The Last Explorer

Hubert Wilkins, Australia's Unknown Hero

Simon Nasht

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English

Weidenfeld & Nicolson
01 July 2007

Biography: general; Geographical discovery & exploration; Aerospace & aviation technology; Biography - Australian

Hubert Wilkins was truly the last - and one of the greatest - explorers. And much more than that.

Born in South Australia, he spent much of his life outside the country - but always remained an Australian.

He travelled through every continent and was a pioneer of aviation. He survived crashes and disasters, firing squads and sabotage, living long enough to be honoured by kings, presidents and dictators.

He was a frontline photographer in World War I - and was twice decorated. He took the first ever film of battle and took the first moving images from an aircraft.

He was the first man to fly across the Arctic Ocean, the first to fly in the Antarctic - and the first to fly from America to Europe across the then unknown Arctic (the New York Times called this 'the greatest flight in history').

In the 1930s he spent several years travelling in western Queensland and the Northern Territory - where many of his observations and views were ahead of their time.

In the later years of his life he did work for the US military and intelligence - and in 1958 was buried at sea at the North Pole by the US Navy.

By: Simon Nasht
Imprint: Weidenfeld & Nicolson
Country of Publication: Australia
Dimensions: Height: 199mm, Width: 130mm, Spine: 25mm
Weight: 290g
ISBN: 9780733622427
ISBN 10: 0733622429
Pages: 368
Publication Date: 01 July 2007
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active