ICEBOUND: SHIPWRECKED AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD | BOOK REVIEW
Andrea Pitzer (Simon & Schuster)
We know much about Scott Of The Antarctic, but William Barents barely gets a mention. Andrea Pitzer, who writes for the Washington Post among other publications, has done a fine job of telling the against-all-odds story of Barents’ troublesome trip deep into the Far Arctic at the end of the 16th century. Dutch explorer Barents lost his ship after it collided with icebergs, and if the nine months of biting cold weather that followed were not enough for Barents and his crew – as well as the lack of food – there were also predatory polar bears relentlessly on the prowl for a human-sized snack.
What makes Icebound: Shipwrecked At The Edge Of The World just that little bit more compelling than most historical adventure books are the nuggets of information that one can grasp. Subjects covered include how to survive in climates of minus 20˚ Celsius, the importance of Vitamin C, celestial navigation, and how to build a shelter. A gripping tale of courage, survival, failure and extreme danger that took place on a doomed 1597 trip – set within a remote and unforgiving Arctic nightmare, where just surviving became the endgame.
Price: £20. Info: here
words DAVID NOBAKHT