The Land of the Long Night

"The Land of the Long Night" by Paul B. Du Chaillu is a travel story about a trip to the Arctic in the late 1800s, where the author explores a unique land that has weeks of no sun. He tells about his travels to a region that experiences long periods of darkness and freezing weather. Setting the stage, the story follows the author's excitement and determination, introducing the Laplanders and their way of life. Paul Du Chaillu thinks about his decision to travel to the far north as he travels Sweden in the winter. Making preparations for the journey, he gets warmer clothes and changing horses at post stations along the way. The first few chapters capture his descriptions of snow and weather, introducing the difficulties of travel in the cold. Readers are invited to experience travel through the Arctic wilderness, including meeting kind Swedish people.