American Explorer of the North Pole

Bone-chilling wind, treacherous ice, and bitter cold. To explorer Matthew Henson, those were mere obstacles worthy of clearing in his pursuit of reaching the North Pole. His account of the perilous journey outlines an incredible feat of the human body and spirit. Henson draws from both memory and his diary entries to recount his odyssey to the pole on Commander Robert Peary’s 1909 successful expedition. Through vivid descriptions of the northern wilderness and insightful commentary, Henson paints a picture of a Westerner’s discovery of the North with the help of Inuit guides and sled dogs. On Top of the World is a tale of exploration, discovery, and companionship in the Arctic, told by the explorer who helped clear the way.

Originally Published as “A Negro Explorer at the North Pole: The Autobiography of Matthew Henson.”