- Hardcover
- Publisher: MJF Books (2007)
- ISBN-10: 1567318630
- ISBN-13: 978-1567318630
- Product Dimensions: 21.1 x 14.5 x 2.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 556,301 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
55 of 55 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
In 1845 Sir John Franklin and 128 men aboard the vessels Erebus and Terror set sail to navigate a course through the fabled (and unbeknownst to them, utterly useless) North-West Passage. After stopping briefly at Greenland they disappeared literally off the map. The years passed and as concern grew several rescue missions were launched at the urging of Lady Franklin. Gradually macabre details began to filter back. One of the first discoveries was of three gravestones of Franklin crewmen in the permafrost of the tiny Beechey Island, then further south on King William island more relics were unearthed including a note in a cairn detailing Franklin's death in 1847. Gruesome accounts from local Inuit tribes described shambling groups of insane gibbering white men, in some cases resorting to cannibalism in a desperate and futile attempt to survive.
Frozen in Time is a book of two halves. In the first part the authors describe the history of the search for the North West Passage, mention the debilitating effects of polar exploration and also provide an account of the doomed Franklin expedition. The second part of the book is essentially CSI North West Territories. King William island is searched first but reveals only some fragmented skeletons and a few small artefacts. The human remains provide tantalising but inconclusive information. The researchers then decide to exhume the three graves on Beechey Island.
This book has stayed with me ever since I first read it. Few other books have fired up my imagination to the same extent. The descriptions of the exhumations and then the autopsies of the perfectly preserved bodies of John Torrington, John Hartnell and William Braine are absolutely gripping and the resulting conclusions are as horrific as they are fascinating. This has been said before but I'll say it again, I envy anybody who has yet to read this book. I would also urge any readers to resist the temptation to look ahead at the pictures; they are all the more shocking in the context of the appropriate passages. Buy it now.
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Tells the story of the 1845 Franklin expedition in which all 128 men were lost without trace while trying to navigate a course through the North-West Passage. The book tells also of the numerous rescue missions which were launched at the behest of Lady Franklin, which failed to find any trace. Their fate was finally discovered by the great Orcadian explorer Robert Rae, and among his reports was how they had resorted to canibalism. The idea that Victorian gentlemen might behave in such a matter was unnacceptable, and Rae's reputation was rubbished by Charles Dickens among others. And so Rae, who should have been recorded as one of the great innovators of Britich Arctic exploration was sidelined and ignored. It is entirely likely that if his innovations (mostly realisng that "going native" was the best approach) had been widely realised then Britain would have been first to both Poles.
In the first part of "Frozen in Time" the authors document the history of the pursuit of the North West Passage, overview the debilitating effects of arctic exploration and also provide a detailed treatise of the fateful Franklin expedition. The second part of the book covers modern attempts to unravel the fate of franklin. Culminating in the exhumations and autopsies of the perfectly preserved bodies of John Torrington, John Hartnell and William, which finally answers the mystery.
This book is not the most fluent of reads, but is sufficiently well written to ensure that it should appeal both to those who are passionate about arctic history and those with a more passing interest.
In the first part of "Frozen in Time" the authors document the history of the pursuit of the North West Passage, overview the debilitating effects of arctic exploration and also provide a detailed treatise of the fateful Franklin expedition. The second part of the book covers modern attempts to unravel the fate of franklin. Culminating in the exhumations and autopsies of the perfectly preserved bodies of John Torrington, John Hartnell and William, which finally answers the mystery.
This book is not the most fluent of reads, but is sufficiently well written to ensure that it should appeal both to those who are passionate about arctic history and those with a more passing interest.
36 of 38 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The Franklin expedition to discover the Northwest Passage (the Holy Grail of its day) was the best prepared and funded in the history of the British Admiralty and it disappeared, two ships and nearly 200 men, with almost no trace. Frantic efforts were made to find survivors, or at least uncover the truth of the disaster, but it remained a mystery for almost 150 years. The story of what actually happened to Franklin and his crew and how it was eventually brought to light is told here in a way that is afffecting, respectful and completely compelling. The authors cover the history of the original expedition and rescue expeditions and the horrible half-facts and hints of starvation, terror and cannibalism they uncovered and moves through history to the efforts of the modern amateur-detectives who finally solved the mystery and found it to be as awful and ironic as any novelist could have imagined. Not just for those with an interest in arctic exploration or the secrets of the dead, but for anyone with an interest mankind or the past.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Brilliant
A most entertaining and knowledgeable book, fascinating stuff . The early chapters which deal with expeditions prior to that involving Frankin were very interesting as were the... Read more
Published 2 months ago by emmywalker
A "must" for anyone interested in polar exploration
This is a riveting read for anyone interested in the Franklin expedition or in polar exploration generally. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Buffalo Bill
a brilliant read about a fateful journey
I was always fascinated about the fate of the Franklin expedition but had only really read small articles and seen the pictures from the body exhumations on Beechey island. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Pat
Living history
The story of Franklin's 1845 doomed expedition in search of the North West Passage took me back to my schooldays when we were taught the history of exploration. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Noel
A chilling mystery...
The chilling story of the Franklin expedition to sail the north west passage...they travelled with the best food and equipment available in their time but the very food they were... Read more
Published 16 months ago by Sue.
Shocking past revealed
'Frozen in Time' is a beautifully written account of the various attempts to seek evidence revealing the fate of the 130 men under the leadership of Sir John Franklin who set out... Read more
Published 18 months ago by John Brain
A story of horrific suffering
I bought this book for my partner, who is fascinated by all polar explorers. He said he could "hardly bear to read" about the suffering of the members of this expedition although... Read more
Published on 7 Jan 2010 by Parent of 2
Great Forensic History
Fascinating story of the voyage,plus good investigation into what could have gone wrong.
A must for anyone remotely interested in Arctic exploration or naval history.
A must for anyone remotely interested in Arctic exploration or naval history.
Published on 7 Nov 2009 by Witchypoo
Great Book
I have loved this book since i was a little girl (i'm 30 now!!) My dad has always been into the discovry channel and Egypt and things like that and he got this book as a present... Read more
Published on 30 Sep 2009 by Dawn Hardy
History brought up to Date
The people involved in seeking out and attempting to complete the North West Passage have a truly amazing tale to tell. Read more
Published on 8 Feb 2007 by John Bland
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