The Making of a Hero

By now most Canadians are familiar with Sir John Franklin’s search for the Northwest Passage that ended in his death, the loss of his ships and starvation. Ironically, far less is known about Roald Amundsen, the young Norwegian adventurer who, at the age of 31, set out to sail through the passage in a 22-metre fishing boat with a crew of six and succeeded—a stark contrast to the British Admiralty’s decades of failed attempts led by seasoned commanders in their large, heavily crewed ships.

Stephen R. Bown’s new book, The Last Viking: The Life of Roald Amundsen, addresses the gap in Canadian knowledge with a riveting tale of adventure, political intrigue and achievement. This handsome volume is exceptionally well researched and eminently readable, complete with maps and photographs to give visual clarity to the detailed descriptions. Not surprisingly, its appeal gains momentum on second and third reading. Furthermore, this is not your average biography of a...