A History of the Arctic: Nature, Exploration and Exploitation
'I have long sought an outstanding general environmental history of the Arctic only to be disappointed. John McCannon's new work, A History of the Arctic, admirably fills this need.... It is a thoughtful, broadly-considered, and sometimes provocative study that offers a transnational perspective on the profound changes over time taking place in this significant region.' --Roger D. Launius, Senior Curator in the Division of Space History, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institute'A dazzling tour d'horizon . . . Anyone who cares about the Arctic should read this sobering book. Let's hope his gloomy predictions are wrong. I suspect he is right.' --Klaus Dodds, Professor of Geopolitics Royal Holloway, University of London'A remarkable voyage through the Arctic, from its misty past to contentious present. A graceful writer with a fine eye for telling detail, McCannon offers an exciting, broad-sweep tour ... A must-read volume for the general public and scholars alike.' - -- Ronald E. Doel Florida State University"This is one of the few books in English (as well as, arguably, the best one) to deal with these themes from a widely comprehensive circumpolar perspective rather that a strictly national one. The chapter 'Crusades,' for example... examines not only those explorers familiar to English speakers, but also lesser-known Finns, Icelanders, Faroese, Greenlanders, and Russians. Indigenous people also figure large in these pages. This makes the book tremendously valuable; as an added bonus, it is approachably and engagingly written. It should serve for some considerable time as the standard work on the subject....Essential." -- Choice"John McCannon's book is a valuable and timely addition....It's never dull, and [McCannon] possesses a keen eye for detail, especially in chronicling the region's wildlife and the painful transition from exploration to exploitation....This is a thoughtful, provocative study that should be read by anyone who cares about the Arctic's fate." -- Geographical Magazine