Women of Discovery: A Celebration of Intrepid Women Who Explored the World (Hardcover)

by Milbry Polk (Author), Mary Tiegreen (Author) "THROUGHOUT HISTORY, women yearned to travel and explore the world even though they were almost everywhere forbidden to wander far from their homes..." (more)
Key Phrases: women explorers, conversation with authors, World War, South America, New World (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal
Adult/High School-"Celebration" is indeed the word for this exuberant assemblage of 84 amazing and outrageous individuals. Polk's vivid narratives capture the essence of each fascinating life and adventure, while Tiegreen's remarkable graphics create a sense of authenticity and immediacy, wrapping each account in a style that suits it perfectly. Readers feel they are witnesses to history thanks to well-chosen, first-person observations and ample visual contents such as contemporary maps, memorabilia, photos, and art. The "women of discovery" include aristocrats and paupers, ancient Vikings and modern scientists still in their prime. Some lives were more terrible than triumphant, but all "made comprehensible a part of the world that we didn't know, understand, or appreciate until they revealed it to us." The stories are loosely grouped into five freewheeling sections, each with a brief but thought-provoking introduction describing "Early Voyagers," "Intrepid Explorers," "Scientific Explorers," "Artist Explorers," and "Explorers on the Edge." Although a few of the names are well known (Maria Mitchell, Dian Fossey, Zora Neale Hurston), most will come as a complete surprise to readers, who will be wondering why they've never heard of these women before. This beautiful book is a browser's dream, but it should be equally attractive to students as a rich source of interesting research subjects. The authors hope that this book will guide anyone "[setting] forth on his or her own voyage of discovery."-Christine C. Menefee, Fairfax County Public Library, VA
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
This book defines exploration as "the expansion of knowledge and experience," enabling Polk (Egyptian Mummies) and Tiegreen (The Legend of the Villa Della Luna) to include women who were writers, pilgrims (a woman's primary mode of travel for centuries), photographers, anthropologists, scientists, aviators, astronauts, and traditional explorers in their collection of illustrated portraits. CNN correspondent Christiane Amanpour exemplifies this new standard when she states in the foreword, "I am exploring the human condition rather than physical space." The majority of the 84 entries highlight Western women, although the authors have made a conscious effort to include examples of women explorers from Asia and Africa. The entries are short and contain numerous photographs, illustrations, quotations, and maps. Despite its more multicultural approach, this volume does not supersede Marion Tinling's Women into the Unknown (LJ 5/1/89) or Rebecca Stefoff's Women of the World: Women Travelers and Explorers (o.p.), which provide a much more substantial treatment of the subject. Nevertheless, Polk and Tiegreen's book, with its brief biographical sketches, is engaging and fun to skim. Recommended for public libraries. Margaret Atwater-Singer, Univ. of Evansville Libs., IN
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Clarkson Potter (October 2, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0609604805
• ISBN-13: 978-0609604809
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #85,951 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Much needed subject finally in print, December 1, 2001

By	R. Smith (NY, NY USA) - See all my reviews

I've looked for years for a basic book about women explorers and women who have been adventurous through the ages. Finally here is something that is beautiful, readable, and a great introduction to a group that has been overlooked by most historians. A must read especially for young women/teens who are influenced by the social and cultural values still pushed upon them in society. Great illustrations, photos and layout as well.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Carole Herdegen editor of TravelSITE.com. , March 7, 2005

By	Carole Herdegen "Travel Editor of TravelSITE.com" (Detroit, MI) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

You can read more of Carole Herdegen's book reviews at http://www.travelsite.com/carole/reviews.htm

I have been waiting for a book like this to come along for a very long time. Milbry Polk and Mary Tiegreen's Women of Discovery is truly a celebration of intrepid women down through the ages. Women who conquered fear, resentment, discrimination, finance or lack of education in face of the then prevailing conditions that intimidated and inhibited them from having an unobstructed opportunity to pursue their dreams. Some of these women faced incredible challenges and most of them contributed substantially to our knowledge of the world. . The authors of this book have given us a chance to read about 82 brave but very different women beginning with the early Christian pilgrims in the Middle Ages. Women such as Elizabeth Van Der Woude, Catalina de Erauso, Jeanne Baret and Isabel Grandmaison y Bruno Godin who received no mention during the age of discovery in the 15th to the 18th centuries while their male counterparts, Cortez, Magellan and deGama received fame and glory. The book brings us to the present with the achievement of Louise Hose, an American geologist who, because of her passion for discovery, lead her into the dark, unexplored caves of Mexico and the finding of new life forms.

The book also obviously identifies familiar names like Amelia Mary Earhart, Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey, Mary Leakey, and Margaret Mead. The written biographies range from 500 to 1500 words and almost virtually "come to life" by the authors' use of photography, cartography, watercolors, and drawings.

After reading this book, one could never forget the story of Sue Henderson, the fossil hunter and explorer, who from a very young age chose the pursuit of outdoor nature. At seventeen, she dropped out of school and made a living by finding incredible things underwater. Many pieces of her amber collection reside in the American Museum of Natural History. She is best remembered as a woman who discovered the fossilized Tyrannosaurus Rex in The Badlands of South Dakota in 1990. Appropriately named "Sue" by her colleagues, this 67 million year old creature is one of the world's best examples of dinosaurs and earned $8.36 million at auction.

Another chapter is devoted to Stephanie Schwabe, a geomicrobiologist who, after losing her world-renowned scientist husband in a diving accident, continued his work of discovery in underwater caves formed some ten million years ago. She wrote that "the human race has forgotten what is valuable in life. That true wealth is not money and material things, but the health of your environment and the understanding of it." In her continuing exploration of underwater caves called Blue Holes or the much deeper Black Holes of the world's oceans, Ms Schwabe is credited as discovering totally new species of bacteria.

This book is the perfect gift for every young woman. It is certainly a well- researched tutorial about the brave women who have paved the way for today's modern woman to pursue and achieve her dreams. .

As an admirer of Christiane Amanpour, a CNN broadcast journalist, I can think of no other woman more qualified to be called upon to provide the foreword to this most remarkable and inspiring book.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for young girls, October 4, 2002

By	Cynthia Reed "[e-mail]" (San Mateo, CA) - See all my reviews

This is a terrific book and should be given to all girls over the age of 10. My life could have been different if I'd known there were so many wonderful women over the centuries pushing the limits in a multitude of authentic ways. This book is inspiring, motivating and a tear jerker all at the same time.