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The Great Polar Fraud
- Cook, Peary, and Byrd - How Three American Heroes Duped the World into Thinking They Had Reached the North Pole
- Narrated by: James Patrick Cronin
- Length: 12 hrs and 18 mins
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The Great Polar Fraud
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Summary
In 1910 Roald Amundsen set off from Oslo toward the North Pole but soon received word that two Americans - Frederick Cook and Robert Peary - each claimed to have reached the Pole ahead of him. Devastated, Amundsen famously went south. For years Cook and Peary tried to convince the world of their claims. Finally the National Geographic Society endorsed Peary, and the matter seemed settled. In May 1926 an American airman, Richard Byrd, flew north in a three-engine plane, and returned with a log showing that he had flow exactly over the geographical North Pole, becoming the third man to reach that mythical spot. National Geographic again supported the claim. However, it is now obvious that Peary claimed distances he could not possibly have achieved, and it is doubtful that Cooke, who had a history of fraud, ever got even close to the pole. Byrd flew further north than anyone before, but he did not have the fuel to have made the journey he claimed - his log was falsified. Just three days after Byrd’s flight, Amundsen reenters the story on an airship traveling across the pole from Svalbard to Alaska, unknowingly passing directly over the pole, becoming the true first to reach it - just as he had been the first at the South Pole.
The Great Polar Fraud explores the history of the three men who claimed the pole, their claims, and the subsequent doubts of those claims, effectively rewriting the history of polar exploration and putting Amundsen center stage as the rightful conqueror of both poles.
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- Philip Smith
- 13-08-22
Exceptional
Loved every second. Very fascinating and a must read/listen. Would definitely recommend it. Amazing
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- David Robertson
- 25-10-21
Excellent tale of jealousies, spite and bravery.
Ignore the doom merchants here this is a well researched and entertaining epic tale. I’d recommend it to anyone- but listen in as few occasions as you can, the detail is superb.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Lady in Waiting
- 26-11-21
Unforgettable tale
An incredible story, simply explained, beautiful diction. Well worth listening to. Time well spent
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- N Brimblecombe
- 16-02-22
Fascinating story of flawed polar heroes
Entertaining and interesting account. Would have benefited by some editing to reduce text repetition but generally the stories run on well. The descriptions of the flawed nature of all the polar explorers described is certainly fascinating about whom the author is remarkably forgiving considering their egocentric ways. The narration is well paced and clear
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- Michael G.
- 29-08-22
Great story but where are the maps?
Good pace. Great narration but needed lots of maps showing all the places. Not one map as a pdf?
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Hayley
- 24-03-22
So insightful and interesting!
Really well written, thoroughly engaging, insightful and interesting! Honestly can recommend this book, I was doubtful at first but it turned into a really entertaining piece.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- aksel samuelsberg
- 15-02-24
Such a great story!
Thoroughly enjoyed it! Well-written and covers a lot about the heroic age of polar exploration. Great book, I would recommend it.
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- Damian Rees
- 28-02-22
Wow
Having only really known about Shackleton and his endurance story, this is a great listen. Covers lots of explorers of previous years, both north and south pole. a great informative listen.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Kindle Customer
- 31-01-23
Fascinating story
As the book went along I realised the truth of the story. And how the greatest explorer never knew his true achievement. Well read, well laid out with intertwining stories
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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- PTW
- 16-11-17
Great story, narrative sometimes a bit poor
Great story, containing a good overview of the historical facts and previous analysis of events. And good because it contains more information on both the northern and southern exploration. One small criticism is that author repeats himself on a number of occasions, perhaps the chapters were written separately and greater editing should have been done, also would have benefited from introduction chapter setting the previous historical scene
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1 person found this helpful