In Northern Mists: Arctic Exploration in Early Times (Volume 2 of 2)

This volume opens a vivid journey into the earliest attempts to chart the frozen north, weaving together medieval sagas, ancient maps, and the daring voyages of Norse seafarers. From the mysterious “Helluland” and “Markland” to the legendary “Vinland” that beckoned with wild grapes, the author untangles how medieval Icelandic scholars linked these distant shores to classical ideas of a world‑encircling ocean and even to the African islands of legend. The narrative invites listeners to picture explorers setting sail west of Ireland, grasping at fragments of geography that would later shape the continent’s very outline.

The second half expands the story, guiding us through the lives of the Inuit and the decline of Greenland’s Norse colonies, before turning to later European incursions—Cabot’s English forays, Portuguese discoveries, and the evolving cartography of the Middle Ages. Richly illustrated and thoughtfully translated, the work offers a compelling snapshot of how myth and observation collided on the edge of the known world, making the early Arctic era feel both immediate and enduring.