Bücher veröffentlicht von Pathfinder Books

Penguin Summer, first published in 1960, recounts the husband and wife expedition to the Falkland Islands in the 1950s to study the penguins and other birds found on these harsh, isolated islands in the south Atlantic. In addition to a description of the birds and their habits, author Eleanor Pettingill describes her and spouse Sewall Pettingill's adventures on the islands and the life of the hardy islanders, all told in an engaging, likable style. Included are 54 pages of maps and photographs.

Karamojo Safari, first published in 1949, is a classic story of elephant hunting, safaris, native life, and the wilds of Uganda and Kenya in the late 1800s, at a time when the region (then known as "Karamojo") was completely unknown to the outside world. Walter Bell (1880-1954), a Scottish adventurer, traveled the area for 14 months, during which time he hunted and killed 180 elephants, and recovered a staggering total of more than 9 tons of ivory.Famous for being one of the most successful ivory hunters of his time, Bell was an advocate of the importance of shooting accuracy and shot placement with smaller caliber rifles versus the use of heavy large-bore rifles for big African game. He improved his shooting skills by careful dissection and study of the anatomy of the skulls of the elephants he shot, and perfected the clean shooting of elephants from the difficult position of being diagonally behind the target; this shot became known as the "Bell Shot".

Jungle Wife, first published in 1949, is the heart-warming story of a Philadelphia woman who married professional hunter and sportsman, Sasha Siemel (1890-1970), and raised a family in the wilds of the Brazilian state Mato Grosso. Sasha met his future wife, Edith Bray Siemel (1919-2012), in Philadelphia while on a lecture tour, and moved together to Brazil where they raised their three young children. The family's life, many adventures, and encounters with wildlife and native tribes are described in the book. Later, the couple returned to the U.S. and settled on a farm in southeastern Pennsylvania. Included are 2 maps and 8 pages of photographs.

How to Build Modern Furniture, first published in two volumes in 1951 and 1952, is a classic, practical guide to making simple yet elegant furniture in the home workshop. Profusely illustrated with detailed plans and drawings, the book brings together dozens of construction techniques and furniture plans, along with detailed construction advice for every step of the process.Long out-of-print, the two volumes are now available in this new edition in a single book. Volume One: Practical Construction Methods, details the basics tools and methods of woodworking and furniture making. Volume Two: Designs and Assembly, describes in detail the tools and equipment needed for the novice to advanced woodworker, methods of woodworking, followed by an extensive catalog of furniture designs for the home workshop.About the Author: Mario Dal Fabbro (1913-1990) was an Italian craftsman designer known for his functional, yet elegant, designs of contemporary furniture. During his long career, his output was prodigious as he designed hundreds of pieces of furniture for private individuals and also for important Milan furniture houses. Fabbro came to the United States in 1948 and continued his design work for American manufacturers. Fabbro authored several books on furniture design and construction, and was a contributor to the do-it-yourself pages of many newspapers and magazines, including The New York Times and House and Garden.

Fever, Famine and Gold, first published in 1938, is the exciting account of the search for Incan treasure in the jungles and mountains of the Amazon basin and Andes of Ecuador. With the backing of financiers in New York, Loch assembled his expedition and spent two years searching for the fabled Valverde treasure. Along the way, the explorers collected valuable specimens of birds and mammals, and information about the remote native tribes they encountered. Returning home after failing to find the treasure, Loch is reported to have drunk a bottle of whiskey and shot himself with his army revolver. Author and Scotsman Captain E. Erskine Loch (1891-1944) was a veteran of the Uganda Highlanders and an officer in the British Army who fought in India and Africa. Included are 17 pages of maps and illustrations.

Cynthia Ann Parker, first published in 1959, is a fascinating account of the life of a girl of European descent, who at the age of about ten, was captured (along with her brother) in Texas by raiding Comanche. Cynthia would then grow up with her captors and live among the Comanche for the next 24 years. Parker was recaptured during the Battle of Pease River in 1860 and would spend the remaining 11 years with various members of her birth family. During her time with the Comanche, she married Peta Nocona, a chieftain, and had three children with him, including Quanah Parker, the last free Comanche chief. Cynthia Ann Parker never adjusted to the ways of the white man, and made at least one attempt to escape and return to her tribe. Included are 13 pages of photographs and a number of pen and ink drawings.

COLD: The Record of an Antarctic Sledge Journey, first published in 1931, is the account of the Byrd Antarctic Expedition by its second in command, Laurence Gould. The book documents life at the "Little America" base station and provides a lively account of the group's five-person, 1500 mile dog-sled journey across Antarctica. COLD, filled with details of cold-weather equipment and survival, cooking and food needs, the Antarctic landscape, their hardy dogs, and more, remains a classic in the field of Antarctic literature. Included are 37 pages of photographs and maps.

Bright with Silver, first published in 1947, is the fascinating story of the Fromm brothers of Wisconsin and their rise to become one of the world's largest silver fox ranches (raised for its beautiful pelt) and growers of the medicinal herb ginseng. The book recounts their struggles, successes and failures, and their important scientific discoveries, such as the canine distemper vaccine. Included are 32 pages of photographs.

City of the Bees, first published in 1947, is a lyrical account of one year in the life of a wild bee colony: the dangers faced - from badgers, wasps, moths, robber bees, mice, and woodpeckers - as the colony moves to a new location, the quiet period of winter, followed by rebirth in the spring, and the death of the queen. Also portrayed are the various roles performed by members of the colony: farmers, nurses, sentries, drones, caregivers for the young, and the queen bee herself.

Clear the Tracks!, first published in 1943, recounts Joseph Bromley's career as a locomotive engineer on the Lackawanna Railway in New York. Beginning as a teenager as a callboy, by age 17 Bromley was aboard the engine, throwing wood pieces into one of the last of the old wood-burning models. At 20 he was promoted to the right-hand side of the cab, becoming the youngest engineer with the line. His entertaining reminiscences describe the more relaxed freight schedules of the day, when the crew could stop on a siding for several hours of fishing or to visit family and friends. Illustrated with line drawings.

My Life of High Adventure, first published in 1962, is the autobiography of Grant Pearson, park ranger and later superintendent of Mount McKinley National Park (now Denali National Park and Preserve). He began work at the Park in February 1926 and retired as superintendent in November 1956, and also was an elected Alaska state representative. My Life of High Adventure describes the early days of the Park, his ascent of Denali in 1932, sled-dog teams and Park patrols, recovery of climbers who perished in their ascent attempts, and accounts of its diverse wildlife. An Appendix describes climbs (and attempted climbs) of the peak from 1909 to 1961. Includes 16 pages of b/w photos and two maps.

New Green World, first published in 1954, is a fascinating look at the life of American naturalist John Bartram (1699-1777) and his explorations across the newly formed United States. At his home near Philadelphia, he established America's first botanical garden, which exists to the present day. The book details his travels and interactions with prominent figures of his day, and his many discoveries and collections of plants unique to the Americas.Author's note from the first edition dust-jacket:I began to be interested in the Bartrams, father and son, because of a flower in my Pennsylvania garden but I stayed with them through New Green World because they were so alive, though long dead. Living for more than themselves, they were unafraid of new horizons and so their story breaks through parochial notions of our historical past to reach around the world. Long neglected, the Bartrams broke ground for Audubon, Thoreau and many others. The plants they rescued from the wilderness survive; the vitality of their search speaks to us today.

Farming with Nature, originally published in 1954, is a classic introduction to organic agriculture and the importance of soil-building and healthy soil. From the foreword: Few words in any civilized language are used less correctly than is the word nature. We are exalted by the beauties of earth and sky-a crimson sunset, a flower-decked meadow, the majesty of a snow-capped mountain. The emotionally inclined go into ecstasies over the prismatic colors in a rainbow and sigh romantically over a snowy landscape in the moonlight. And we call these pictures Nature, whereas they are but the manifestations of Nature. Nature is the law back of the manifestations; the principle that maintains rhythm throughout the universe.A fertile soil is Nature in superb manifestation. It is here that the universal rhythm is at its best. Productive land is a living workshop where many agents are on the job preparing ingredients, though inadvertently, to be used by growing plants in building complete foods, not only for themselves but for the animal kingdom as well. As goes this workshop of the soil, so goes humankind on the earth. Indeed, all organic life is completely at the mercy of the processes going on in the soil's workshop. The fact that plants secure the greater portion of their nutrients from the air in no wise lessens the value of the nutrients derived from the soil. Without the latter, there would be no life on the earth as we know it.I like to think of this soil-world as a chain made up of numerous fertility links. Each of these links, operating under the mandates of Nature, performs a series of specific tasks as a part of one harmonious whole. Though some of these fertility links would appear to be more essential than others in supporting organic life on the earth, the fact of the matter is-all are indispensables. From the standpoint of the farmer, though, some of the links that make up this marvelous chain are more vital than others, simply because they are within the farmer's power to control them. That is, through his land operations the farmer can either strengthen his fertility chain or he can wreck it almost completely by means of incorrect tillage practices.Consequently, good farming, whether that be understood as the growing of one plant in a pot or the cultivation of vast acreage, consists largely of maintaining an unbroken, dynamic fertility chain in the land. The wise farmer or gardener will seek to understand each one of those fertility links individually; then he will strive to get the most out of them-without violating the natural laws which rule both him and the land which gives him his food. And this is Farming with Nature.

Open for the Season, first published in 1950, is the entertaining, informative memoir by Karl Abbott of his family's long-time ownership and operation of hotels, inns, and resorts, from New Hampshire, to Boston, South Carolina, and Florida. Beginning with his childhood in his family's New Hampshire resort, The Uplands, Abbott would go on to manage or own popular hotels, inns, and resorts such as the Gasparilla Inn in Boca Grande, Florida, the Sagamore Resort in Lake George, New York, and the Hotel Vendome in Boston. Abbott paints a vivid picture of life at his properties, as well as providing insights into daily management, stories of his guests and workers, and what it took to be successful in the hotel business.

A Time in the Sun, first published in 1962, is a classic, fictional account of the Indian wars in the the Arizona Territory, and told from the point-of-view of both the Apache and the white settlers. Based on the author's extensive research, most of the Apache chiefs and some of the Americans who figure in the book are historical personages. The story centers on a young woman, Anna Stillman, who was on her way to Tucson to marry Lieutenant Linus Degnan, the son of the commandant of the U.S. fort there, when she was captured by an Apache raiding party. It was 1870, and the Apaches were making a fierce last stand against the white men who were driving them from their land. The novel continues with efforts to rescue Anna and the woman's changing feelings towards the Apache over time.

The Tiger Wore Stripes, first published in 1956, is an insightful, down-to-earth look at the career of baseball great Tyrus "Ty" Cobb (1886-1961), who spent 22 seasons with the Detroit Tigers (the last 6 years as the team's player-manager), followed by several seasons with the Philadelphia Athletics. Written by sports writer John McCallum, the book is based on the author's interviews with Cobb as he reflected back on his long and sometimes controversial career. Included are 41 pages of photographs, an appendix of Ty Cobb's career standings, and a comprehensive index.

China Sky, first published in 1941, is a romance by Pearl S. Buck set in war-time China. Dr. Gray Thompson, an American missionary doctor, works alongside Dr. Sara Durand in a hospital he has built in a small Chinese village, as Japanese forces approach. When Gray returns from a visit to America a trip, he shocks Sara (who is in love with him) by introducing his new socialite wife, Louise. In the midst of bombing attacks on the village, Dr. Thompson continues to help the local residents, and especially the insurgent leader Chen-Ta. To protect the hospital, a high-ranking Japanese prisoner gets a message to the Japanese commander which stops the bombing but, eventually, Japanese paratroopers land in the village, and fierce fighting ensues. China Sky was also the subject of a 1945 movie of the same name. Pearl S. Buck (1892-1973) received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1938 and was the author of numerous novels, short-stories and works of non-fiction.

The Dodgers and Me, first published in 1948, is Hall of Fame baseball player and manager Leo "The Lip" Durocher's account of his career with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Beginning with a history of the club and owner Charley Ebbets, to Durocher's arrival from St. Louis in 1938, the book details, in an often humorous manner, the rise of the cellar-dwelling Dodgers to their first pennant in 21 years. Manager Durocher goes on to detail the next five seasons of the team in this fascinating look at the Brooklyn Dodgers and major league baseball. Included are 10 pages of illustrations. Durocher, suspended for a year in a feud with Yankee owner Larry MacPhail, would return to the Dodgers in 1948 but was let go and hired by the rival New York Giants where he stayed until the end of the 1955 season. In 1966, Durocher returned to baseball as manager of the Chicago Cubs (1966-1972), and the Houston Astros (1972-73), before retiring. Durocher passed away in 1991 at the age of 86.

The United States Secret Service, first published in 1960, is a fascinating look at the activities of this branch of the Treasury Department. From the establishment of the Service through the 1950s, the book examines the Service's history: from assassination attempts and protecting the President, to crime-fighting responsibilities such as finding counterfeit currency, investigating fraud and government corruption. Several chapters describe efforts by the Nazis and the Soviet Union to produce high-quality counterfeit currency in an effort to destabilize the U.S. economy. Included are an index and 12 pages of illustrations. Authors Walter Bowen and Harry Neal were long-time members of the Service.

Siberian Passage, first published in 1949, is a fascinating look at the land and peoples of far northern Russia in the early 1900s. The author was a member of a Russian scientific expedition which explored the then little known boreal and arctic regions of Siberia, and describes the lives of the natives they encountered, travels by dog-sled, dealing with the many difficulties in travel, including wild extremes in temperature, and provides an insightful overview of the region.

The Circus Kings, first published in 1960 and authored by a nephew of the original Ringling Brothers, is a fascinating insider's account of circus life and lore. From humble beginnings in Baraboo, Wisconsin, the Ringling family would go on to create "The Greatest Show on Earth," delighting audiences across America. Along the way, however, were the behind-the-scenes financial struggles, tragedies such as fires and labor strikes, legal battles, and changing entertainment tastes. Henry Ringling North ran Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus from 1936 to 1967, along with his older brother, John. Included are 18 pages of photographs.

The Sands of Kalahari, first published in 1960, begins its gripping story with the crash-landing of a small plane carrying seven people in the harsh Kalahari desert. Their struggle to survive in the wilderness around them¿as well as each other¿make up the bulk of this classic tale of adventure. A film version of the book was made in 1965.From the book cover: To the desert came the plane, to the immeasurable wastes of Africa. And by the dawn of the second day¿after the night storm, the hours of flight, the crash, the day of waiting, and the death of Detjens¿six remained, alone, strangers, with only themselves and the wreckage and the black mountain on the horizon for company. The six: Sturdevant, the pilot, burdened with a guilt far greater than the loss of his plane; Grimmelmann, the wizened old German, veteran of the Herero war and the two World Wars, wise in the lore of the desert and the ways of the world; Jefferson Smith, a Negro, a professor and a scholar, come to Africa on a Foundation grant; Mike Bain, engineer, drifter, drunkard, vaguely in search of a job in the interior, ill-equipped to cope with the demands of the desert; Grace Monckton, English divorcee, returning to her family's ranch in the Union; and finally, O'Brien, a man of great strength, sometime millionaire, sometime wanderer, a hunter by instinct and by choice. The six, brought together by chance, and with the odds of survival overwhelmingly against them, have only each other, for both friend and foe. Around them is the desert¿implacable, pitiless, filled with unseen enemies. And on the horizon is the black mountain, beyond which is hidden the unknown.

High, Wide and Frightened, first published in 1938, is pioneering aviator Louise Thaden's account of her adventures in the early days of flying. Thaden (1905-1979) earned her pilot's certificate in 1928 and would go on to win numerous long-distance air-races, and set numerous records for high-elevation and long-endurance flights. This edition includes the chapter entitled "Noble Experiment," (omitted from later reissues of the book), which describes Thaden's vision on the use of women in combat. In the final chapter of the book, Thaden describes her friendship with Amelia Earhart, who disappeared in 1937 over the Pacific Ocean.

Amphibians and Reptiles of the Chicago Area, first published in 1947, is the classic work on the snakes, frogs, salamanders, turtles, and other "herps" of the Chicago region. Illustrated throughout with detailed drawings and organized into the major groups (Amphibians: Salamanders and Frogs; Reptiles: Lizards, Snakes, and Turtles), each species found in the region is described, with extensive information on its life-history, habitat requirements, and food preferences. Author Clifford Pope (1899-1974) was a prominent American herpetologist who was curator of the Amphibian and Reptile Division of the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago.

The Fantastic Fifties Cookbook: 1,000 Classic Recipes, is a complete collection of well-tested recipes compiled by Mary Margaret McBride during the course of her long career as a journalist and radio personality. The recipes capture the essence of the 50's decade in America, with women (primarily) being charged with buying, and sometimes growing, food for their family, and preparing daily meals and hosting get-togethers with relatives and friends. Included in the book are a wide-ranging variety of recipes, using readily available ingredients, each provided with succinct yet detailed step-by-step instructions to follow. From appetizers to drinks, main courses, vegetables, baked goods and desserts, you will find them here in this outstanding collection of 1,000 recipes.

Hell on Ice: The Saga of the "Jeanette", first published in 1938, is the tragic story of the ill-fated ship, Jeannette, and her attempt to reach the North Pole via the Bering Sea in 1879. Written in novel form and narrated by the expedition's chief engineer, G. W. Melville, the book recounts the crew's punishing ordeal as the Jeannette becomes trapped for months in the Arctic ice and the crew are forced to make their way overland in a desperate attempt to reach civilization before hunger and exhaustion overtake them. Author Edward Ellsberg (1891-1983) served with distinction in the U.S. Navy and wrote many books of naval history and fiction.

Of Men and Numbers, first published in 1963, is a fascinating look at the lives and works of history's greatest mathematicians. Beginning with the early Egyptians and Greeks such as Pythagoras, Euclid and Archimedes, author Jane Muir then describes, in non-technical terms, the discoveries and personal stories of math greats such as Descartes, Pascal, and Newton, and continues with the important work of more recent mathematicians such as Nicholas Lobatchevsky, Évariste Galois, and Georg Cantor. Illustrated throughout with line drawings and figures.

How to Know the Freshwater Fishes, first published in 1957 as part of the "How to Know" Nature Series, provides keys, descriptions, and (for nearly all species) a detailed line-drawing of all the freshwater fish found in the United States. Although some scientific names in this first edition of the book are now somewhat dated, the guide remains a valuable reference for those wanting to identify and learn more about the fish of lakes, ponds, rivers and streams.

My 21 Years in the White House, first published in 1960, is the fascinating account by Alonzo Fields of his service as head butler under 4 presidents: Hoover, Roosevelt, Truman, and Eisenhower. Fields (1900-1994) began his employment at the White House in 1931, and kept a journal of his meetings with the presidents and their families; he would also meet important people like Winston Churchill, Princess Elizabeth of England, Thomas Edison, John D. Rockefeller, presidential cabinet members, senators, representatives, and Supreme Court Justices. He would also witness presidential decision-making at critical times in American history-the attack on Pearl Harbor, the death of Franklin Roosevelt, the desegregation of the military, and the outbreak of hostilities in Korea. As Fields often told his staff, "...remember that we are helping to make history. We have a small part ... but they can't do much here without us. They've got to eat, you know." Included are sample menus prepared for visiting heads-of-state and foreign dignitaries.

Klondike Mike, first published in 1943, recounts the life of the legendary Alaskan folk hero Michael Ambrose Mahoney (1878-1951). Mahoney, famous for his extraordinary strength, was successful in his search for gold, and author Jack London would base two of his most famous novels - Call of the Wild and White Fang - in part, on the adventures of the real life Klondike Mike. This Pathfinder Book edition illustrated with 24 pages of maps and photos.