This book covers the famous Arctic archipelago (named Spitsbergen when discovered by the Dutch in 1596, but now more commonly referred to as Svalbard - the Viking word for "cold coast"). On one side there is a clear and uncluttered map of the archipelago, with useful annotations; on the reverse there are excellent biographical summaries of 27 noted explorers (including Horatio Nelson who came here as a 14 year old midshipman!) plus brief descriptions and colour photographs of the more common plants, invertebrates, birds and mammals.