like Gleason himself, is made up of a great deal of a great many things. As Bishop says: "There are several Jackie Gleasons. I know some of them. There is Gleason the comedian. Millions know him, and he's a great talent. Then there is Gleason the producer and Gleason the writer. Some people know these...Gleason the businessman-second-rate, but he thinks he's good at it - and then there is Gleason the thinker (apt and fast) and Gleason the man (fat, out of shape, but light on his feet) and Gleason the tenement-house kid from Brooklyn (nervy and not a bit surprised that he's on top) and Gleason the lover, Gleason the musician, Gleason the moody, and Gleason the lonely, tormented soul." This is a book about Jackie Gleason. If you like him, it may make you like him more, or less, depending on the kind of person you are. If you never liked him, it may change your mind a little. If you never had any special attitude toward Jackie Gleason, you will have one by the time you have finished this book. Gleason, a 4-pack-a-day smoker, passed away at his home in Florida on June 24, 1987.

The Autobiography of Upton Sinclair, first published in 1962, is the author's recounting and examination of his life and large body of published works. Beginning with his his childhood in Baltimore, Sinclair describes his struggles with his alcoholic father, his long-term estrangement from his mother, his education, and the start of his writing career. He has success writing short stories and magazine articles, and achieves prominence with the publication of The Jungle in 1906, his exposé of the Chicago meat-packing industry. Many of his books likewise reflected his deep sense of social justice. Sinclair also ran unsuccessfully for Congress as a Socialist, and was the Democratic Party nominee for Governor of California in 1934, though his highly progressive campaign was defeated. Sinclair would go on to write nearly 100 books and plays until his death in New Jersey in 1968. Included are 8 pages of illustrations.

The King was first published in 1961, shortly after the death of Hollywood legend Clark Gable in 1960. The book traces Gable's life from its humble, hard-scrabble beginnings in Ohio, to his hard-work and determined efforts to achieve success on Broadway, to his meteoric rise to stardom in Hollywood, his time spent in the Army Air Force in Europe, and his many loves, including Carole Lombard who was tragically killed in an airplane crash in 1942. The King paints an intimate, contemporary portrait of Clark Gable the man, both on and off camera, and ends with Gable's work on his last film, The Misfits, and his subsequent decline in health and his death on November 16, 1960, at age 59.

The Ile de France, first published in 1960, is a fascinating history of the memorable ship, the Ile de France. The Ile de France was a French luxury ocean liner that served the important transatlantic route between Europe and New York from 1927 to 1959. She was named after the region around Paris known as "L'Ile de France". Her maiden voyage, on June 22, 1927, made the ship the first major ocean liner built after World War I, and the first ship to be decorated almost entirely in a modern Art Deco style. Ile de France became a favored ship of the pre-World War II era among the young and also with wealthy and fashionable elites. Her passenger list would include notables of the day such as Marlene Dietrich, Gloria Swanson, John D. Rockefeller, Buster Keaton, Maurice Chevalier, Will Rogers, Cary Grant, Humphrey Bogart, and Marie Curie. When World War II broke out, she briefly served as a troop ship before all her luxurious fittings were removed for conversion into a prison ship. After the war, Ile de France resumed transatlantic operations. In 1956 she played a key role in rescuing passengers from the SS Andrea Doria after that ship's collision with the MS Stockholm off Nantucket, Massachusetts. Her last public appearance was starring as a doomed ocean liner in the 1959 movie The Last Voyage, filmed while waiting to be scrapped in Japan. Included are eight pages of photographs.

Adventure!, first published in 1931, is a collection of stories recounting the travels of renowned explorer Carveth Wells (1887-1957). Wells, whose personal mottoes of "Carpe diem" - "Sieze the Day!" - and "The Lord will provide!" characterized his exuberant approach to life. From the Arctic to tropical Africa, from lion attacks to unusual sea creatures, Wells' stories are told with a sense of wonder and a dose of humor, and remain an inspiration to anyone aspiring to break free of the confines of a sedentary life. Illustrated with black and white photographs.

Handbook of Gem Identification, first published in 1947 and extensively revised over the years, is an authoritative look at the methods used to identify both common and rare gemstones. This reprint of the 6th edition, published in 1962, updates the original work and incorporates much new information. As the author states: "Although many books have been written describing gemstones and their occurrence, there is a need for books which give both the jeweler and the layman with limited equipment an outline for making the simple and often conclusive tests that identify gems. If properly used this handbook will help to fill that need."From the Foreword to the first edition: Today jewelers and the general public are better informed concerning gems than ever before. In the United States, this is due in large measure to the wide dissemination of gemological information during the last quarter of a century through the publication of authoritative texts on gems, the formation of many mineralogical clubs, and especially through the activities of the Gemological Institute of America, founded in 1931, and of the American Gem Society, organized in 1934. For some time, however, it has been recognized that there is need for a manual describing in detail the various methods and procedures to be followed in the identification of gems. This need is now being supplied by Richard T. Liddicoat's Handbook of Gem Identification.By his excellent scientific training and his extensive experience at the Gemological Institute of America, Mr. Liddicoat is well qualified to author an authoritative handbook. Moreover, he has had the benefit of the counsel and advice of Director Robert M. Shipley and others at the Institute.In the opening chapters, the essentials concerning the important properties of gemstones are described in a lucid manner. Manufactured stones and the instruments used for testing are discussed in several chapters. The main portion of the book is devoted to the tests and procedures to be followed in the identification of gemstones, which are grouped according to As the tests and procedures are outlined in great detail, there should be no difficulty whatever in following them. The book also includes useful tables of properties, a glossary, and various flow charts.This handbook should prove to be very helpful in the making of accurate determinations of gemstones. It is a valuable addition to gemological literature, and will be welcomed by dealers in, and lovers of, gems.

Whale Hunt, first published in 1948, is a first-hand account of a whaling voyage during the mid-1800s. Author Nelson Cole Haley, harpooner on the ship Charles W. Morgan, details daily life on board the ship, dangers and challenges faced by the crew, interactions with natives, and the process of hunting and processing whales. Haley also describes the various ports-of-call the ship visited during the voyage, including the Azores, Cape Verde, and the Falkland Islands. Included are 18 pages of pen and ink drawings.

Poet on a Scooter, first published in 1958, is the lyrical account of American poet and journalist Harry Roskolenko, who traveled the world on a small Vespa scooter, eventually completing a 15-month, around-the-world trip of an epic 37,000 miles (21,000 miles of them by scooter).From the original edition dust-jacket: It was spring in Paris when Harry Roskolenko, poet and journalist, decided that it was time to leave the Left Bank and start a trip on a little scooter that eventually took him around the world, in what turned out to be an amazingly exotic and carefree physical and intellectual adventure. Like Columbus, he started from Genoa, but instead of using a ship, Mr. Roskolenko began his poetic journey on two small wheels and then scootered his way through the most exciting human and physical areas of the Mid-East and Far-East. He fished at the foothills of Mt. Ararat, then climbed up its high Biblical slopes; he slept at the tomb of Omar Khayyam in Persia, paying homage to the poet of roses and wine; he saw the good and the bitter in our troubled political world; he danced with Kurds, Turks and Australian aborigines, and almost found a temporary Moslem wife, a sigheh, at a mosque. He covered 37,000 miles through the most remote areas of Yugoslavia, Greece, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Ceylon and Australia with humor, bounce, good will and insight. He met with wolves and tigers, bandits and politicians, ex-prime ministers, peasants, poets and editors; and though one tiger clawed at him, Mr. Roskolenko came through his odyssey in classical fashion, an unscheduled traveler who encountered many deadly hazards but coped with adventure and misadventure alike.This is a highly literate account of a most unusual and challenging journey through antique civilizations. In San Francisco, near the end of his trip, Mr. Roskolenko met the nihilistic Beat Generation on their embattled frontiers of jazz-poetry, pod and lament, but he soon headed for New York and home, having rediscovered the nature of man's faith - that which is outside of his immediate world - man's past, and his essential poetry in the world of others.

Wilderness is the first book by Rockwell Kent (1882-1971), noted American artist and illustrator. The book, in journal form, describes the experiences of Kent and his 9-year-old son while living in a simple cabin near Seward, Alaska, and surrounded by a vast, largely untouched wilderness. This Pathfinder Book Reprint Edition features the original 1920 edition of Wilderness, a 1930 Preface by the author, and is illustrated throughout with Kent's drawings.

By Sled Dog For Byrd, first published in 1931, is an exciting account of the Byrd Antarctic Expedition of 1928-30. Author John O'Brien was a member of the geological party led by Laurence Gould, and took part in a grueling 1,600 mile dog-sled journey across the Antarctic ice. Included are 16 pages of photographs and maps.

The Long Rescue, first published in 1960, is the dramatic story of the ill-fated Greely Expedition launched in 1879 as a scientific study the Arctic region. Of the original complement of 25 men, only 6 would survive to reach the U.S. following their rescue in June 1884. Included are 18 pages of maps and photographs.From the dust jacket: "We'll leave at two P.M.," Lieutenant Greely announced. It was 10 a.m., August 9, 1883. The commander of the Lady Franklin Bay Expedition had concluded he could not wait another day in hope of the relief ship's reaching his little band of men in the Far North. Summer was passing. New ice might close the harbor and trap them. They had to leave and leave quickly.This was the beginning of the retreat of the Lady Franklin Bay Expedition-twenty-five men under the command of Lieutenant Adolphus A. Greely, who had been sent by the United States in 1879 to study the Arctic phenomena. From a scientific standpoint, their expedition had been successful, but before their mission was over, disaster was to strike again and again.The Long Rescue tells the terrible, suspenseful drama of the heroic attempt of Greely and his men to escape from the treacherous North. Fighting not only against the unpredictable forces of the Arctic, where a sudden shift in wind could take them miles off their course or move a gigantic ice floe in their path, but against time-for Greely knew that a few hours' delay could destroy any chance of reaching the relief ship-the expedition had to meet and conquer elements of nature unknown to most men. But the sinister Arctic was to strike a deathblow to their hopes of reaching the rescue ship on time, and they were to find themselves a prisoner of the North for a third long winter.The story of the desperate fight for survival of the Greely expedition is an adventure story of almost unbearable dramatic suspense. It is also an epic of the courage and leadership of the men responsible for this heroic task-many of whom gave their lives for the winning of the Farthest North.

Antarctic Night: One Man's Story of 28,224 Hours at the Bottom of the World, first published in 1957, is author Jack Bursey's account of his lengthy experiences in the Antarctic. Bursey (1903-1980), accompanied Commander Richard E. Byrd to Antarctica in 1927 and 1939. On his second expedition, Bursey would make one of the longest dog-sled journeys ever recorded - over 1,200 miles in 83 days. In World War II, Bursey served as an officer in the U.S. Coast Guard in the Philippines before returning to the region in 1955. Antarctic Night is a fascinating look at the early days of Antarctic exploration, the establishment of the Little America bases, the use of dog-teams and sno-cats for transportation, the living conditions of the men, and their struggle with the cold and long periods of winter darkness. Included are 17 pages of illustrations.

A Good Fight, first published in 1960, is the story of Franklin D. Roosevelt from the onset of his polio at Campobello, New Brunswick, to his death at Warm Springs, Georgia, on April 12, 1945. Author Jean Gould's contention is that difficult as were his political battles, so much more arduous were his victories over his physical impediments. Here, in a view rarely given of F.D.R., is a moving account of his struggles and the agonizing exercises he endured which allowed him to function effectively on the campaign trail, in office, and in the critical years of the Great Depression and the Second World War.

Abandoned, first published in 1961, is the riveting story of the ill-fated Greely Arctic Expedition. Launched in 1881 as part of the International Polar Year, the U.S. stationed a party of twenty-five men on what is today called Ellesmere Island off the northwest coast of Greenland. The volunteer crew was made up of 3 Army officers, 19 enlisted men, a civilian surgeon, and 2 Eskimo hunters. The commander of the group was thirty-seven-year-old Signal Corps Lieutenant Adolphus Washington Greely. During their first year on the ice, members of the expedition went farther toward the North Pole than anyone had gone before and collected a body of invaluable scientific data. The first supply ship sent to the men in the summer of 1882 was forced to turn back, and the men passed their second winter in isolation at their frigid base-camp. Personality clashes developed and grew steadily more intense. The second relief ship, sent in 1883, was crushed in the ice. Greely led his men south according to a prearranged plan, and they spent their third ice-bound winter encamped at Camp Sabine. Supplies ran out, the hunting failed, and the men began to die of starvation. In Washington an amazing controversy grew out of the failure of the rescue expeditions. Congress was reluctant to launch another attempt, but at last, largely because of the heroic efforts of Greely's wife, Henrietta, the Navy was authorized to go in search of survivors. In the summer of 1884 the 6 survivors of the Greely expedition were safely returned home. The excitement which their rescue generated soon turned into a national scandal when rumors of cannibalism were supported by forensic evidence. Abandoned remains the most complete and authentic account of the Greely Expedition ever published. Included are 15 pages of maps and photographs.

Treasure Express, first published in 1938, is an exciting account of the heady early days of the Wells Fargo offices and its paddlewheel, stagecoach, and express services. The book chronicles the story of Henry Wells (1805-78) and William Fargo (1818-81) who incorporated Wells, Fargo & Company in California in 1852, providing express services from the gold fields to financial centers of the East. The life-or-death struggles of the drivers and guards against bandits and outlaws as they fought to build a viable transportation and delivery network. Detailed too, are some of the most infamous robberies and attacks (and attackers) on the intrepid drivers. Indexed and illustrated throughout with photographs.

Camps and Cottages: How to Build Them, first published in 1939 (and revised in 1946), is an inspirational, classic treatise on the planning, building, and furnishing of a small rustic dwelling. Complete with a number of the author's house plans, and illustrated with numerous diagrams, the book remains relevant today for anyone of any skill level contemplating building his or her own small home or vacation get-away, using only simple tools and inexpensive local materials. Some of the topics discussed include selecting the perfect site, materials, tools, site preparation and building layout, framing, exterior and interior trim, doors and windows, roofing, chimneys, paints and finishes, and water supply and utilities.

Northwest of the World, first published in 1944, is the memoir of American explorer and fur-trader Olaf Swenson (1883-1938). The book chronicles his long career in Alaska and Siberia, and provides a fascinating look into the native culture of northeastern Siberia, as well as the difficulties - extreme cold, ships frozen in ice, nearly impossible travel conditions, and Soviet officials -- faced by Swenson and his crews. Illustrated with 8 pages of photographs.About the Author: Born and raised in Michigan, Swenson first reached the far north as a Nome prospector in 1901. The next year he signed on for a prospecting venture in Siberia, spending two summers and one winter on the Chukchi Peninsula. He returned to Siberia in 1905, this time with his wife and their infant son. His introduction to trading came when their ship was wrecked and he contracted to salvage cargo on a share basis. He continued to trade at Anadyr until 1911. In 1913, Swenson and C.L. Hibbard of Seattle formed the Hibbard-Swenson Company which operated trading schooners and steamers on the Siberian coast, buying furs and ivory and trading a variety of general merchandise until 1921. Swenson continued this business as Olaf Swenson & Co. until 1923 when the Bolshevik victory led to seizure of his business. Two years of negotiations led to a contract with the Soviet government to supply goods on a cost-plus basis and buy furs. This arrangement persisted through 1930. The difficulties of getting furs and personnel out of the Siberian Arctic led to the first commercial flights across the Bering Strait. The fourth such flight crashed in a Siberian winter storm, killing aviation pioneer Carl Ben Eielson and his mechanic in 1929. Swenson's Northwest of the World contains observations on commerce, conditions, and native life in northeast Siberia and has long been praised for vivid description of life in this harsh region.