Jackie was an ordinary American girl whose life changed forever after a blind date with rugged Antarctic explorer Finn Ronne. After marrying, they began planning the 1946-1948 Ronne Antarctic Research Expedition. Her participation was not welcomed by the expedition team of twenty-three red-blooded males eager to prove themselves in the hostile, remote environment.
On March 12, 1947, Jackie Ronne became the first American woman in Antarctica and, months later, one of the first women to overwinter there. The Ronne Antarctic Research Expedition secured its place in Antarctic history but its scientific contributions have been overshadowed by interpersonal conflict and the dangerous accidents that occurred. Jackie dedicated her life to Antarctica through promoting the achievements of the Expedition and her husband’s legacy as an Antarctic explorer. In doing so, she helped shape the narrative of twentieth century Antarctic exploration.
“It is long overdue that Jackie Ronne gets the acknowledgement she deserves. Her husband, explorer Finn Ronne, would never have reached his goals without her. What contributions to science and Antarctica!”
Liv Arnesen
First woman to ski solo across Antarctica and unsupported to the South Pole
“Kafarowski deftly chronicles and celebrates Jackie Ronne’s little-known contributions to Antarctic history that helped shatter the “ice ceiling” for women. Told with empathy, indignation and humour, this fresh and honest account of a determined young woman who overcame a troubled childhood and staunch opposition from the Antarctic establishment to become an explorer and leader in polar circles, is set against the backdrop of the struggle for women’s rights in twentieth century America.”
Carol Devine
Polar explorer, artist and co-author of The Antarctic Book of Cooking and Cleaning
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“The early twentieth century was arguably the golden age of polar exploration and Louise Arner Boyd, heir to a fortune and raised a society woman in San Francisco, defied expectations to follow her dream to explore the most remote and dangerous regions on the planet. Joanna Kafarowski has given us a fascinating account of an adventurous spirit following an unconventional path.”
Stephen R. Bown
Author of “White Eskimo Knud Rasmussen’s Fearless Journey into the Heart of the Arctic” and “The Last Viking The Life of Roald Amundsen.”
After inheriting a staggering family fortune in her thirties, Louise Arner Boyd (1887-1972) began leading a double life. Over the next three decades, she achieved international notoriety as a rugged and audacious polar explorer while maintaining her flamboyant lifestyle as a leading society woman. Despite organizing, financing and directing seven daring Arctic expeditions between 1926 and 1955, she is virtually unknown today.
Edición en español
Pese a organizar, financiar y dirigir siete audaces expediciones árticas entre 1926 y 1955, Louise Arner Boyd es prácticamente desconocida en la actualidad.
Louise Arner Boyd fue una californiana que dedicó su vida a explorar el Ártico. Nacida en 1887, comenzó a explorar en los años 20 y en 1955 se convertiría en la primera mujer en volar sobre el Polo Norte.
Al cumplir los 32 años, heredó la enorme fortuna de sus padres millonarios en 1920, y tras caer bajo el hechizo de las regiones polares a fines de la década de 1920, —tras un viaje en velero por el Océano Ártico—, la empleó en varias exploraciones desafiando la muerte en algunas de las partes más remotas del mundo, rompiendo con ello la visión de lo que se requería de una joven debutante de la alta sociedad.
Las imágenes de su nueva biografía que traducimos al español la muestran en la cubierta de uno de sus barcos en 1926, orgullosamente de pie junto a un oso polar que había disparado, y en otra imagen figura posando en un vestido de noche mientras es presentada al Rey de Inglaterra en El Palacio de Buckingham.
Sus exploraciones entre 1931 a 1938 incluyeron regiones en Franz Josef Land, Spitsbergen, Groenlandia, Jan Mayen Island y el este del Ártico canadiense.
Louise hizo historia en junio de 1955 cuando se convirtió en la primera mujer en el mundo en sobrevolar el Polo Norte y su barco S. Veslekari, fue el primero en navegar hacia los extremos interiores del fiordo de hielo, Groenlandia.
Fue honrada por el gobierno de los Estados Unidos y una serie de gobiernos extranjeros por sus estudios geográficos y exploraciones.
Fishing makes an important contribution in northern regions and provides economic diversification in remote communities. This ground-breaking book provides an insightful and thoughtful assessment of the role of women in a variety of northern subsistence and industrial fisheries in Alaska, Arctic Canada, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.
Joanna Kafarowski 