Through Siberia, The Land of the Future

Translated by Arthur G. Chater

By Fridtjof Nansen

London William Heinemann. First UK Edition. 1914. [xvi], 478pp., Index. Over 150 black & white photographs, 3 fold-out maps. Large and thick 8vo, dark black cloth lettered in red with bright gilt medallion on upper cover, spine with bright gilt lettering. An unusually Near Fine copy, bright and handsome with no fading to spine; internally with tight un-cracked hinges, no prior ownership markings, tissue guard on front piece — a very clean copy in Near Fine condition.

Nansen’s journey was critical to the opening of Siberia to the west. It presented the potential of the vast Asiatic resources of Russia and the possibility, by securing the Kara Sea route, of making those resources available. At the time of the author’s exploratory journey, the nations of Europe had just become locked yet again in mortal combat and Nansen’s discoveries lent credence to the allied plans to use Siberian resources in the struggle against Germany and its allies. With this thought, the allies saw the journey in terms of political economy and the creation of an alternative to the long rail journey across the continent was of supreme import. As in his prior explorations, Nansen was seeking to open the vast north to the uses of the civilized world.