Mr. Enterline has written an important book, a book that looks at the maps themselves and the evidence therein. This is a refreshing change from the baseless conjectures, theories, and "trendy" interpretations that have sometimes siezed hold of the history of cartography. Enterline's interpretations will open up new debate on these early maps of the arctic regions, but it is this kind of debate that is sorely needed. Most important, however, is that Enterline has shown a true understanding of the context in which early maps were made, and how sources (earlier maps, explorers' reports, etc.) were integrated in a complex and agglutinative manner, a manner that we, as historians, must now "de-code". This book is a fine place to begin that process...

I found this book to be incredibly readable. Despite his background as a scientist Enterline writes in an academic narrative that makes him easily understood and his references easily checked. Enterline goes further than previous writers on the topic; suggesting not only Norse discovery of America, but their continued presence there. This book is now quite old and Enterlines sources for the most part were similarly old then, so its relevance as source for study has quite diminished. Fortunately a follow up book seems to be scheduled for publication in 2001 which I very much look forward to.