True courage and endurance, adventure and triumph from the great age of exploration. First-hand accounts of exploration by David Livingstone, James Cook, Meriwether Lewis, Ernest Shackleton, Roald Amundsen, Sir Edmund Hillary and many others

John Keay is the author of about 20 books, all factual, mostly historical, and largely to do with Asia, exploration or Scotland. His first book stayed in print for thirty years; many others have become classics. His combination of meticulous research, irreverent wit, powerful narrative and lively prose have invariably been complimented by both reviewers and readers. UK-based and a full-time author since 1973, he has also written and presented over 100 documentaries for the BBC's Radio 3 and Radio 4 and has been a guest lecture on tour groups. He reviews on related subjects, occasionally speaks on them, and travels extensively.