Ray HowgegoRay Howgego's interest in exploration began as a twelve-year old when he started a collection of travel books that now extends to some four thousand volumes. His imagination fired by the many narratives of travel he had read, he set off twenty-one yers ago on a voyage of discovery to retrace some of the myriad routes taken by explorers of the past. Armed with a grasp of most European languages and a passable acquaintance with the many others necessary for far-flung expeditions, he embarked on journeys that have taken him to some of the most remote places on earth. It was an odyssey that culminated in his four-volume Encyclopedia of Exploration--now a standard reverence work throughout the world which in 1200 pages and 1.2 million words details the accomplishments of 7500 travelers; in fact, "every traveler who in some way contributed to the geographical knowledge of our planet." Read More Read Less