World History
TO THE POLE: THE DIARY AND NOTEBOOK OF RICHARD E. BYRD 1925-1927 This is a review of a book edited by Raimund E. Goerler. It is reviewed by Michael Lorenzen.
From the review:
In 1996, Ohio State University archivist Raimund Goerler discovered a previously unknown diary and notebook of Richard Byrd while cataloging a collection of Byrd's papers. This slim volume (166 pages) is the result of that discovery. The diary had been used by Byrd from 1925-1927 to record his controversial flight to the North Pole. Many have questioned whether Byrd actually accomplished this feat and this diary sheds more light on the controversy.
In 1926 Byrd announced that he and his copilot Floyd Bennett had flown over the North Pole. This had never been done before. This claim was questioned at the time because many did not believe that Byrd's airplane could have reached the pole and returned in less than sixteen hours that Byrd claimed. After Byrd's death, it was reported that Bennett confessed that he and Byrd had only flown out of sight, circled around, and then returned when enough time had passed to seem plausible. Further, a meteorologist calculated that Byrd would have needed a favorable wind to make to the flight in the time he did and that such a wind was lacking on the date of the flight.
Interspersed throughout the text of the book are entries from Byrd's diary. This includes Byrd's account of the controversial North Pole Flight. After reading this account, one has to ask whether or not Byrd accurately recorded events or if he deliberately fabricated the entries in the diary. As Byrd never attempted to publish this dairy, it would appear this is an accurate account.
In addition to the text of the diary, Goerler has written five chapters detailing Byrd's life. This includes information on his early life, the Greenland Expedition of 1925, the North Pole Flight of 1926, and the Transatlantic Flight of 1927, and Byrd's life from 1927 until his death in 1957. The book also has the text of the report of the North Pole Flight that Byrd submitted to the National Geographic Society and to the Secretary of the Navy. A chronology of Byrd's life and bibliography are also included. Unfortunately, the book lacks an index.
Richard Byrd lead an interesting life. This recounting of his life, as well as the indepth examinations of several of his expeditions (including the controversial North Pole Flight), make for excellent reading. The thinness of the volume also allows for the book to be read in only a few short sittings.
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World History
TO THE POLE: THE DIARY AND NOTEBOOK OF RICHARD E. BYRD 1925-1927
TO THE POLE: THE DIARY AND NOTEBOOK OF RICHARD E. BYRD 1925-1927 This is a review of a book edited by Raimund E. Goerler. It is reviewed by Michael Lorenzen.
From the review:
In 1996, Ohio State University archivist Raimund Goerler discovered a previously unknown diary and notebook of Richard Byrd while cataloging a collection of Byrd's papers. This slim volume (166 pages) is the result of that discovery. The diary had been used by Byrd from 1925-1927 to record his controversial flight to the North Pole. Many have questioned whether Byrd actually accomplished this feat and this diary sheds more light on the controversy.
In 1926 Byrd announced that he and his copilot Floyd Bennett had flown over the North Pole. This had never been done before. This claim was questioned at the time because many did not believe that Byrd's airplane could have reached the pole and returned in less than sixteen hours that Byrd claimed. After Byrd's death, it was reported that Bennett confessed that he and Byrd had only flown out of sight, circled around, and then returned when enough time had passed to seem plausible. Further, a meteorologist calculated that Byrd would have needed a favorable wind to make to the flight in the time he did and that such a wind was lacking on the date of the flight.
Interspersed throughout the text of the book are entries from Byrd's diary. This includes Byrd's account of the controversial North Pole Flight. After reading this account, one has to ask whether or not Byrd accurately recorded events or if he deliberately fabricated the entries in the diary. As Byrd never attempted to publish this dairy, it would appear this is an accurate account.
In addition to the text of the diary, Goerler has written five chapters detailing Byrd's life. This includes information on his early life, the Greenland Expedition of 1925, the North Pole Flight of 1926, and the Transatlantic Flight of 1927, and Byrd's life from 1927 until his death in 1957. The book also has the text of the report of the North Pole Flight that Byrd submitted to the National Geographic Society and to the Secretary of the Navy. A chronology of Byrd's life and bibliography are also included. Unfortunately, the book lacks an index.
Richard Byrd lead an interesting life. This recounting of his life, as well as the indepth examinations of several of his expeditions (including the controversial North Pole Flight), make for excellent reading. The thinness of the volume also allows for the book to be read in only a few short sittings.
- The Mackenzie King Diary
The Mackenzie King Diary - This is an online exhibit from the National Archives of Canada. William Lyon Mackenzie King was Canada's Prime Minister from 1921-1926, 1926-1930 and 1935-1948. His last term as Prime Minister of Canada put him in charge...
- Nazi Blitzkrieg: Poland, 1939
Nazi Blitzkrieg: Poland, 1939 - A Polish officer's account of the battles and personal losses during the invasion by Hitler and Stalin. This is from "A Katyn and World War Two Diary." Katyn was the scene of a Soviet war crime where 4,000 to 5,000...
- South-pole.com
South-Pole.com. This site offers history, biographies, and memorabilia of explorers of the "great white continent". This is probably the best history of Antartica site on the Web. Not that there are many of them out there... I like the quote on the index...
- Growing Up With The Impressionists: The Diary Of Julie Manet
Growing up with the Impressionists: the Diary of Julie Manet. This is a review of this book by Julie Lorenzen, It is very well done. It has lots of good information on 19th Century Paris. From the site: After reading the book Growing up with...
- Lyndon Johnson: A Brief Biography
Lyndon Johnson: A Brief Biography This is a biography of the life of President LBJ. It is by me, Miland Brown. From the site: Johnson was born on Aug. 27, 1908, near Johnson City, Tex., the eldest son of Sam Ealy Johnson, Jr., and Rebekah Baines...