The Lady And The Panda: The True Adventures Of The First American Explorer To Bring Back China's Most Exotic Animal Download Free (EPUB, PDF)
Here is the astonishing true story of Ruth Harkness, the Manhattan bohemian socialite who, against all but impossible odds, trekked to Tibet in 1936 to capture the most mysterious animal of the day: a bear that had for countless centuries lived in secret in the labyrinth of lonely cold mountains. In The Lady and the Panda, Vicki Constantine Croke gives us the remarkable account of Ruth Harkness and her extraordinary journey, and restores Harkness to her rightful place along with Sacajawea, Nellie Bly, and Amelia Earhart as one of the great woman adventurers of all time.Ruth was the toast of 1930s New York, a dress designer newly married to a wealthy adventurer, Bill Harkness. Just weeks after their wedding, however, Bill decamped for China in hopes of becoming the first Westerner to capture a giant panda–an expedition on which many had embarked and failed miserably. Bill was also to fail in his quest, dying horribly alone in China and leaving his widow heartbroken and adrift. And so Ruth made the fateful decision to adopt her husband’s dream as her own and set off on the adventure of a lifetime.It was not easy. Indeed, everything was against Ruth Harkness. In decadent Shanghai, the exclusive fraternity of white male explorers patronized her, scorned her, and joked about her softness, her lack of experience and money. But Ruth ignored them, organizing, outfitting, and leading a bare-bones campaign into the majestic but treacherous hinterlands where China borders Tibet. As her partner she chose Quentin Young, a twenty-two-year-old Chinese explorer as unconventional as she was, who would join her in a romance as torrid as it was taboo.Traveling across some of the toughest terrain in the world–nearly impenetrable bamboo forests, slick and perilous mountain slopes, and boulder-strewn passages–the team raced against a traitorous rival, and was constantly threatened by hordes of bandits and hostile natives. The voyage took months to complete and cost Ruth everything she had. But when, almost miraculously, she returned from her journey with a baby panda named Su Lin in her arms, the story became an international sensation and made the front pages of newspapers around the world. No animal in history had gotten such attention. And Ruth Harkness became a hero. Drawing extensively on American and Chinese sources, including diaries, scores of interviews, and previously unseen intimate letters from Ruth Harkness, Vicki Constantine Croke has fashioned a captivating and richly textured narrative about a woman ahead of her time. Part Myrna Loy, part Jane Goodall, by turns wisecracking and poetic, practical and spiritual, Ruth Harkness is a trailblazing figure. And her story makes for an unforgettable, deeply moving adventure.
Hardcover: 400 pages
Publisher: Random House; First Edition edition (July 5, 2005)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0375507833
ISBN-13: 978-0375507830
Product Dimensions: 6.4 x 1.3 x 9.5 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (60 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #805,582 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #105 in Books > Science & Math > Biological Sciences > Animals > Bears #894 in Books > Science & Math > Biological Sciences > Animals > Wildlife #4116 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Travelers & Explorers
In the 1930's America was much in need of heroes. The Great Depression had settled over the United States, and poor out-of-work people were everywhere. The election of President Franklin Roosevelt boosted the nation's collective morale, along with Seabiscuit, the champion racehorse, with his owner, trainer and jockey Red Pollard of course. Then came the now all-but-forgotten Ruth Hardness, who is 1936, accomplished the impossible by bringing back to the United States the first ever live panda from the dangerous territry where China borders Tibet.Vickie Constantine Croke in THE LADY AND THE PANDA recounts this wonderful saga of a determined New York socialite, who after the death of her young husband on a similar mission in China, takes up where he left off, invests her entire inheritance on her quest and surprises practically everyone when she brings back Su-Lin for all the world to see and adore. The panda takes up residence in Chicago's Brookfield Zoo where, the author says in her "Preface" that he drew "more than 53,000 visitors when first displayed at the Brookfield--a single-day tally the zoo has never again matched." Such famous people as Helen Keller, Shirley Temple, Sophie Tucker and the Dionne quintuplets fell under Su-Lin's spell. He was insured by Lloyd's of London.Ms. Harkness is a bigger than life character. The author tells us that though short in height, Harkness always appeared to be much taller than she was. She is quoted as saying that the two things she hated most were going to bed at night and getting up in the morning. In addition to her passion for pandas, she was besotted with beautiful clothes--she was a dressmaker by profession-- cigarettes, alcohol, fine food and late-night parties.
The Lady and the Panda: The True Adventures of the First American Explorer to Bring Back China's Most Exotic Animal Safari Animal Patterns: 30 Exotic Safari Animal Patterns to Feel the Wildlife World (Safari Animal Patterns, animal designs, zendoodle) Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See? (My First Reader) Panda Coloring Book For Adults: Stress Relief Coloring Book For Grown-ups Including 40 Paisly, Henna and Mandala Panda Bear Coloring Pages Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See? (Brown Bear and Friends) Panda Patrol Travel Games (Panda Patrol Activity) Panda Bear, Panda Bear, What Do You See? Board Book Panda School (Kung Fu Panda TV) Lap Dance: The Ultimate Guide to Being the Best Exotic Dancer (The Ultimate Exotic Dancer Package Book 4) Coloring Books for Adults: Animal Masks: 30 Wild Animal Face Designs to Color and Exhibit (Animal Mask Patterns, Wild Animal Patterns, Doodle) Prayers That Bring Change: Power-Filled Prayers that Give Hope, Heal Relationships, Bring Financial Freedom and More! Understanding and Creating Infographics (Explorer Library: Information Explorer) Take Note! Taking and Organizing Notes (Explorer Junior Library: Information Explorer Junior) Exploring Creation With Botany -- Young Explorer Series (Young Explorer (Apologia Educational Ministries)) Ultimate Explorer Field Guide: Birds (National Geographic Kids Ultimate Explorer Field Guide) Shared Creations: Making Use of Creative Commons (Explorer Library: Information Explorer) Make Your Point: Creating Powerful Presentations (Explorer Library: Information Explorer) Using Digital Images (Explorer Library: Information Explorer) It's Cool to Learn About Countries: Democratic Republic of Congo (Explorer Library: Social Studies Explorer) It's Cool to Learn About Countries: Philippines (Explorer Library: Social Studies Explorer)
