Hitting the Books: A look at the 1920s airship that nearly made it to the North Pole

During the Roaring '20s just about everybody was convinced that dirigibles were not just the future of luxury travel but that these lumbering airships could also serve as platforms for scientific exploration and adventure. Why slog through malaria-infested jungles, parched deserts and frozen tundra when you could simply float an expedition to its destination? Among the technology's most fervent adherents were famed Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen and Italian airship designer General Umberto Nobile. In 1928, Nobile attempted to lead the first expedition to land people at the North Pole aboard Airship Italia. However, a brutal storm forced the vessel to crash land, stranding its survivors with precious few provisions and setting off the largest arctic rescue effort in history. N-4 Down, by journalist and author Mark Piesing chronicles that rescue effort, led by Amundsen himself. In the excerpt below, we get a quick look at just what level of technological prowess the crew of the ill-fated expedition were actually dealing with.Harper Collins PublishersFrom N-4 Down by Mark Piesing. Copyright © 2021 by Mark Piesing. Reprinted by permission of Custom House, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.Amundsen may have dreamed of multiple air bases in the Arctic Circle, but in 1925 his was one of the only ones. It consisted of two flying boats, no hangars, and a rough runway made from ice.For the flight he had a team of six men who would be split between the two planes. Lincoln... Continue reading at 'Engadget'

[ Engadget | 2021-09-18 15:30:21 UTC ]

Other news stories related to: "Hitting the Books: A look at the 1920s airship that nearly made it to the North Pole"

The Guardian view on the writing business: readers must ultimately benefit | Editorial

People want stories and that means cultivating a publishing ecosystem where big and small can flourishThis week both the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority and the Department of Justice in the US announced investigations into the planned $2.2bn acquisition of the publisher Simon &... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2021-03-28 17:25:47 UTC ]
More news stories like this

Beverly Clearly, beloved creator of Ramona Quimby, has died at the age of 104.

Legend of children’s literature Beverly Cleary died on March 25th in Carmel, California, HarperCollins announced on Friday. She was 104. Since publishing Henry Huggins in 1950, when she was a librarian, Cleary has sold 85 million copies of her books, which have been translated into 29 different... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2021-03-27 13:47:12 UTC ]
More news stories like this

The Tibetan Resistance Movement and Windhorse: In Conversation with Kaushik Barua, by Koushik Goswami

Interviews Born and brought up in Assam, Kaushik Barua is an emerging Indian English author. He completed his degree in economics from St. Stephen’s College, New Delhi, and then studied political economy at the London School of Economics. In his day... Continue reading at World Literature Today

[ World Literature Today | 2021-03-15 20:37:05 UTC ]
More news stories like this

Meg Mason | 'I hope that you get the sense that it is everybody’s tragedy'

Back in January 2018, freelance journalist Mason began work on a new novel in the little shed in her back garden in Sydney. She already had two books under her belt with HarperCollins Australia, a memoir of early motherhood—the brilliantly titled Say it Again in a Nice Voice—and her début novel... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-03-12 23:02:14 UTC ]
More news stories like this

Ex-HarperCollins chief Friedman joins Inkitt

Former HarperCollins global c.e.o. Jane Friedman has joined Inkitt as an advisor and shareholder. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-03-05 09:36:47 UTC ]
More news stories like this

HarperCollins reveals 2025 Glasgow site move

HarperCollins will be moving to a new purpose-built warehouse and office facility in Robroyston, Glasgow, when the lease at its current nearby site expires in 2025, the firm has announced. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-03-01 12:45:18 UTC ]
More news stories like this

HCCB takes three more in Biddulph's Draw With Rob series

HarperCollins Children’s Books has signed a deal with Rob Biddulph for three more titles in his Draw With Rob series. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-02-26 11:23:02 UTC ]
More news stories like this

Translating Fang Fang’s Wuhan Diary amid the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Conversation with Michael Berry, by King Yu

Interviews Michael Berry is a professor of Asian languages and cultures and director of the Center for Chinese Studies at UCLA. He has published extensive works on addressing the richness and diversity of Chinese art and culture in sinophone... Continue reading at World Literature Today

[ World Literature Today | 2021-02-24 15:28:04 UTC ]
More news stories like this

Paul O'Grady signs 'major' children's book deal with HarperCollins

TV presenter and author Paul O'Grady has signed a “major” multi-book deal with HarperCollins for his debut children’s novel, Eddie Albert and the Amazing Animal Gang, the first in a planned series. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-02-17 19:53:37 UTC ]
More news stories like this

HarperCollins donates 50,000 books to Covid-19 support projects

HarperCollins is donating 50,000 books to organisations supporting families during the Covid-19 crisis, including titles by Michael Morpurgo, Ant Middleton and David Walliams. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-02-11 05:16:31 UTC ]
More news stories like this

Cornwell brings back Sharpe after 15 years

Bernard Cornwell is bringing back his famous Richard Sharpe character after 15 years' absence, for a new adventure with HarperCollins this autumn. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-02-03 20:30:31 UTC ]
More news stories like this

Gill's Gough joins HarperCollins Ireland as O'Brien steps up in UK

HarperCollins Ireland has appointed Catherine Gough from Gill Books as commissioning editor, while in the UK there is a promotion for Avon and HarperFiction marketing director Hannah O'Brien. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-01-28 15:53:18 UTC ]
More news stories like this

HarperCollins gets stellar line-up for Queer Bible

HarperCollins has landed The Queer Bible, a “definitive” essay collection edited by Jack Guinness and featuring contributions from Elton John, Graham Norton, Munroe Bergdorf and Courtney Act among others. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-01-26 12:47:05 UTC ]
More news stories like this

HC prescribes Pile's 'pragmatic' wellbeing guide

HarperCollins has acquired Fit For Purpose by NHS general practitioner Dr Richard Pile. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-01-25 16:59:43 UTC ]
More news stories like this

LAJA appointed scout for HarperCollins Holland and expands team

Louise Allen-Jones Associates (LAJA) has been engaged as UK scout by HarperCollins Holland and is expanding its team with a new appointment. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-01-24 17:08:24 UTC ]
More news stories like this

Brayden Harrington, Who Bonded With Biden Over Stuttering, Will Write a Book

Brayden Harrington, 13, who spoke at the Democratic National Convention, will write a picture book, “Brayden Speaks Up,” HarperCollins announced. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2021-01-21 11:55:52 UTC ]
More news stories like this

Mudlark swoops for Burton's 'classic in the making'

HarperCollins imprint Mudlark has swooped for “classic in the making” Notes from a Summer Cottage by award-winning Swedish poet and essayist Nina Burton. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-01-13 20:57:26 UTC ]
More news stories like this

HarperCollins appoints Choonara in diversity and inclusion role

HarperCollins UK has appointed Maheen Choonara to the newly created role of diversity, inclusion and belonging manager. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-01-10 13:02:45 UTC ]
More news stories like this

Egmont UK saw 2019 revenue dip but posted profit ahead of HarperCollins sale

Egmont UK's 2019 revenue decreased 8.9% to £37.9m but the publisher had a £369,000 pre-tax profit in the financial year before the book business was bought by HarperCollins, new figures uploaded to Companies House show. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-01-08 08:40:13 UTC ]
More news stories like this