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This book, published in 1958, covers a lot of ground, and while it might be aimed at a youth market, there is plenty there for all. It is a scientific based approach to all things Seven Seas.
Divided into ten parts, it is easiest to give an overview of the scope Freuchen covers by ticking these off.
The Shape of the Sea begins with an overview of the birth of the ocean (and the planet), the massive changes the planet has been through since its origin.
Life in the Seven Seas explains some of the generalities of marine life.
The Sea in Action gives and excellent description of the tides, the winds (trade winds and the like), the currents (Humboldt, Gulf Stream, El Nino, etc), the waves and the depths of the sea. It shows its date a little here, when it explains the oceanic trenches (the fault lines - the theory of plate tectonics wasn't fully developed until the 1960s).
The Ships of the Seven Seas breaks down the history of nautical transportation from Eskimo (his terminology) and Indians through navigation technology, manpower, sail, the industrialisation of steam, motorised ships and the submarine.
The Great Voyages covers famous and ground-breaking expeditions and explorations by ship, including Kon Tiki, Leif Ericson and other Vikings, Columbus, Magellan, Slocum, Barents, James Cook, a number of North Pole explorers (Peary, DeLong, Nansen, Amundsen), a number of South Pole explorers (Palmer, Bellinghausen, Amundsen, Scott) and then a final chapter about the ‘new pioneers' such as Beebe and Piccard with their submarine exploration, Cousteau and Diole and marine archaeology as a new science.
Battles at Sea covers off naval exploits, including the Battles of Salamis, Svoldr, Lepanto, Trafalgar, the defeat of the Armada and a few others.
Treasures of the Seven Seas covers the extraction of food, mining of minerals, whales and seals, recovery of treasure and black ivory (the slave trade). These are history / future focussed chapters.
The Islands of the Seven Seas is a mixmatch of various islands and the Europeans who have interacted with them under chapters titled: The Romantic Islands, The Rugged Islands and The Lonely Islands.
The Law of the Seven Seas explains some legal positions (the dullest of the sections, by some distance!)
Strange Tales from the Seven Seas wraps up with chapters titled: Supernatural Stories, Wonders and Marvels, and Mystery and Adventure.
Freuchen writes in a way that breaks complex concepts down and explains them in an understandable way. He cites examples, and moves easily from large concept to small detail.
The extensive text is accompanied with equally extensive photographs and diagrams, many of which are reproduced from famous sources.
Overall, this book was extensive and well paced, interesting and enlightening on many aspects, but would not be a thorough explanation of any single topics for someone looking for anything other than a great overview.
4 stars
