by Matthew Henson
First published in 1912, A Negro Explorer at the North Pole is the compelling autobiography of Matthew A. Henson, the African-American explorer who accompanied Robert Peary on multiple Arctic expeditions. Born in Maryland in 1866, orphaned at a young age, Henson began his career as a cabin boy before meeting Peary, eventually becoming his most trusted assistant, craftsman, navigator, and interpreter with the Inuit. In this memoir, Henson recounts in vivid detail the harsh conditions, extreme cold, and long treks across the ice that culminated in the contested April 1909 claim of reaching the North Pole with Peary and four Inuit companions. His narrative captures not only the courage and skill required for polar exploration but also the racism and neglect he faced upon returning to the United States, as well as the late recognition of his achievements. A rare and authentic account of endurance, cross-cultural respect, and the human spirit in the most hostile environment on Earth.
