Wanderlust: An Eccentric Explorer, an Epic Journey, a Lost Age

Wanderlust: An Eccentric Explorer, an Epic Journey, a Lost Age

  • Downloads:1362
  • Type:Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date:2023-02-26 10:19:57
  • Update Date:2025-09-06
  • Status:finish
  • Author:Reid Mitenbuler
  • ISBN:0358468329
  • Environment:PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle

Summary


The mesmerizing, larger-than-life tale of an eccentric adventurer who traversed some of the greatest frontiers of the twentieth century, from uncharted Arctic wastelands to the underground resistance networks of World War II。

Deep in the Arctic wilderness, Peter Freuchen awoke to find himself buried alive under the snow。 During a sudden blizzard the night before, he had taken shelter underneath his dogsled and become trapped there while he slept。 Now, as feeling drained from his body, he managed to claw a hole through the ice only to find himself in even greater danger: his beard, wet with condensation from his struggling breath, had frozen to his sled runners and lashed his head in place, exposing it to icy winds that needed only a few minutes to kill him。。。 But if Freuchen could escape that, he could escape anything。

Freuchen’s life seemed ripped from the pages of an adventure novel—and provided fodder for many books of his own。 A wildly eccentric Dane with an out-of-nowhere sense of humor, his insatiable curiosity drove him from the twilight years of Arctic exploration to the Golden Age of Hollywood, and from the burgeoning field of climate research to the Danish underground during World War II。 He conducted jaw-dropping expeditions, survived a Nazi prison camp, and overcame a devastating injury that robbed him of his foot and very nearly his life。 Through it all, he was guided not only by restlessness but also by ideals that were remarkably ahead of his time, championing Indigenous communities, environmental stewardship, and starting conversations that continue today。 

Meticulously researched and grippingly written, Wanderlust is an unforgettable tale of daring and discovery, an inspiring portrait of restlessness and grit, and a powerful meditation on our relationship to the planet and our fellow human beings。 Reid Mitenbuler’s exquisite book restores a heroic giant of the last century back into public view。


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Reviews

Gracie Wiener

this is the best biography i have ever read。 mitenbuler is such a talented writer, but it doesn’t hurt that the subject it absolutely enthralling。

Rosann

Reid Mitenbuler introduces us to Peter Freuchen, one of the last great Arctic explorers。 Though this is not a name well known in the western hemisphere, Mitenbuler successfully paints the picture of a very much larger than life adventurer, a man who's life spanned the golden age of exploration through the early days of Hollywood-- and managed to somehow be a part of it all。 He was in turns a technician/stoker on a ship heading to the Arctic, a founder of a Greenland trading station, an anthropol Reid Mitenbuler introduces us to Peter Freuchen, one of the last great Arctic explorers。 Though this is not a name well known in the western hemisphere, Mitenbuler successfully paints the picture of a very much larger than life adventurer, a man who's life spanned the golden age of exploration through the early days of Hollywood-- and managed to somehow be a part of it all。 He was in turns a technician/stoker on a ship heading to the Arctic, a founder of a Greenland trading station, an anthropologist, journalist, actor, writer, public speaker, a member of the Danish resistance, and early environmentalist。 Truly well researched, documented, and very entertaining, Peter Freuchen comes to life in the appropriately titled "Wanderlust"。 。。。more

Brendan Dowd

I read a lot of Arctic/Antarctic literature。 Every now and again, I wonder if I will get sick of these adventures。 Honestly, sooner or later you can only read the word "pemmican" so many times before you lose your mind。Then a book like Wanderlust by Reid Mitenbuler arrives and makes you feel like a fool for every doubting how exciting travel in extreme environments can be。 Now, before you write this book off by saying this isn't your thing, I would like to point out a few things。 Namely, the sub I read a lot of Arctic/Antarctic literature。 Every now and again, I wonder if I will get sick of these adventures。 Honestly, sooner or later you can only read the word "pemmican" so many times before you lose your mind。Then a book like Wanderlust by Reid Mitenbuler arrives and makes you feel like a fool for every doubting how exciting travel in extreme environments can be。 Now, before you write this book off by saying this isn't your thing, I would like to point out a few things。 Namely, the subject of the book, Peter Freuchen was the following things: Arctic explorer, writer, reporter, game show contestant, Danish resistance fighter, actor, and MacGyver in one of the grossest stories I have ever read in my life。 Everyone likes at least one of those things。 Mitenbuler writes a book which feels effortlessly short while containing an increasingly insane amount of varied stories。 And yet, I also felt like Mitenbuler could have easily written 1,000 pages on Freuchen and not gotten all of it in。 The book is very well written, but even Mitenbuler would probably admit, once he chose Freuchen, the hard part was already over。 It's great and you should read it, no matter who you are。 (This book was provided as an advance copy by Netgalley and Mariner Books。) 。。。more

Dan

My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Mariner Books for an advanced copy of this biography on an extraordinary man, his times adventures, loves, losses and lust for live and living。 As the world gets smaller so do the adventures。 There aren't many places on Earth that remain unexplored, and if they are it is probably because of war, or just sheer difficulty of making a profit。 Life changes quite quickly, which was noticed by the subject of this book。 From being out in the wilderness of G My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Mariner Books for an advanced copy of this biography on an extraordinary man, his times adventures, loves, losses and lust for live and living。 As the world gets smaller so do the adventures。 There aren't many places on Earth that remain unexplored, and if they are it is probably because of war, or just sheer difficulty of making a profit。 Life changes quite quickly, which was noticed by the subject of this book。 From being out in the wilderness of Greenland alone, with sketchy mail service that might be months late, to radios reaching the shore, to seeing the climate, cultural and physical landscape be altered in ways that he thought would take hundreds of years, but changed in his life time。 Peter Freuchen saw quite a lot of the world, from trading furs to writing screenplays, and winning game shows。 Wanderlust: An Eccentric Explorer, an Epic Journey, a Lost Age by Reid Mitenbuler is a biography of a man who never settled for ordinary in life, his loves, his mistakes and in his many explorations。 Peter Freuchen was born in Denmark of parents who took a hands-off approach to parenting, teaching young Peter to think and do things independently, and to learn from his own mistakes。 Tall, strong, good looking with a weird sense of humor, and a sense that life was more than he was seeing, he charmed his way into an early expedition of the far North, and never looked back。 Freuchen fell in love with the people, literally, the land the climate, and the feeling that he was doing something important, even if he was alone on the ice for months at a time, slowly going a little batty。 Working as a fur trader and explorer, Freuchen married, had children and was soon widowed。 An long night on the ice cost him first toes, than a foot, but did nothing to stop him。 Soon he was remarried, exploring the wilds of Canada, working in Hollywood and protecting refugees from the Nazis。 And winning prizes on television game shows。 This is one of the biggest most interesting biographies about a man I had never heard of but know can't wait to tell others about。 What a person, and what a life that was lived。 Explorer, writer, screenwriter, actor, enemy to the Nazis, even interested in climate change。 Freuchen had almost a Zelig-like life, knowing not only explorers, but Prime Ministers, directors, actors, other writers, and again being on the Nazi enemy list。 Mitenbuler does an amazing job of telling and keeping the story on tract, really getting into the head of Freuchen and making readers care not only about him, but the people he cares about。 The writing is very good, Mitenbuler never loses the narrative, nor does anything ever drag。 Each page has fascinating facts and figures and really brings the world the Freuchen lived in to life。 A very fascinating book。 This is the second book that I have read by Reid Mitenbuler and I really enjoyed it。 A life in full captured well on paper, with a pace that makes it very hard to put the book down。 Freuchen lived such a diverse life, that Mitenbuler had to know a little bit about a lot of things, and conveys that to the reader quite well。 Recommended for people who like biographies on people who did great things, for fans of Arctic exploration, even fans of Hollywood and the making of films。 This is the book you buy for someone that has a lot of interests and loves to learn more。 A great Father's Day kind of book。 。。。more

Nathan

Like Mitenbuler, I first saw this picture and thought, "Who is THAT?"It's a behemoth of a tale (and life): One of the last of his kind, Freuchen might be one of the most fascinating people of the 20th century。 Eccentric certainly describes him, but he also represents that storybook-level heroism that you have a hard time ever believing was completely real。 Sure, there's bound to be embellishments, but Mitenbuler finds a way to keep those sorts of details taut and indicates them as they come at y Like Mitenbuler, I first saw this picture and thought, "Who is THAT?"It's a behemoth of a tale (and life): One of the last of his kind, Freuchen might be one of the most fascinating people of the 20th century。 Eccentric certainly describes him, but he also represents that storybook-level heroism that you have a hard time ever believing was completely real。 Sure, there's bound to be embellishments, but Mitenbuler finds a way to keep those sorts of details taut and indicates them as they come at you。 The book never drags, it combs through history while giving great context, and it's a legitimate page-turner。 It's bound to be one of the great books of its category in 2023, and I'm supremely happy to know the story behind the famous photo。 Many thanks to NetGalley and Mariner Books for the advance read。 。。。more

Magen

Updated review now that Harper Collins Union has received a contract。Fantastic! I’ve seen the picture on the book over so many times and wondered the story behind it and it’s certainly did not disappoint。 This is a biography, so of course it’s full of facts and written in a certain way to give those facts。 But! Between Reid Mitenbuler’s writing style and the subject himself, this reads as close to an adventure novel as a biography can get。 I cannot recommend it enough。 Peter Freuchen is a fascin Updated review now that Harper Collins Union has received a contract。Fantastic! I’ve seen the picture on the book over so many times and wondered the story behind it and it’s certainly did not disappoint。 This is a biography, so of course it’s full of facts and written in a certain way to give those facts。 But! Between Reid Mitenbuler’s writing style and the subject himself, this reads as close to an adventure novel as a biography can get。 I cannot recommend it enough。 Peter Freuchen is a fascinating man who seems (and is) larger than life, completely unreal。 I really enjoyed this book, truly an unforgettable reading experience!Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the eARC in exchange for an honest review。 。。。more

Cassandra Manning

Fabulous。 A romp through early explorer days in the turn of the 20th century, equal mix Arctic explorer Adventure Club and eccentric with too much gusto to stay out in any one place for long。 I found this to be a fascinating, compelling read from start to finish。

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