Originally written in German, Extreme North explores both the Nordic landscape and psyche with history as the backbone and mythology providing the lifeblood. The mystical, frozen north, often thought of as uninhabitable, has its stories recounted here, from prehistoric to modern times. The book reflects on the origins of white supremacy, interestingly enough, and gives a lot of time to the Germanic tribes, ostensibly because of the author’s own German roots.

Using an impressive list of both primary and secondary sources in a narrative manner, Brunner explores the lives of both men and women, both adventurers and indigenous peoples, and both nazis and people of color. The book gives ample time to the mysteries of the Vikings by exploring facts over fiction.

The eye-opening description of the “discovery” of the North Pole and the relocation of the indigenous people of the area further reinforces the manifest destiny ideal that has long been the root of colonialism.

I listened to the audio read by Jonathan Yen and thoroughly enjoyed it.