TRUE NORTH Peary, Cook and the Race to the Pole

The listener becomes the jury for Henderson's fascinating history of two explorers' attempts to reach the North Pole first. Suffering from frostbite, starvation, scurvy, and defeats, naval engineer Robert Peary and physician Frederick Cook devoted their lives to achieving this monumental geographic conquest. Both claimed victory, but who won? Bruce Henderson narrates with a taciturn voice that is less exciting than the story, but he navigates his long sentences with ease. Although he overuses the passive voice--"coffee was served, and farewells were said"--the major effect he brings to the performance is to incite our anger and disappointment as we learn once again that life isn't always fair. J.A.H. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 05/ JAN 06]