Osborne Russell's thrilling lifetime of trapping and wilderness exploration makes for adventurous, eventful and highly readable autobiography. In the nineteenth century, the USA's wilderness was enormous and largely uncharted by the white European settlers who had, until the nineteenth century, been largely confined to the easterly coasts of North America. The discovery of the Rocky Mountains - a remote and rugged landscape unfamiliar to all but the local Native American tribes - sparked a new phase of exploration. Among the first people to learn the lay of these vast lands were fur trappers and traders. Hearing tell of great forests and craggy lands, heavily populated by beasts whose pelts would fetch a great price, trappers such as Osborne Russell ventured to these places in search of adventure and fortune: exotic, high quality fur pelts in those days fetched a handsome price at market.

This book was originally marketed with this words: "A rare tale of travel and Adventure. Thrilling experiences in distant lands, among strange people. A book for boys, old and young."The description of the book is no exaggeration. Paul Boyton (1848-1924) was clearly a remarkable and fearless man and indeed had adventures that can only be described as thrilling. He discovered and started working with a rubber suit, similar to modern drysuits . It allowed the wearer to float on his or her back, using a double-sided paddle to propel themself, feet-forward. Eventually, he was to found the first "amusement park" featuring performing sea lions and water chutes.

A modern edition of Scott's record of his last journey to the Antarctic.

A detailed description of Hovell and Hume's early 19th Century explorations in Victoria, Australia (now the location of Melbourne).

Jean Braure has been interviewed on local Virgin Islands' radio stations (WVWI), Channel 12 TV Station and many stories have been written in local newspapers (Caribbean Boating, The Virgin Islands Daily News).

Jean was told to write his souvenirs, some chronicles of his adventurous life shared by friends, sailors and mountaineers alike. He has lived all his life in the Virgin Islands. He qualified to represent the Virgin Islands team at the Olympics in 1984 in the Soling class and in 1988 and 1992 in the Tornado class.

He still climbs high mountains at 75. He will never retire. He still competes in local races, sailing his Freedom 40 "Mumu Sunset," from sunrise to sunset.

These two "activities" are unique for a Virgin Islander, more accustomed to a traditional way of life than to challenge Nature.

Jean is a Free Spirit who does not fit in a conventional life.

This book is more a series of humoristic accounts of Jean's adventures. It is also an introspective into the weakness of the human being facing Nature.

He has promised his family tens of times not to climb anymore or to sail offshore. Jean is unable to keep his promises. Jean is the "Enfant Terrible" of the Virgin Islands.

He obtained a Master's Degree in French Literature at Middlebury's College, Vt.

Shipwrecks of Madagascar recounts the stories of about a hundred notable shipwrecks off the coast of Madagascar from ancient to modern times and the fate and adventures of survivors. It covers ships of the mighty Portuguese, Dutch, British, and French East India Companies, of numerous pirates who visited or settled there, of the British and French Navies, of the sailing vessels and steamers of the 19th century, and of more recent times. Shipwrecks are unknown relics for most people. This captivating book provides an interesting history into the many that occurred and helped shape Madagascar into the country it is today. ABOUT THE AUTHOR- Pierre van den Boogaerde was born and raised in Ghent, a provincial town in Belgium. He studied law and economics both in Belgium and the U.S. He spent most of his career working for an international financial organization based in Washington, D.C. but was posted in Madagascar about three years ago. Pierre has also been an avid wreck diver for about 30 years.

Flying airplanes for sport is expensive. Many recreational pilots are businessmen or executives with sufficient income that allows them to fly. But this recreational community also includes a smaller group-the blue-collar workers. With little disposable income, they struggle to find money to support their flying passion. Eventually, many succumb to the financial pressures of home and family, giving up flying altogether. But there are some who find a way to continue enjoying their love for flight. "Blue-Collar Wings: Remembering Thirty Years of Private Flying" is the autobiography of middle-class worker Robert J. Keith, who shares his story of flying light aircraft for recreation and refusing to abandon it in the face of increasing costs. For three decades, Robert and his wife Nancy enjoyed many adventures flying airplanes and hot air balloons throughout New England . and slightly beyond . and proved that dreams do come true.

This volume is a collection of 30 papers on the broad subject of the Scandinavian expansion westwards to Britain, Ireland and the North Atlantic, with a particular emphasis on settlement. The volume has been prepared in tribute to the work of Barbara E. Crawford on this subject, and to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the publication of her seminal book, Scandinavian Scotland. Reflecting Dr Crawford's interests, the papers cover a range of disciplines, and are arranged into four main sections: History and Cultural Contacts; The Church and the Cult of Saints; Archaeology, Material Culture and Settlement; Place-Names and Language. The combination provides a variety of new perspectives both on the Viking expansion and on Scandinavia's continued contacts across the North Sea in the post-Viking period. Contributors include: Lesley Abrams, Haki Antonsson, Beverley Ballin Smith, James Barrett, Paul Bibire, Nicholas Brooks, Dauvit Broun, Margaret Cormac, Neil Curtis, Clare Downham, Gillian Fellows-Jensen, Ian Fisher, Katherine Forsyth, Peder Gammeltoft, Sarah Jane Gibbon, Mark Hall, Hans Emil Liden, Christopher Lowe, Joanne McKenzie, Christopher Morris, Elizabeth Okasha, Elizabeth Ridel, Liv Schei, Jon Vioar Sigurosson, Brian Smith, Steffen Stumann Hansen, Frans Arne Stylegard, Simon Taylor, William Thomson, Gareth Williams, Doreen Waugh and Alex Woolf.