Norse Greenland

Norse Greenland

Author: Jared Diamond

Publisher: Penguin

Published: 2012-12-11

Total Pages: 196

ISBN-13: 1101629355

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A timely and fascinating exploration of the collapse of prehistoric Norse society in Greenland—excerpted from the Pulitzer Prize–winning author Jared Diamond’s Collapse This excerpt from the New York Times–bestselling book Collapse takes a timely and fascinating look at prehistoric Norse Greenland—the closest approximation of a controlled experiment in collapse in history. One island, two unique societies (Norse and Inuit). Only one of these societies would succeed—the other would fail. But how? With his trademark accessibility and comprehensiveness, Diamond documents how environmental damage, climate change, loss of friendly contacts and the rise of hostile ones, and the unique political, economic, and social settings of prehistoric Greenland combine to demonstrate exactly why and how societies choose to fail or succeed. Jared Diamond's latest book, The World Until Yesterday: What Can We Learn from Traditional Societies?, is available from Viking.


An African in Greenland

An African in Greenland

Author: Tété-Michel Kpomassie

Publisher: New York Review of Books

Published: 2001-10-31

Total Pages: 324

ISBN-13: 9780940322882

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Tété-Michel Kpomassie was a teenager in Togo when he discovered a book about Greenland—and knew that he must go there. Working his way north over nearly a decade, Kpomassie finally arrived in the country of his dreams. This brilliantly observed and superbly entertaining record of his adventures among the Inuit is a testament both to the wonderful strangeness of the human species and to the surprising sympathies that bind us all.


The Vinland Sagas

The Vinland Sagas

Author: Leifur Eiricksson

Publisher: Penguin UK

Published: 2019-05-23

Total Pages: 164

ISBN-13: 0141991550

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The Saga of the Greenlanders and Eirik the Red’s Saga contain the first ever descriptions of North America, a bountiful land of grapes and vines, discovered by Vikings five centuries before Christopher Columbus. Written down in the early thirteenth century, they recount the Icelandic settlement of Greenland by Eirik the Red, the chance discovery by seafaring adventurers of a mysterious new land, and Eirik’s son Leif the Lucky’s perilous voyages to explore it. Wrecked by storms, stricken by disease and plagued by navigational mishaps, some survived the North Atlantic to pass down this compelling tale of the first Europeans to talk with, trade with, and war with the Native Americans.


The Saga of the Greenlanders (Groenlendinga Saga)

The Saga of the Greenlanders (Groenlendinga Saga)

Author: Matthew Leigh Embleton

Publisher: Independently Published

Published: 2021-08-25

Total Pages: 140

ISBN-13:

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The Saga of the Greenlanders (Groenlendinga Saga) is one of the two Icelandic Sagas which make up the Vínland Sagas (Vínlandingasögur) which tell the story of the Norse discovery of North America. The story includes the events leading up to Erik the Red being banished from Iceland and discovering Greenland. Following the accidental discovery of lands further west of Greenland, there are a number of expeditions to explore and settle these lands. The story survived by oral tradition over several centuries before being written down in the 13th century. It is preserved in the Flateyjarbók. This book is designed to be of use to anyone studying or with a keen interest in Old Norse or Old Icelandic, clearly showing how these languages work, and the influence of these languages on English. Both Old Norse and Old Icelandic versions are included. This edition is laid out in three columns, the original text, a literal word-for-word translation, and a modern translation. Also included is a word list with over 1,000 definitions. Also available in this series: The Saga of Erik the Red (Eiríks Saga Rauða) and The Vínland Sagas (Vínlandingasögur).


The Ice at the End of the World

The Ice at the End of the World

Author: Jon Gertner

Publisher: Random House

Published: 2019-06-11

Total Pages: 448

ISBN-13: 0812996631

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A riveting, urgent account of the explorers and scientists racing to understand the rapidly melting ice sheet in Greenland, a dramatic harbinger of climate change “Jon Gertner takes readers to spots few journalists or even explorers have visited. The result is a gripping and important book.”—Elizabeth Kolbert, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of The Sixth Extinction NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY The Washington Post • The Christian Science Monitor • Library Journal Greenland: a remote, mysterious island five times the size of California but with a population of just 56,000. The ice sheet that covers it is 700 miles wide and 1,500 miles long, and is composed of nearly three quadrillion tons of ice. For the last 150 years, explorers and scientists have sought to understand Greenland—at first hoping that it would serve as a gateway to the North Pole, and later coming to realize that it contained essential information about our climate. Locked within this vast and frozen white desert are some of the most profound secrets about our planet and its future. Greenland’s ice doesn’t just tell us where we’ve been. More urgently, it tells us where we’re headed. In The Ice at the End of the World, Jon Gertner explains how Greenland has evolved from one of earth’s last frontiers to its largest scientific laboratory. The history of Greenland’s ice begins with the explorers who arrived here at the turn of the twentieth century—first on foot, then on skis, then on crude, motorized sleds—and embarked on grueling expeditions that took as long as a year and often ended in frostbitten tragedy. Their original goal was simple: to conquer Greenland’s seemingly infinite interior. Yet their efforts eventually gave way to scientists who built lonely encampments out on the ice and began drilling—one mile, two miles down. Their aim was to pull up ice cores that could reveal the deepest mysteries of earth’s past, going back hundreds of thousands of years. Today, scientists from all over the world are deploying every technological tool available to uncover the secrets of this frozen island before it’s too late. As Greenland’s ice melts and runs off into the sea, it not only threatens to affect hundreds of millions of people who live in coastal areas. It will also have drastic effects on ocean currents, weather systems, economies, and migration patterns. Gertner chronicles the unfathomable hardships, amazing discoveries, and scientific achievements of the Arctic’s explorers and researchers with a transporting, deeply intelligent style—and a keen sense of what this work means for the rest of us. The melting ice sheet in Greenland is, in a way, an analog for time. It contains the past. It reflects the present. It can also tell us how much time we might have left.


Saga of the Greenlanders & Erik the Red

Saga of the Greenlanders & Erik the Red

Author: John Sephton

Publisher: Good Press

Published: 2023-11-19

Total Pages: 72

ISBN-13:

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The 'Saga of the Greenlanders & Erik the Red' presents an enriching collection that weaves through the fabric of Norse exploration, combining legendary narratives with historical accounts. This anthology juxtaposes various literary styles, from the epic sagas that have shaped our understanding of Viking expeditions to the detailed annals recounting daily lives in harsh, uncharted territories. Its significance lies in the compilation of works that offer a panoramic view of Norse culture and exploration, with pieces that stand out for their depth in exploring the trials and resilience of these early adventurers. The range of literary styles serves as a testament to the diversity and complexity of the Norse literary tradition, providing readers with a comprehensive understanding of its thematic richness and historical depth. John Sephton and Arthur Middleton Reeves, the editors and translators of this collection, bring together their scholarly expertise and deep appreciation for Norse literature. Their backgrounds in medieval studies and Norse traditions lend a critical eye to the selection, ensuring a cohesive blend of narratives that truly embody the spirit of Norse exploration. This anthology aligns with significant cultural and literary movements by highlighting the sagas' contributions to our understanding of pre-modern European narratives, reflecting on themes of exploration, survival, and the human spirit. 'Readers looking to immerse themselves in the saga tradition of the Norse will find 'Saga of the Greenlanders & Erik the Red' an indispensable collection. It offers a unique opportunity to explore the narratives that have captivated scholars and enthusiasts alike, providing a window into the Viking age's societal values, beliefs, and worldviews. This anthology is not just a historical or literary journey; it is an invitation to experience the breadth of Norse culture through the eyes of its people, making it an essential read for anyone interested in medieval literature, exploration narratives, or the saga tradition itself.


The New Penguin Book of English Folk Songs

The New Penguin Book of English Folk Songs

Author: Julia Bishop

Publisher: Penguin UK

Published: 2012-06-07

Total Pages: 666

ISBN-13: 0141964324

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One of the Spectator's Books of the Year 2012 'Farewell and adieu to you fair Spanish ladies Farewell and adieu to you ladies of Spain For we've received orders for to sail for old England But we hope in a short while to see you again' One of the great English popular art forms, the folk song can be painful, satirical, erotic, dramatic, rueful or funny. They have thrived when sung on a whim to a handful of friends in a pub; they have bewitched generations of English composers who have set them for everything from solo violin to full orchestra; they are sung in concerts, festivals, weddings, funerals and with nobody to hear but the singer. This magical new collection brings together all the classic folk songs as well as many lesser-known discoveries, complete with music and annotations on their original sources and meaning. Published in cooperation with the English Folk Dance and Song Society, it is a worthy successor to Ralph Vaughan Williams and A.L.Lloyd's original Penguin Book of English Folk Songs. 'Her keen eye did glitter like the bright stars by night The robe she was wearing was costly and white Her bare neck was shaded with her long raven hair And they called her pretty Susan, the pride of Kildare' In association with EFDSS, the English Folk Dance and Song Society


The Summer My Life Began

The Summer My Life Began

Author: Shannon Greenland

Publisher: Penguin

Published: 2012-05-10

Total Pages: 228

ISBN-13: 1101572337

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A great summer beach read filled with sunshine, cooking, and--of course--romance! Elizabeth Margaret--better known as Em--has always known what her life would contain: an internship at her father's firm, a degree from Harvard, and a career as a lawyer. The only problem is, it's not what she wants. So when she gets the opportunity to get away and spend a month with the aunt she never knew, she jumps at the chance. While there, Em learns that her family has some pretty significant secrets. And then there's Cade, the laid-back local surfer boy who seems to be everything Em isn't. Naturally, she can't resist him, and as their romance blossoms, Em feels that for the first time ever, she is really living life on her own terms.


Michel the Giant

Michel the Giant

Author: Tété-Michel Kpomassie

Publisher: Penguin UK

Published: 2022-02-03

Total Pages: 296

ISBN-13: 014199942X

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The gripping true story of one man's ten year expedition from a village in West Africa to the Arctic Circle WITH A NEW AFTERWORD BY THE AUTHOR Scorching heat, rich, fertile soil, and treacherous snakes marked the landscape in which Tété-Michel grew up in 1950s Togo, West Africa. When he discovered a book on Greenland as a teen, this distant land became an instant obsession - he was determined to journey to the place these pages had revealed to him and embarked on the adventure of a lifetime. A book of rich and immersive travel writing, Michel the Giant invites the reader to journey alongside an audacious Kpomassie as he makes his way from the equator to the bitter cold of the artic and settles into life with the Inuit peoples, adapting to their foods and customs. Part memoir, part anthropological observation this captivating narrative teems with nuanced observations on community, belonging and the universality of human experience. This title has been previously published as An African in Greenland