Original Works by Adam Johan von Krusenstern
Adam Johan von Krusenstern documented his historic circumnavigation in several monumental publications that remain important sources for maritime history, ethnography, and natural science.
Reise um die Welt in den Jahren 1803, 1804, 1805 und 1806
The original German edition of Krusenstern's account of the first Russian circumnavigation of the globe, carried out on board the ships Nadeshda and Neva under orders from Emperor Alexander I. Published in St. Petersburg in three volumes between 1810 and 1812.
The work describes in detail the voyage from Kronstadt through the Atlantic, around Cape Horn, across the Pacific to Kamchatka, Japan, China, and back via the Cape of Good Hope. It includes extensive observations on navigation, hydrography, meteorology, ethnography of Pacific island peoples, and natural history.
Voyage Round the World, in the Years 1803, 1804, 1805 & 1806
The first English translation by Richard Belgrave Hoppner, published by John Murray in London. This edition brought Krusenstern's account to the English-speaking world and became widely read among British naval officers and geographers.
A rare inscribed copy — dedicated to "Dear Admiral Krusenstern" by Czar Nicholas himself — with two hand-coloured aquatint frontispieces and a large folding engraved map, was sold at Christie's in 2007 for USD 12,500.
Atlas zur Reise um die Welt
A separately published atlas accompanying the voyage narrative, containing detailed nautical charts, coastal profiles, maps of newly discovered or corrected geographical features, and natural history illustrations. The atlas was produced to the highest cartographic standards of the era and contributed significantly to European knowledge of the Pacific.
The atlas includes charts of Kamchatka, the Kuril Islands, Sakhalin, the coast of Japan, and numerous Pacific island groups visited during the expedition.
Books about the Krusenstern Family
Weltumsegler und Wissenschaftler: Adam Johann von Krusenstern 1770–1846
A comprehensive biography of Adam Johan von Krusenstern written by his descendant Ewert von Krusenstjern. The book traces Krusenstern's life from his Baltic German origins through his training in the Russian Imperial Navy, his legendary circumnavigation, and his later career as a hydrographer and educator. A definitive family-authored account.
Excerpt from the Voyage
An excerpt from the introduction to "Voyage Round the World" (1813, English translation by R. B. Hoppner):
"The idea of sending a ship from Cronstadt to the eastern coast of Asia by sea had long been contemplated; but the difficulties that stood in the way of fitting out such an expedition, and the want of officers in the Russian Navy acquainted with navigation in distant seas, had continually obstructed the accomplishment of this project. In the year 1802, when the period for renewing the charter of the Russian American Trading Company approached, the Emperor Alexander approved of my proposal to fit out two ships for a voyage round the world, at the expense of this company."