The First Crossing of Greenland by Fridtjof Nansen

The First Crossing of Greenland Reviews

• 
  Greg Brozeit

  Nansen’s account about the first crossing of Greenland is an absorbing insight into a late-19th/early-20th century renaissance man. This is more than an adventure story about an unprecedented expedition; it is full of insights on nature, the environment, zoology, cultural anthropology, emerging technologies like skis, as well as kayaking and hunting. This narrative became a handbook for later polar explorers. Indeed, Amundsen’s use of dogs for transportation and food on his way to being the first to the South Pole was inspired by Nansen’s post-journey recommendations. His instincts about the bad effects of tobacco and alcohol were far ahead of his time, but his observations about seal hunting—he explained the dramatic decline of seal population was due to their ability to hide rather than indiscriminate slaughter—reveal a quaint ignorance of the times.
  
  Nansen led a six man team that included another great polar explorer, Otto Sverdrup, and two Lapps. They planned be dropped off as close to the eastern coast of Greenland as possible, maneuver their small boats to the shore, and then embark on a northwesterly trek across the ice cap to Christianshaab (Qasingiannguit). After leaving the ship they were driven much further south by the tight ice pack than they anticipated. When they finally reached the coast after 12 days, Nansen poetically describes his joy about being back on solid land: “As I rested there, in the view and mere fact of existence, I heard something come singing through the air and stop in the neighborhood of my hand. It was a good well-known tune it sang, and I looked down at once. It was a gnat, a real gnat, and presently others joined it. I let them sit quietly biting and took pleasure in their attack. They gave me, these dear creatures, sensible proof that I was on land, as they sat there and sucked themselves full and red.” But after a long journey north along the coast to reach their intended starting point for the journey across the ice cap, Nansen hated them and the mosquitoes that swarmed in such great number that his hands sometimes resembled “rough woolen gloves.”
  
  In the almost month-long journey northward they encountered nomadic East Greenland Inuit, who were fascinated by the expedition’s reindeer clothing, something they had never seen, and the metal runners under their boats. When they eventually began their ascent to the interior in late August, they had to maneuver through crevasses as the edge of the ice as the rose to more than 6,000 feet. But once they reached solid ice and snow, they realized that their original goal would be too far and instead decided to travel due west toward Godthaab (Nuuk). Their revolutionary use of skis, sledges and occasional sails increased their speed and limited hardships until they finally made it to land again. Eventually they made their way to Godthaab where they lived with and learned from the West Greenlander settlers made up of Inuit, Danish administrators, and German missionaries until April 1889. A Danish ship brought them back to Copenhagen to “the incredible sufferings that those tormentors of the human race, those ghouls of modern life, by courtesy called interviewers, are allowed to inflict on people as innocent as ourselves.” Some professions never change.
  
  Nansen was the first hero of the fledgling Norwegian nation and his adventure in Greenland propelled him to greater deeds. He had one more incredible polar journey ahead of him, became one of the founding fathers of modern Norway, was recognized with a Nobel Peace Prize in 1922 for his work with European refugees, and was later the the League of Nations' High Commissioner for Refugees. It is trivially interesting to note that this book was published in the same year as Knut Hamsun’s Hunger. Nansen’s work did not have the longevity of Hamsun’s, but each is a classic.
• 
  Ina

  I originally bought this book because of an exhibition I visited in a museum in Trondheim. I thought the bood would be mainly (like displayed in the exhibition) be about the journey over the ice and the meetings/living with the eskimos (things I found very interesting). Unfortunately Nansen is an old school scientist, so the book included all his notes about the journey - containing preparations, recruting the other members, detailed explanations about all the items used (and how/where they were produced) and so on. Until the 'real' journey starts, you'll be already halfway through the book.
  This was the reason I skipped two chapters - the one about the history of skiing and the last one with the conclusions about the journey.
  In all the writing style is enjoyable, but when Nansen gets into his 'scientific mood' and starts explaining, it tends to get boring really fast - one of the reasons it took me so long to read this book.
• 
  Stuart Montgomery

  This is an abridged version of Nansen's classic "Pa Ski Over Groenland", which was originally published in Norwegian in 1890 and was then soon translated into several other languages. It tells the story of how in 1888 the explorer, with a team of five, made the first complete traverse of Greenland.
  
• 
  Robert

  Nansen's account of his team's groundbreaking traverse of the Greenland ice sheet is a marvelous read. The earlier sections are great to geek out on equipment, and to appreciate just how Nansen's attention to detail in outfitting the expedition has radically altered the way that outdoor pursuits (of all varieties) are undertaken today. As an ultra-light hiker myself, this section was like the bible! And then, to come on to the narrative of his account, it moves to such poetry, and is so beautiful, suspenseful, and incredible that you almost can feel the pains, strains, smells, and sounds of their trip.
  
  My only criticisms are really editorial. First, I feel that the book could do with an introduction that places Nansen's journey in its proper context, as I feel that he himself was writing too close to the time, and too modestly, to give the reader a sense of just how groundbreaking and important this trip was. Secondly was that the edition I was reading (2017) contained A LOT of typos, which was just a little distracting at times. These thoughts aside, this is a must read for any outdoor enthusiasts or those interested in exploration.
• 
  Lauri Laanisto

  Ohh, see on lihtsalt suurepärane reisikiri!
  
  Kuna ma kiita ei oska, siis toon vaid mõned laused ühest lõigust. Kui oldi just jõutud üle Gröönimaa jääkilbi, saare teisele kaldale. Nansen ja Sverdrup läksid kelkudest kokkususserdatud paadiga küla otsima, laplased kimasid jahile, ja kaks ülejäänud tüüpi, Kristian ja Oluf, jäid kaldale kodinaid valvama, ja üks neist kirjutas nii:
  
  "Sõime [hommikul] supist kõhud täis ja olime rõõmsad. Kohal, kus olime maabunud, kasvas õnnetuseks suurel hulgal kukemarju (Emptrum nigrum). Oli päris loomulik, et sõime neid magustoiduks. Olime pidanud kaua säärasest kraamist ilma olema, seetõttu sõime alguses püsti, siis istudes ja kui siis ka enam ei läinud, heitsime pikali ja nüüd võisime uskumatult pikalt vastu pidada. ..//.. Lõppeks olime nii väsinud, et me neid enam mitte kätega, vaid kõhuli lebades suuga noppisime. Siis uinusime nii, nagu me seal lebasime, ja magasime õhtuni; kui aga avasime silmad, rippusid marjad, suurtena, mahlastena ja sinakasmustadena meie silme ees. Loomulikult sõime jälle, kuni uuesti magama jäime."
  
  Niimoodi see elu seal Arktika ekspeditsioonidel käibki...
• 
  DropOfOcean

  This is very complete description of the first crossing of Greenland. There are plenty of adventures even before actual crossing begins and lesser men would have easily perished in events that happen in the book. Enjoyable to read.
• 
  Buddy Levy

  Nansen the the ultimate baddass. The most interesting man in the world.
• 
  Spiken

  Jääävla ball
• 
  A.L.

  At last! It took me so long to get through the two hefty volumes of this book. It was worth it, though. Most interesting is the meat of the book, the actual crossing of Greenland. Both ends of the book are extended with lengthy exposition, the end of this second volume filled with chapters about wintering in Greenland while waiting for a ship, information on the native inhabitants, and a long appendix of scientific observations. I did skim a little through some of these. It was all interesting, but if you're after an account of an adventure you might be best just reading from the start of their journey to the arrival at civilisation on the West coast.
• 
  A.L.

  It's taken me a while to get to the end of the first volume. If you just want to read about the adventure, maybe the abridged version would be better, but this original (in translation) is fascinating. Full of rich details of the voyage and the start of their foray inland, with Nansen's typical insight and humour, the book also discusses in detail Inuit ways of life, and the history of European exploration of Greenland. This can feel a bit tedious when you're reading to find out about Nansen's journey, but worth reading all the same. Onwards to Volume 2...
• 
  Trey Howard

  Swedish edition, 1985, included "Eskimoliv"