Books by Christiane Ritter

“Ritter was a German woman living in a trapper’s hut with her husband on the north coast of Svalbard during the years when Germany was sliding towards fascism – you get the impression she was pleased to leave. Her book is still in print after almost 90 years because it’s so unusual to have a woman’s perspective on these landscapes – all travel writing of that era, but polar travel writing in particular, is so dominated by male perspectives. And Ritter writes with such eloquence about the beauty of polar isolation. She loves it there on the edge of Svalbard, the edge of Europe, looking out towards the north pole – and her husband spends much of his time away hunting so she’s alone. She revels in that solitude, and thanks to her beautiful book we’re able to experience it second-hand.” Read more...

The best books on Islands

Gavin Francis, Travel Writer