The Circumglobal Atlas of Remote Islands. 50 Places You Haven't Been and Probably Never Will

The Black Rock of Saint Helena became a place of exile and death for Napoleon. The tiny island of Tromelin initially seemed like a magical refuge for shipwrecked slaves, but soon freedom turned into a struggle for survival. Sailor Alexander Selkirk spent four years and four months in complete solitude on the island: with a stroke of the pen, his story will turn into the story of Robinson Crusoe. This hero's name will also be given to the island itself. Nearby, on Howland Island, the outstanding aviator Amelia Earhart disappeared during a flight over the Pacific Ocean. For years, the allure of beautiful oblivion has attracted expeditions to the polar ice, and in the same way, the unknown draws travelers and romantics within us. This remarkable book reflects 50 islands, far from the mainland and people, from airports and tourist brochures, and lost among the ocean. Each of them hides its secrets, standing behind its own stories, which sometimes enchant and sometimes frighten. Writer Judith Schalansky guides the reader through various places and eras from Easter Island to Saint George, from the 17th century to the present in this wonderfully written guide. The text is supplemented with detailed maps and geographical coordinates.