A Negro Explorer at the North Pole
by Matthew A. Henson
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"When Commander Robert Peary reached the North Pole on April 6, 1909, one other American was with him - Matthew Henson, a black man from Maryland who has been Peary's faithful companion through twenty-two years of polar exploration. In fact, were it not for the lower status that Henson was forced to accept because of his race, he would be seen as the true hero of that successful journey. It was Henson who learned to speak the native tongue of the Eskimos (they called him "Matt the kind show more one"), Henson who handled the dogs and broke the trail, Henson who built the sleds they traveled on. Due to a failed expedition a decade earlier, during which Peary lost nine of his toes to frostbite and had to be carried two hundred miles to safety by Henson, Peary was nearly a cripple for the final North Pole expedition and could do little more than ride on his sled behind the main party."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved show lessTags
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An interesting book, tho somewhat dry. Not a full autobiography but an account of the year he & Robert Peary reached the North Pole, with references to his prior experiences traveling w/Peary and touching upon his lecturing and sharing of this adventure in his later life. He refers to the diary he kept, but expands upon it. It would have been interesting to learn more about the other times he spent among the Eskimos, when he learned how to survive in such harsh environment.
Telling the tale of the trip, he seems content to be the servant, to do whatever it takes to accomplish the mission. It is only later, after reflecting on Peary's attempt to be the only one at the Pole, after hearing disparaging remarks that Peary made about him, that show more he makes his own cutting comments on Peary's attitude. show less
Telling the tale of the trip, he seems content to be the servant, to do whatever it takes to accomplish the mission. It is only later, after reflecting on Peary's attempt to be the only one at the Pole, after hearing disparaging remarks that Peary made about him, that show more he makes his own cutting comments on Peary's attitude. show less
Excellent, compelling story written in simplistic, dry prose.
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Writers In Public Domain 2026
90 works; 1 member
Author Information
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Common Knowledge
- Original publication date
- 1912
- People/Characters
- Matthew Henson; Robert E. Peary
- Important places
- North Pole
- First words
- When the news of the discovery of the North Pole, by Commander Peary, was first sent to the world, a distinguished citizen of New York City, well versed in the affairs of the Peary Arctic Club, made the statement that he was ... (show all)sure that Matt Henson had been with Commander Peary on the day of the discovery.
- Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)"The Old Trail!
The Trail that is always New!"
Classifications
- Genres
- Nonfiction, Biography & Memoir, Travel, History
- DDC/MDS
- 910.92 — History & geography Geography & travel modified standard subdivisions of Geography and travel History, geographic treatment, biography - Discovery. exploration Geographers, travellers, explorers regardless of country of origin
- LCC
- G635 .H4 .A3 — Geography, Anthropology and Recreation Geography (General) Arctic and Antarctic regions
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 79
- Popularity
- 399,598
- Reviews
- 2
- Rating
- (3.50)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 22
- ASINs
- 3






























































