Customer Reviews

The Last Explorer: Hubert Wilkins, Hero of the Great Age of Polar Exploration

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The fact the Sir George Hubert Wilkins is a virtual unknown against the supposed greatness of his contemporaries, Hurley and Mawson, is due mainly to his "aggressive modesty".

Now Australians are rediscovering this truly remarkable man's life and Simon Nasht does him an immensely great service.

Simply a 'must-read'!

This true account of one man's lifelong exploration
of the polar regions makes history come alive. Yet for some reason Hubert Wilkins amazing exploits have faded from public memory.
This biography about a far-sighted adventurer who understood the importance of polar ice caps on global climate. It is a page turner that deserves a place on every bookshelf,an inspiration to the youth.

THE LAST EXPLORER: HUBERT WILKINS, HERO OF THE GREAT AGE OF POLAR EXPLORATION tells of the most successful explorer in history: a self-taught farm boy from the Australian outback who became a cameraman, reporter, pilot, spy and adventurer. His surveys were captured on camera, he helped map the Canadian Arctic, and his amazing life has only not received much in-depth coverage in past because he avoided publicity. Author Simon Nasht discovered Wilkins' journals, records and photos and used them to recreate his life and achievements: any library interested in adventure biography will welcome this vivid account.

Best book I've read in a long while. A rollicking, fine adventure story made all the more amazing in that it is the true life story of one of Australia's forgotten heroes. A "must" read!

Having grown up in the same state of Australia as George Hubert Wilkins, I was amazed not to have heard about his incredible life and achievements until I heard some publicity for this book. His global travels and 20th Century history encompassing life has been well researched and excellently presented in this thoroughly engaging and fascinating biography. Simon Nasht will keep you engrossed as he retraces this sadly forgotten Australian's journey of geographical and scientific and discovery through several continents and both poles by sled, ship, submarine, plane and dirigible. Thoroughly recommended to any one interested in reading about one amazing man's tireless efforts to contribute to our scientific understanding of how the poles influence the earth's climate and his personal dealings with many well known explorers and influential leaders in the first half of the 20th Century.

It is almost impossible to believe, after reading this book, that a man such as Hubert Wilkins could be so unrecognized in world history. It is a name you rarely hear mentioned. Yet, his accomplishments as an explorer and world traveler are unsurpassed. If you are one who enjoys reading about the exploits of Amundsen, Shackleton, Nansen and other great explorers, you'll love this account.
Wilkins was driven by an insatiable desire to experience the vastness of the world first hand. From a humble beginning in Australia he became a photographer, pilot, sailor, explorer, climatologist and a host of other endeavors. He spanned the Arctic, Antarctica, Australia, Russia and virtually the entire world. A humble man, he never sought fame or fortune, but looked at his adventures as personal fulfillment. His travels often brought him to the point of death and he amazed all who knew him with his incredible determination and strength to continue.
The author does a fine job of detailing Wilkins journey from the earliest of times to his final passing.
If you love adventure and world travel, this story is well worth your time.

Having heard very little of Hubert Wilkins prior to reading this book, I wasn't sure how interesting I would find it. I was completely captivated from start to finish of the fascinating life and adventures of the incredible explorer. The author's descriptions of each adventure allowed me to picture the events unfolding almost as vividly as Wilkins first hand accounts. This book has won a spot in my top 5 biographies that I have read.

Hi. Anyone who has read any of my other reviews (two were slipped in by my daughter when she was a pre-teen - unbeknownst to me) knows that I have read the Urantia Book. Cover to cover. If you are at all curious about that tome, and find the very premise of it a barrier that you simply can't overcome, I suggest starting with this biography about Sir Hubert Wilkins. Why? Because he was there - he knew the principal players who were responsible for bringing the Papers to fruition (and that's what they were at first - "papers" - the kind of thing that a professor may have on the drawing board for years before publication). Moreover, Wilkins evidently witnessed some of the paranormal events and wrote very matter of factly about it. For that particular insight you have to dig out one of the other two biographies of him or find my article about him online wherein I quote from a letter Wilkins left for his secretary. You can find that on the Square Circles website where they catalog the Spiritual Fellowship Journal. I believe my article about Sir Hubert is in the Spring 2004 edition. This book of course goes far beyond my article reguarding Wilkins life - but not far enough reguarding Wilkin's involvement with the Urantia movement in the 1940's and 50's. For a full and very clear picture of that please read the Sherman Diaries - again available through Square Circles Publishing and Amazon. These diaries contain many, many letters to and from Wilkins. This guy was there folks. If you want to call the Urantia Book all manner of silly names then knock yourself out. But - when you awaken, try writing a paper on the nature of reality or the meaning of Jesus' death on the cross. Then, compare your offering with this amazing book. After all these years of on-again off-again reading I have come to this (personally undeniable) conclusion: If the Urantia Book is what it says it is then that is incredible. And/or - if the Urantia Book is of human origin then that too is incredible. Either way you cut it, it's the best I've found on these far reaching matters. Now, to Wilkins it seems to have been simply another adventure, another journey except he went inward this time - not out into the wilderness. This was a serious man - one of the last of his kind. He led an amazing life, and to acknowledge it the United States Navy sent his ashes to the North Pole abroad the USS Nautilus - the first nuclear powered submarine. So, after you aquaint yourself with the life of Sir Hubert (knighted for his many and myriad accomplishments) ask yourself - why would he participate in the Urantia movement? There was no pecuniary gain. It was time consumming. He would pick up and go to the ends of the earth on a regular basis. Would he sit around the musty reading room at 533 (I've been there) because he had nothing better to do? Hardly. Read this book about him - this is clearly the best of the three. This man could literally have stepped out of an Indiana Jones movie or been a character in Casablanca. Truely unforgettable...................

Simon Nasht's book is like an icebreaker charting a course through the Antarctic and revealing one of its greatest explorers. It is hard to believe that one person so "aggressively modest" could have done so much with so little. Up until now, few had remembered him. What a pity. Thanks for bringing him back to life. Now, when is the movie coming out?