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Buddy Levy

バディ・レヴィ

Badi Revi

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1960-02-02 （New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.）
Nationality
United States
Languages
English
Residence History
Sun Valley, Idaho (grew up) → Pullman, Washington (Washington State University)

Career

Occupations
English professor, author, freelance writer, TV personality
Active Years
1988-
Affiliations
University of Idaho (1988–1993), Washington State University (since 1991)
Influenced By
Ernest Hemingway (indirect influence), Jack Hemingway (early connection)

Education

University of Idaho
College of Letters, Arts and Social Sciences / English
Degree: B.A.
Period: 1982-1986
Year of Graduation: 1986
Country: United States
University of Idaho
Graduate School / English
Degree: M.A.
Period: 1986-1988
Year of Graduation: 1988
Country: United States

Awards

Audie Award for History or Biography
2024
Work: Empire of Ice & Stone
Category: History/Biography
Organization: Audio Publishers Association
Result: finalist
National Outdoor Book Award
2023
Work: Empire of Ice & Stone
Category: History/Biography
Organization: National Outdoor Book Award
Result: winner
Banff Mountain Book Award
2023
Work: Empire of Ice & Stone
Category: Adventure Travel
Organization: Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival
Result: shortlist
National Outdoor Book Award
2020
Work: Labyrinth of Ice
Category: History/Biography
Organization: National Outdoor Book Award
Result: winner
Banff Mountain Book Award
2020
Work: Labyrinth of Ice
Category: Adventure Travel
Organization: Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival
Result: winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Realm of Ice and Sky: Triumph, Tragedy, and History's Greatest Arctic Rescue

2025 historical nonfiction

A tri-biography of early 20th-century airship attempts to reach the North Pole, reassessing figures such as Walter Wellman and Umberto Nobile and the controversies surrounding them.

explorationreassessment of reputationtechnological challenges

Empire of Ice & Stone: The Disastrous and Heroic Voyage of the Karluk

2022 historical nonfiction

An account of the Karluk's ill-fated voyage (1913–1916) in the Arctic, detailing the crew's survival, tragedy, and the harsh realities of polar exploration.

polar explorationsurvivalhuman relationships and leadership

Labyrinth of Ice: The Triumphant and Tragic Greely Polar Expedition

2020 historical nonfiction

A meticulous reconstruction of the 1881–1884 Greely Expedition, exploring both its heroism and its tragedies.

explorationextreme conditionshuman frailty and courage

No Barriers: A Blind Man's Journey to Kayak the Grand Canyon

2017 nonfiction/biography

Follows blind adventurer Erik Weihenmayer's attempt to kayak the Grand Canyon, exploring his life, challenges, and achievements.

overcoming barriersadventuredisability and ability
Adaptations
  • [documentary (contributing writer)] The Weight of Water

Geronimo: Leadership Strategies of an American Warrior

2014 history/leadership

Co-written with Washington State University football coach Mike Leach; uses Geronimo's life to extract lessons on leadership.

leadershipanalysis of historical figures

River of Darkness: Francisco Orellana and the Deadly First Voyage Through the Amazon

2011 historical nonfiction

Chronicles Francisco Orellana's 16th-century voyage down the Amazon, an adventure narrative of survival and tragedy.

colonial historyadventureshipwreck and survival

Conquistador: Hernan Cortes, King Montezuma, and the Last Stand of the Aztecs

2008 historical nonfiction

Reexamines Cortes's conquest and the complex power dynamics between Spaniards and indigenous allies during the fall of the Aztec Empire.

conquestcultural clashreexamination of sources
Adaptations
  • [television series (optioned)] Conquistador

American Legend: The Real-Life Adventures of David Crockett

2005 biography/history

A biography of David Crockett that argues his autobiography prefigures literary realism, presenting both achievements and shortcomings.

biographyearly American historyreassessment of character

Echoes On Rimrock: In Pursuit of the Chukar Partridge

1998 outdoor/nature nonfiction

An early collection of outdoor essays; features a foreword by Jack Hemingway.

naturehunting and outdoors

Bibliography

  • Echoes On Rimrock: In Pursuit of the Chukar Partridge (1998)
  • American Legend: The Real-Life Adventures of David Crockett (2005)
  • Conquistador: Hernan Cortes, King Montezuma, and the Last Stand of the Aztecs (2008)
  • River of Darkness: Francisco Orellana and the Deadly First Voyage Through the Amazon (2011)
  • Geronimo: Leadership Strategies of an American Warrior (2014) - with Mike Leach
  • No Barriers: A Blind Man's Journey to Kayak the Grand Canyon (2017)
  • Labyrinth of Ice: The Triumphant and Tragic Greely Polar Expedition (2020)
  • Empire of Ice & Stone: The Disastrous and Heroic Voyage of the Karluk (2022)
  • Realm of Ice and Sky: Triumph, Tragedy, and History's Greatest Arctic Rescue (2025)

Adaptations

  • The Weight of Water (documentary, contributing writer)
  • Brad Meltzer's Decoded (TV appearance)
  • The Men Who Built America (TV appearance)
  • Conquistador (television series optioned)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
narrative nonfiction grounded in archival researchdetailed investigation with narrative reconstructionaccessible, story-driven prose
Recurring Motifs
exploration and extremesleadership and decision-makingsurvival and human relationships

Legacy

Buddy Levy is known for blending historical nonfiction with adventure journalism, contributing to the reassessment of polar exploration and conquest narratives. He has reached both scholarly and general audiences, winning multiple awards and appearing on television.

In Popular Culture

  • Appeared as one of the hosts on the TV series Brad Meltzer's Decoded
  • Appeared as a commentator on the documentary The Men Who Built America

Trivia

  • Had early connections to the Hemingway family; Margaux Hemingway was a babysitter in his childhood circle.
  • Published his first story at age 14.
  • Co-wrote Geronimo with Mike Leach.
  • Published an 'Ice' trilogy on polar exploration between 2020 and 2025.