Early Explorers

When the preserved foot of a dead man with extra toes arrives at St. Bartholomew's Medical College, the students are fascinated. However, despite this unusual feature being reported in the press, the man's identity remains a mystery. Intrigued by the puzzle, medical student Mr. Stamford calls on his acquaintance Sherlock Holmes to help him learn more about the deceased. With only the man's boots and a few possessions to examine, Holmes relishes the challenge. He soon finds a coded message hidden inside the man's purse, which suggests a possible connection to criminals or spies.

Over the centuries, the West has become fascinated by the Vikings, one of the most mysterious and interesting European civilizations. In addition to being perceived as a remarkably unique culture among its European counterparts, what’s known and not known about the Vikings’ accomplishments has added an intriguing aura to the historical narrative. Were they fierce and fearsome warriors? Were they the first Europeans to visit North America? It seems some of the legends are true, and some are just that, legend.

From Pulitzer Prize–winning author Larry McMurtry comes the first in a four-volume epic journey through the early American frontier, featuring the Berrybender family, English nobility adrift in the American West in the 1830s. It is 1830, and the Berrybender family—rich, aristocratic, English...

In the space of 400 years, Western man methodically set out to explore and map the entire earth. During some of the most dangerous expeditions ever mounted, an extraordinary group of determined men forced passages through vast oceans, dark jungles, and withering deserts. Never has their like been seen since. What drove these soldiers, sailors, and civilians to leave the comforts of civilized life and face the horrors of shipwreck, starvation, cannibals, and disease?

A fascinating new history of America, told through the stories of a diverse cast of ten extraordinary—and often overlooked—adventurers, from Sacagawea to Matthew Henson to Sally Ride, who pushed the boundaries of discovery and determined our national destiny. ""Brilliantly imaginative...

A historical narrative book set in the United States during the 16th century. Discover the untold stories of bravery, ambition, and cultural clash in "Conquistadors in America," a gripping exploration of the initial Spanish expeditions that reshaped the American continent. Through the daring journeys of Hernando de Soto, Francisco Coronado, and Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, you'll witness firsthand the perilous quests for wealth and glory that sparked a new era of conquest and colonization in North America. In this captivating narrative, David Lavender invites readers to embark on a riveting ...

Steve and his companions have been offered a chance, the slimmest of hopes, that the UC—whatever that is—will protect the earth. That protection, offered as it is with the full knowledge that it could embroil billions in a new war? It's never going to come cheap. The UC wants something, and it's down to Steve to figure out how to pay that debt or survive without their sheltering hand. The greater galaxy is a harsh place, and in the eyes of those who battle to keep the flame of freedom alive another day, anyone who would give up their freedom to gain a little security?

A historical adventure book set in the American wilderness during the early 19th century. This gripping narrative captures the triumphs and tribulations of early American explorers. "Frontier Footsteps" unfolds the awe-inspiring journeys of Lieutenant Pike and Governor Cass as they traverse the unexplored American wilderness in the early 1800s. From the icy treachery of the Mississippi River to the dense, enigmatic forests of the Chippewa territory, this book vividly recounts the relentless pursuit of knowledge and discovery. Join these intrepid explorers as they map uncharted territories, ...

The Early Explorers Book 1 includes biographical sketches of some of the first explorers that penetrated the American mainland, both South America and North America. The history of Colonial America would not be complete without biographical information on some of the explorers of North America. These New World adventurers laid the foundations of the future United States and Canada, as pioneers followed after them building settlements as they colonized the interior.

“A crisp, confident, and convincing new account of the place and its chroniclers" — The New Yorker “A definitive history of the mysteries of Easter Island...compelling...[a] magisterial history.” — New York Times “Revelatory…fascinating… wholly convincing” — Daily Mail (UK) A...

A historical exploration book set along the Colorado River in the American West during the 16th to 19th centuries. Embark on an unforgettable journey through "Colorado River Chronicle," where the fierce waters of the Colorado River become a steep barrier to discovery for early European explorers. This captivating narrative uncovers the epic quests of brave conquistadors, who dared to conquer the treacherous terrains shaped by this mighty river. With tales of heroism, tragedy, and relentless ambition, the book unravels the challenges faced by those who navigated this formidable landscape in ...

From internationally bestselling historian Giles Milton comes a gripping tale of exploration, survival, and geopolitical power in the Arctic Circle. The year was 1913. Charismatic explorer Vilhjalmur Stefansson was obsessed with a frozen speck of land in the Siberian Arctic: Wrangel Island...

What if the only way across an unexplored continent was through the sky? Dr. Samuel Fergusson has an audacious plan: cross Africa from east to west in a hydrogen balloon. With his loyal friend Dick Kennedy and resourceful servant Joe beside him, he sets out on an expedition unlike anything the world has seen. Their balloon carries them above vast deserts, dense forests, winding rivers, remote kingdoms, and landscapes few European travelers of their age have ever witnessed. But the freedom of the skies comes with dangers of its own. Fierce storms, dwindling supplies, hostile encounters, ...

A historical non-fiction book set in North America and beyond during the late 15th to early 16th century. Step back into a pivotal time in history that reshaped the Americas forever. "Missions Gold and Misery" offers an eye-opening exploration of the Spanish conquistadors whose ambitions and actions laid the groundwork for colonization. Through the lens of renowned figures such as Columbus, Cortés, and Pizarro, author [Author Name] uncovers the complexities and contradictions of the New World explorations, revealing the dramatic narratives that have been overlooked in mainstream historical...

A country ripped apart with a secret that’s about to change the universe. For Corps of Discovery Explorer Bill Clark, exploring parallel worlds in the multiverse is all in a day’s work, so entering the Confederate States of America was easy. Leaving is a different matter. Being hunted by some of the most dangerous people on this alternate timeline, the small team of Explorers must use their wits, skills, and experiences to outsmart their deadly foes and get home. Even if that means leaving the secret of a new technology behind, one that will shift the balance of power. But Bill isn’t ...

The extraordinary, must-read story of the brave, bold Hubert Wilkins - Australia's most adventurous explorer, naturalist, photographer, war hero, aviator, spy and daredevil - brought to life by Australia's greatest storyteller. Sir Hubert Wilkins is one of the most remarkable Australians who...

What if everything you thought you knew about the ancient world was wrong? Across the globe, colossal monuments, intricate artifacts, and impossible feats of engineering stand as silent witnesses to a past we barely understand. *Few people know that some of history’s most baffling creations cannot be explained by modern science alone.* From the towering megaliths of Baalbek to the precision-carved stone spheres of Costa Rica, these wonders challenge the very timeline of human civilization. What you’re about to discover will change how you see our ancestors—and their capabilities—...

Canada Before the Maple Leaf Indigenous Civilizations, Explorers, and the Birth of a Nation Long before Canada became a nation recognized by its iconic maple leaf, this vast northern land was home to thriving Indigenous civilizations, interconnected trade networks, and remarkable cultures that flourished for thousands of years. In Canada Before the Maple Leaf, readers embark on a captivating journey through the earliest chapters of Canadian history. From the resilience of the Inuit in the Arctic and the sophisticated societies of the Eastern Woodlands to the extensive Indigenous trade ...

In the autumn of 1905, a writer from Chicago stood in the ruined yard of a New Mexico sawmill and counted his own paces from a window to a pine log, reconstructing a gunfight from 1878. He got his distance: a hundred and forty steps. The sentence he built around it — that the site was "visited," the points "verified," the distances "measured" — is true in every particular. What is worth noticing is what the measurement is asked to prove. A shot can be measured. A quarrel cannot. When his two surviving witnesses disagree about how the dead men were even buried, Emerson Hough declines to ...

Here are the stories of nine great adventures and the lives of the men who took part in them. They pushed back the frontiers of man's knowledge of the world by their vision, courage, and sheer doggedness. They were very different people, from bold adventurers facing the unknown with enjoyment to careful, more scientific individuals. Their journeys are placed within their historical context, but also contain the words of the men themselves.