Onward

Written by Dolores Johnson

Part of the Photobiographies series

Two explorers risk everything to conquer the North Pole, but only one is celebrated.

4.0/5 Goodreads · 66 ratings

64 pages· 10,914 words· Est. 2 hour read

$17.95Save 7%

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Bookroo's summary

Matthew Henson, a man of remarkable endurance and skill, joins Robert Peary in a daring quest to conquer the North Pole. As they battle the Arctic's icy expanse, Henson's mastery of Inuit language and dog sledding proves vital. Yet, upon achieving their dream, controversy overshadows their triumph. Despite their success, Henson, an African-American, remains unrecognized, his heroism obscured by prejudice. Will history ever acknowledge his true role in this monumental achievement?

From the publisher

The conquest of the North Pole was an elusive, almost impossible goal at the beginning of the last century. But a son of patrician parents, Robert E. Peary, and a son of sharecroppers, Matthew Henson, shared a dream of conquering the unconquered North Pole and were brave enough to risk their lives numerous times before they finally succeeded. Henson’s great physical stamina and his ability to speak Inuit and develop warm relationships with the peoples of the Arctic were indispensable to the quest. He mastered the complexities of the dog sled and led the team across the layers of ice that covered the frigid, threatening Arctic Ocean. Henson and Peary’s jubilation at finally reaching the Pole was later tempered by the controversy that swirled around their achievement. Once their deed was recognized, African-American Henson still was not. It took history a long time to hail him as a hero of exploration.

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