Hall made her reputation in library science, but she, like Nansen, did not concentrate on one type of work only. For this book, she traveled to Norway, where she had access to Nansen’s unpublished personal diaries and other writings and speeches. Because Nansen was published in 1940, it reflects the limits of its time. Because World War II had not yet occurred, World War I was the greatest catastrophe yet known. Furthermore, as biographies often did in those years, Nansen shows an undisguised admiration for its subject.
Despite these limitations, there are several reasons why this biography might continue to interest young readers. First, as schools attempt to improve multicultural education, Nansen presents a little-known but admirable person from Norway and shows how his environment influenced him. Second, Nansen’s life bursts with energy in sports, exploration, science, and scholarly study. In his later years, he was known for his work for the poor and neglected of the world. He could prove to be a hero for young people whose interests lie in any of these fields. Third, Hall’s writing is very fine, full of vigorous passages that place the reader directly into the scenes. At one point, the reader vicariously experiences long frozen days and nights in a tiny hut in the Arctic Circle. At another time, one accompanies and appreciates the quiet reflective walks that Nansen cherished in Norway’s dark forests. Near the end of the book, the young reader anguishes with...
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