Thor heyerdahl, who died in april at the age of 87, spent much of an active and sometimes inspiring life in the thrall of one good story. A primary source is a work that is being studied, or that provides firsthand or direct evidence on a topic. This was his first expedition to be captured on film, and was later awarded academy award for best documentary in 1951. The book provided a really eye opening insight into easter island, its history and myths. Intrigued by polynesian folklore, biologist thor heyerdahl suspected that the south sea islands had been settled by an ancient race from thousands of. Thor heyerdahl, a norwegian zoologist, explains how he develops a theory on how the pacific islands were originally. On a primitive raft made of fortyfoot balsa logs and named kon tiki in honor of a legendary sun king, thor heyerdahl and five companions deliberately risked their lives to show that the ancient peruvians could have made the 4,300mile voyage to the polynesian islands on a similar craft. Intrigued by polynesian folklore, biologist thor heyerdahl suspected that the south sea islands had been settled by an ancient race from thousands of miles to the east, led by a mythical hero, kon tiki. Kontiki is the record of an astonishing adventurea journey of 4,300 nautical miles across the pacific ocean by raft. Chasing thor heyerdahl and the kontiki raft science traveler. The raft was named kon tiki after the incasun god, viracocha, for whom kon tiki was said to be an old name. He later completed similar achievements with the reed boats ra, ra ii and tigris, through which he championed his deep. World citizen, explorer, writer and scientist, thor heyerdahls legacy is an. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over.
Thor heyerdahl was a norwegian adventurer and ethnographer with a background in zoology, botany and geography. The documentary film of the expedition entitled kontiki won an academy award in 1951. The recipient was adam helms, the head and founder of the forum publishing house. Fine in a very good jacket that shows some rubbing to the crown of. The raft was named kontiki after the inca god viracocha, for whom kontiki was said to be an old name. Kon tiki is not a project management book, but by following the process that thor. Heyerdahl claimed that in incan legend there was a sungod named contici viracocha who was the supreme head of the mythical fairskinned people in peru.
This study guide consists of approximately 44 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of kon tiki. Free download or read online kontiki pdf epub book. The main characters of this non fiction, travel story are. Kontiki is a norwegianswedish documentary film about the kontiki expedition led by norwegian explorer and writer thor heyerdahl in 1947, released in. With a name like thor, adventure on the high seas is sort of a given, isnt it. Chasing thor heyerdahl and the kontiki raft science.
Writer, illustrator, photographer, archaeologist, ethnologist, explorer. Thor heyerdahl books list of books by thor heyerdahl. If you would like to learn how to plan and execute a major project, then kon tiki. Roving report aptn 20071970 bridgetown, barbados 1. In 1953 thor heyerdahl experimented on a smaller test raft constructed like the kon tiki of nine balsa logs lashed together. On a primitive raft made of fortyfoot balsa logs and named kontiki in honor of a legendary sun king, thor heyerdahl and five companions deliberately risked their lives to show that the ancient peruvians could have made the 4,300mile voyage to the polynesian islands on a similar craft. As a young child, heyerdahl showed a strong interest in zoology, inspired by his mother, who had a strong interest in charles darwins theory of evolution. Kontiki and akuaku the secret of easter island thor heyerdahl on. His 1947 kon tiki expedition proved that the incas were capable of sailing across the pacific. Intrigued by polynesian folklore, biologist thor heyerdahl suspected that the south sea islands had been settled by an ancient race from thousands of miles.
Thor heyerdahl, a norwegian zoologist, explains how he develops a theory on how the pacific islands were originally settled from south america. Kon tiki by thor heyerdahl mag by unknown, unknown, unknown how does a middleaged biologist end up traveling 4,300 miles on a balsa wood raft across the pacific. Full text of kon tiki across the pacific by raft thor heyerdahl. The film of the expedition kontiki, directed by thor heyerdahl, won the 1951 academy award for best documentary feature. Adventure sailor thor heyerdahl s audacious attempt to voyage across the pacific using. Winner of the 1952 academy award for best documentary.
Aug 07, 2017 today august 7, 2017 marks the 70th anniversary of thor heyerdahls amazing 4300mile, 101day sailing of a balsa wood raft named kontiki from peru to an island near tahiti. Kontiki is the famous 101 day voyage by thor heyerdahl in a balsa raft from peru to polynesia kontiki is an exciting, engaging, timeless and highly recommended addition to any personal, school or community library video collection. Thor heyerdahls curriculum vitae is beyond impressive. The kontiki expedition was a 1947 journey by raft across the pacific ocean from south america to the polynesian islands, led by norwegian explorer and writer thor heyerdahl. His fascination with nature, animals, and the natural sciences started from a very young age. He and his wife spent a year living on the island of fatu hiva in the south pacific. Heyerdahl recounted the epic voyage in the bestselling 1950 book kon tiki. Kontiki is the record of an astonishing adventure across the pacific ocean. Thor gives enough information to really get the imagination going.
In 1947 he crossed the pacific ocean on the balsawood raft kon tiki. This is a real adventure which i read as a schoolboy over 50 years ago and again in 2017 when covering the area on a more comfortable cruise. Across the pacific by raft and in a documentary the following year that won the academy award. He believed that, long before columbus, early ocean. Kon tiki thor heyerdahl first edition signed rare book.
Intrigued by polynesian folklore, biologist thor heyerdahl suspected that the south sea islands had been settled by an ancient race from thousands of miles to the east. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. In 1947 he crossed the pacific ocean on the balsawood raft kontiki. Various shots of ra ii papyrus reed vessel at sea 2. Journey through the 5 best adventures books that happened. First american edition of the explorers classic first book. Now a major motion picture, kontiki is the record of thor heyerdahl s astonishing threemonth voyage across the pacific. Common types of primary sources include works of literature, historical documents, original philosophical writings, and religious texts. And i got to see kon tiki in oslo recently heyerdahl was a norwegian anthropologist. The museum presents the breadth of heyerdahls lifes work, from his first trip to fatu hiva, to the voyages with the kontiki, the ra, the ra ii and the tigris, as well as the expeditions to the galapagos islands, easter island rapa nui and tucume in peru. Heyerdahl recounted the epic voyage in the bestselling 1950 book kontiki. Thor heyerdahl s curriculum vitae is beyond impressive. Turo hejerdalo kon tiki ekspedicija thor heyerdahl kon tiki expedition 1947 m by quest. Akuaku, the secret of easter island heyerdahl, thor.
The raft was named kon tiki after the inca god viracocha, for whom kon tiki was said to be an old name. Thor heyerdahl has 40 books on goodreads with 50217 ratings. Kon tiki by thor heyerdahl, first edition abebooks. Across the pacific by raft by thor heyerdahl, 1950. Intrigued by polynesian folklore, biologist thor heyerdahl suspected that the south sea islands had been settled by an ancient race from thousands of miles to the east, led by a mythical hero, kontiki. We set off from the same port callo in peru and sailed to new zealand via the beautiful polynesian islands of easter island,tahiti and bora bora. This detailed literature summary also contains topics for discussion and a free quiz on kon tiki. He later completed similar achievements with the reed boats ra, ra ii and tigris, through which he championed his deep involvement. Buy kontiki by thor heyerdahl from waterstones today.
Kon tiki was high priest and sunking of these legendary white men who left enormous ruins on the shores of lake titicaca. Read the kontiki expedition, by thor heyerdahl, response. Across the pacific in a raft if you would like to learn how to plan and execute a major project, then kon tiki. By raft across the south seas has been translated into 70 languages. Buy the kontiki expedition 1st by thor heyerdahl isbn. Buy kon tiki by thor heyerdahl from waterstones today. The tangaroa expedition the kon tiki expedition 2012 documentary by josep svennan.
In 1947, heyerdahl took a crew of six men on a 4,300mile journey across the pacific ocean. The story of thor heyerdahl, norways kontiki explorer. Thor heyerdahl, norwegian ethnologist and adventurer who. The voyage was also chronicled in the documentary tvseries the kontiki man. It makes for a great documentary of the voyage of the kontiki raft across the pacific from south america to polynesia. May 07, 20 kon tiki is the record of an astonishing adventure a journey of 4,300 nautical miles across the pacific ocean by raft. Thor heyerdahl was one of the twentiethcenturys most famous adventurers and he recreated many ocean voyages made by ships based on ancient designs. In the late 1940s thor heyerdahl began to put forward a theory concerning the origins of the polynesian people who inhabited various island groups in eastern oceania in the pacific ocean, and who also settled in new zealand the maori people. The life and adventures of thor heyerdahl, directed by bengt jonson. His theory contradicted previous theories held by the mainstream of anthropologists and archaeologists. Read the kon tiki expedition by thor heyerdahl and write a response in which you show how heyerdahl used narration, and comparisoncontrast to make his point. The kon tiki was crewed by six men, all norwegian except for bengt danielsson, who was from sweden.
But not on a cruise ship their vessel was a reproduction of a prehistoric balsa. Now a major motion picture, kon tiki is the record of thor heyerdahl s astonishing threemonth voyage across the pacific. The first edition of the novel was published in 1948, and was written by thor heyerdahl. The kon tiki expedition was a 1947 journey by raft across the pacific ocean from south america to the polynesian islands, led by norwegian explorer and writer thor heyerdahl. Thor heyerdahl 19142002 is one of historys most famous explorers. I read and enjoyed the kon tiki expedition and thought aku aku looked interesting. Now a major motion picture, kontiki is the record of thor heyerdahls astonishing threemonth voyage across the pacific. Kon tiki is the record of an astonishing adventure across the pacific ocean.
Kon tiki across the pacific by raft thor heyerdahl. The original kon tiki is now on display in the kon tiki museum in oslo. Pdf kontiki book by thor heyerdahl free download 240. The english translation was published the following year in 1950 and the book became a bestseller worldwide. The original name for virakocha was kon tiki or illa tiki, which means sun tiki or fire tiki. Apr 18, 2002 thor heyerdahl 19142002 is one of historys most famous explorers. Exploration and discovery are featured in these two classics by thor heyerdahl. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 240 pages and is available in paperback format. The book kon tiki was a bestseller, and a documentary motion picture of the expedition won an academy award in 1951. Today august 7, 2017 marks the 70th anniversary of thor heyerdahl s amazing 4300mile, 101day sailing of a balsa wood raft named kon tiki from peru to an island near tahiti.
Kon tiki is also the name of heyerdahl s book, the academy awardwinning documentary film chronicling his adventures. Kon tiki is not a project management book, but by following the process that thor heyerdahl used for his expedition, you will learn how to manage a project. Heyerdahl s book was first published in late 1948 and sold out in two weeks. Can someone please give me a quick summary of the book kon. Buy the kon tiki expedition 1st by heyerdahl, thor isbn.