Books by Fridtjof Nansen

Born in 1861, Fridtjof Nansen was one of the greatest figures of his age and a Norwegian national hero, particularly after the epic voyage of the Fram to the Arctic. He inspired directly other explorers such as Scott, Amundsen and Shackleton, although his achievements ranged far beyond the fields of exploration. He was one of the founders of neurology, a crucial figure in the Norwegian achievement of independence and Norway's first ambassador to London. Through his force of personality he played a crucial role in repatriating hundreds of thousands of prisoners at the end of the First World War, and, in undertaking famine relief in Russia, dealt directly with Lenin, Trotsky and Stalin. His role in the new League of Nations was vital in establishing the organization's international credibility. He died in 1930.