This book profiles forty of the world's greatest explorers, from Europe, America, Asia and Australia. These are the men and women who changed our perception of the world through their courageous explorations, opening our eyes to the physical, natural and historical wealth around us. Under the aegis of Robin Hanbury-Tenison, hailed by the Sunday Times as the greatest explorer of the past twenty years', an international team of distinguished travel writers, broadcasters and historians describes these great explorers' lives, motives and passions in a series of penetrating biographies, illustrated throughout with beautiful paintings, photographs, engravings and maps.