Description
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The quintessential Sir Hubert Wilkins Biography
The Illustrated Sir Hubert Wilkins book brings together a host of previously unseen material including photographs, artefacts and written records.
- Stunning hand-coloured glass lantern slides of the first aerial photographs of Antarctica
- Unpublished records and photographs from Ernest Shackleton’s ‘Quest’ Expedition
- Wilkins’ photographs of Anzacs at the Western Front in WWI
- Anzac Cove and Gallipoli photographed by Sir George in 1919.The first photographs ever taken under the Arctic ice, on Wilkins’ 1931 submarine expedition
- The Graf Zeppelin around-the-world flight in 1929
- The Australian Outback in the 1920s
- The first flight over the Arctic Ocean
- Previously unpublished extracts from private correspondence, speeches and manuscripts
- Wilkins’ medals, equipment, awards and personal items
Revealing Hubert Wilkins like never before. Explore beyond the enigma of the fearless adventurer.
De-mystifying one of Australia’s most misunderstood historical figures — THE most valuable and in-depth Sir Hubert Wilkins book
“People imagine Wilkins as a restless explorer, rushing from one adventure to the next on a quest to help humanity. On the contrary, Sir George was a deeply conflicted character, torn between the need to appease a strict Protestant upbringing, and his love of alcohol, music and women. The Illustrated Sir Hubert Wilkins uses Wilkins’ own words to reveal the true picture behind the enigma.” – Jeff Maynard.
If you are ever going to own one Sir Hubert Wilkins book, this is the one you will cherish forever.
Special offer – Receive ‘Unpublished Writings’, a 64 page never before released dossier of some of Hubert’s most sought after letters and writings. Due to popular demand this offer has now been extended – while stocks last.
Whatever you have previously thought about Hubert Wilkins will be changed forever when you read The Illustrated Sir Hubert Wilkins book.
This is a strictly Limited Edition Release – Only 1,000 Copies Will be Produced – FREE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!
Nina Bellersheim (verified owner) –
This must be the most anticipated and exciting Wilkins book release of all time – the big coffee table book we have all been waiting for! Can’t wait to delve into it.
Sue Hilliard (verified owner) –
Congratulations Jeff another wonderful book on the incredible Sir Hubert Wilkins, beautifully presented, easy to read and a must have for all Wilkins enthusiasts.
Dr Paul Kittel (verified owner) –
Unputdownable!
Spent the day constantly gravitating back to your new book. Best book I’ve read in ages!!
Wilkins has met most of the greats of the early twentieth century. I enjoyed the story behind the man that you have uncovered!
Australians who read of Wilkins will be blown away by his background. He ticks so many boxes as a fearless explorer, pioneering photographer and cinematographer, early aviator and complex human being.
He lived his life to the full.This book is a fitting tribute to Australia’s greatest explorer of the industrial era!
Spent the day constantly gravitating back to your new book. Best book I’ve read in ages!!
Wilkins has met most of the greats of the early twentieth century. I enjoyed the story behind the man that you have uncovered!
Australians who read of Wilkins will be blown away by his background. He ticks so many boxes as not only a fearless explorer but a pioneering photographer and cinematographer, early aviator, and complex human being.
He certainly lived his life to the full.
This book is a fitting tribute to Australia’s greatest explorer of the industrial era!
Rebecca Fletcher –
Another great read Jeff. Very revealing, this is definitely a must have book for any bookshelf.
Kaye (verified owner) –
The Illustrated Sir Hubert Wilkins coffee table book will have wide appeal, offering opportunities for people of varied interests. It displays a variety of magnificent eye-catching photographs taken over many years, a view of the Wilkins’ legacy from public and private collections around the world, and a brief narrative of his life.
Jeff Maynard’s works are different, giving essence and insights that can keep people pondering facts beyond the obvious. Proof of my personal view has been confirmed and proven that Sir Hubert Wilkins; can tell his own story and valuable lessons without added interpretation even today.
The author’s artistry abounds in knowledge and resources. His straightforward approach lays a foundation with limits on personal judgement, excuses, blame, shame or condemnation of actions. For me, his writing is stimulating and encourages my own self-enquiry, sparking an interest for further questions or research.
On reading Jeff’s previous Wilkins related books, the thought of another excited me. The weavings and integration not only of Wilkins’ words but also of those who knew him only strengthens these well compiled and often thought provoking books. For me there seem structured messages not unlike those that Wilkins himself generated. Perhaps this is a tactic that Jeff may like to explain to me?
I would personally like to commend Jeff Maynard on his longevity and persistence and hope that his curiosity and journey never wanes. His keenness to share and generosity attest to this, keeping me hopeful he will continue his venture of exploration into our proclaimed hero. Jeff admits there is plenty more to tell: “Ultimately, I decided to reveal the tip and trust the reader to imagine the iceberg.” Any Sir Hubert Wilkins projects have confronting hurdles due to the enormity and complexity of a life well lived.
The Illustrated Sir Hubert Wilkins was hard to put down on account of its presentation and revealing perspectives.
Kaye Ridge
great niece of Sir Hubert Wilkins
Charles Hambling (verified owner) –
“If you can keep your head …”
George Hubert Wilkins is slowly becoming the most famous Unknown Australian. He would appreciate the paradox.
He avoided the limelight, except when it served to raise money for an expedition. He hated what Admiral Byrd called “The Hero Game” but gave Randolph Hearst headlines in return for financial backing. He chastised General Monash for describing him publicly as the “bravest man in my army.”
Although his ashes were scattered by an American nuclear submarine at the North Pole he slipped from public view. He had help. His wife removed correspondence from other women and all reference to them from his papers. His belongings, photographs and papers turned mouldy in a leaking shed in rural Pennsylvania. Hearst pilloried him in headlines when Wilkins’Arctic submarine expedition failed to live up to impossible hype.
There have been biographies, including one by Lowell Thomas. Simon Nasht’s The Last Explorer details his career from dog sleds to aircraft and is a fine companion to his Nautilus TV documentary.
Jeff Maynard, to date, has written in the greatest detail of Wilkins life. His extra-ordinary war service, a ‘race’ to the North Pole and Antarctic expeditions are covered in three separate, and particularly well-written books. His latest “The Illustrated Sir Hubert Wilkins” is quite simply extra-ordinary. There is much that is new, previously unknown and found in private collections. Maynard’s diligence seems only matched by his diplomatic persuasiveness.
We learn for example, that Wilkins survived a suicide pact in Adelaide in his teenage years. His beloved did not. Maynard, to his credit, does not offer us explanations of Wilkins’ behaviour based on these discoveries. It is hard though, to avoid conclusions from the variety of attractive women Wilkins photographed.
Many of the photographs burst with life. Wilkins on a train in the Balkan war seems straight from ‘Lawrence of Arabia.” An English tea party is bursting with romantic promise. The coffee table format allows for large photographs. This was a man who saw more of the earth, for the first time, than any man before him. And Maynard gives a deft guide to distinguishing Wilkins photographs from those of Frank Hurley. Wilkins never claimed credit for his WWI photographs in life.
There are degrees of astonishment waiting here. If you know little about Wilkins you may think at first, as I once did, that the story was a hoax. If you know the story, Maynard gives depth, new insights and an understated admiration for a man.
Wilkins was asked on a US TV show if he was a scientist. “It depends on who you talk to,” he replied. Wilkins was employed twice by the British Museum. Once to collect specimens of vanishing Australian flora and fauna in the top end. On the second occasion in the Antarctic. There is a bird and a plant given scientific names honouring the Adelaide lad.
Wilkins correspondence is carefully crafted. His letter to friends and family seems chatty but reveal nothing of his feelings. He would have been a perfect spy. He probably was.
We have too few heroes today – brave men of principle. Wilkins underpinning principle was to create a worldwide network of weather stations, including both poles. These were unexplored when he came up with his master plan, hence his expeditions. He hoped weather forecasting would avoid famines, and warfare and give rise to a lasting peace. epersisted, to his death.
We should be grateful to Jeff Maynard’s persistence over many years in uncovering more truths about Wilkins. And we should support him by owning a copy of his masterwork, to date.
There is much we may never learn but Maynard makes the paradox increasingly fascinating.
And by the way, it is very well written.
Bob Mayer (verified owner) –
Over the years many books by many authors have been written about the “unknown” Sir Hubert Wilkins. They have mostly focused on what he did, his expeditions and adventures. Unlike the earlier writings, this book focuses on the man himself. The story is told in Sir Hubert’s own words and amazing photographs.
This is Jeff Maynard’s fourth book about Wilkins. No one except Jeff could have created this book. For twenty-five years Jeff has traveled the world putting together the pieces of Wilkins’ life. He is an expert at putting the bits and pieces together into a fascinating story. He did it with the polar expeditions in Wings of Ice, with war photography in Unseen Anzac and with the Ellsworth Antarctic Expeditions in Antarctica’s Lost Aviator. Now we have a view of the previously untold story of Wilkins the man.
Presentation-wise this is a beautiful book that should not be hidden on a bookshelf but out on display where it can be seen and hopefully attract the curiosity of people who have never heard of Wilkins. When I shared my copy with history friends who had not heard of Wilkins (except from me) they were amazed and interested.
Jeff’s decision to balance the text content with the photos was well done with the addition of a separate dossier, the Unpublished Writings of Sir Hubert Wilkins. There are still a lot more “unpublished writings”. Hopefully more of them will be published in this format in the future.
Jeff stated that his goal with this book was to spur an appreciation and interest in Sir Hubert. His work here is the perfect media to do that. In a world full of “fake” heroes who become famous for trivial things, someone of real accomplishments should be honored, not just in Australia or here in the US but worldwide. Wouldn’t it be great if a documentary maker like Ken Burns took notice?
Saskia Praamsma Raevouri –
Wow! What a fabulous addition to the various books about Sir Hubert Wilkins that have been published to date! Jeff Maynard is certainly the #1 expert on Wilkins, and this book brings Wilkins to life in a way that none of the other works about him could have done. Here we follow Sir Hubert from the cradle to the grave in photographs–many never before seen–with well-written captions that leave the reader feeling that they “know” the real Wilkins — not only his exploits known to the world but what motivated him to do the work he did. Because of its size, I had to set up a “reading station” on my dining room table, and I enjoyed every minute of the several sessions it took me to go through the book from start to finish! Congratulations, Jeff! I will display “The Illustrated Sir Hubert Wilkins” proudly on my coffee table!
Peter Hurford –
Great story , The Wilkins family were given free passage to Kangaroo Island , onto then Adelaide in 1836 on the brig Emma, my great grandfather brought them out on free passage as Henry Douglas was a (original block 69)land purchaser and as such was intitled to be supplied with agriculture employees, upon landing in Adelaide before the whole state survey was only just commencing, Henry Douglas had no employment for the family and so released them out of their obligation,
Hubert’s grandfather was first free born in SA., 1837 north.. In a incident on Kangaroo island prior , the Wilkins children accidentally set fire to our ancestors tent and all his supplies destroying his total immigration kit!