
[](https://www.gutenberg.org/images/cover_lg.jpg)
A DESCRIPTION OF GREENLAND.
HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION.
SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF HANS EGEDE.
A D E S C R I P T I O N OF G R E E N L A N D:
PREFACE.
THE N A T U R A L H I S T O R Y OF Greenland. - CHAPTER I.
CHAP. II.
CHAP III.
CHAP. IV
A vivid portrait of Greenland unfolds through the eyes of a long‑time missionary who spent twenty‑five years among its remote settlements. The writer blends personal observation with careful scholarship, offering a clear picture of the island’s geography, climate, and the daily lives of its Inuit inhabitants. Rich wood‑cut engravings and a detailed map bring the stark, icy landscape to life, while anecdotes about local customs illuminate a culture shaped by both isolation and perseverance.
Beyond the physical description, the work explores the island’s layered history—tracing early Norse colonists, their eventual disappearance, and the lingering mysteries of their settlements. The author raises thoughtful questions about how the people have adapted to harsh conditions, what remnants of European influence remain, and how faith and survival have intertwined over centuries. Readers will come away with a deeper appreciation for a region often eclipsed by myth, gaining insight into its past and the enduring spirit of its communities.
Language
en
Duration
~4 hours (271K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Chuck Greif and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images available at The Internet Archive)
Release date
2018-11-18
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1686–1758
A Norwegian missionary and writer, he is best known for reopening sustained European contact with Greenland in the 18th century. His years there shaped books that introduced many readers in Europe to Greenland’s land, people, and daily life.
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