The Johann Fust Library Foundation is excited to present Darrell Hartman, who will speak about his book Battle of Ink and Ice. This beautifully written history follows two threaded dramas during the Gilded Age. It is 1909 – a time when explorers were heroes and newspapers were dropped on doorsteps every morning and every evening. The book follows the exploits of two explorers and two newspapers. 

Robert Peary and Frederick Cook each claimed to have discovered the North Pole. The New York Times lauded Peary, and The New York Herald focused on Cook’s success. A bitter contest erupted between the Arctic voyagers and their newspaper champions. 

The exact position of the North Pole was difficult to pinpoint due to shifting ice fields. Each man provided photographs and tales of high adventure and success to his supporting newspaper. Just as the ice floes shifted, so too did the truth, as conflicting news reports emerged from the two media rivals that funded the excursions and sold papers on the success of their man’s exploits. 

1909 was a time when exploration captivated the public’s attention. Hartman presents a true drama that explores Arctic exploration and the media, touching on themes of class, celebrity, and the ever-intensifying news cycle. 

Darrell Hartman is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Condé Nast Traveler, and other publications. He holds a B.A. in literature from Yale University and is a member of The Explorers Club in New York. He lives in New York City. Battle of Ink and Ice is his first book. 

This event is now full. Please call the office at (941) 964-0211 to place your name on the waitlist. The event is free to attend, but advance registration is required.