"The story of these four unlikely explorers ... [is] to be remembered long after the pages of this book are closed. Hurrah for authors Davidson and Rugge for alchemizing the scattered diaries, letter, and printed accounts of these fatebound four into the most welcome of literary adventures: a good read." Ivan Doig, author of This House of Sky
"The poetry of Service and Kipling, Jack London's Call of the Wild, the exploits of Peary ... are the backdrops to Great Heart. ... Two remarkable writers ... have written a compelling story of robust, heart adventure--and also of rivalry, suspense, romance, and fierce loyalty. Well-written, this book easily deserves a place on the selves next to other great adventure books such as "Kon-Tiki" and perhaps even Call of the Wild." William Breyfogle, Milwaukee Journal
"What a movie this book would make ... It's the kind of book that will make anyone studying North American history look at Labrador with intense interest ... It's also the kind of book, written so fluidly, that captures a reader's imagination ... Davidson and Rugge are obviously passionate about the land .... Besides giving readers a literary adventure like no other, they pass on immense respect for the small band of history-makers who burned their hearts our mapping Labrador's barren." Margaret Mironowicz, The Globe and Mail
"Historian James West Davison and physician John Rugee ... canoed the various routes themselves ... and wrote a tale that combines scrupulous adherence to the evidence with a cross-cutting narrative Hitchcock would have admired." Dennis Drabelle, The Washington Post