Karen H. reviewed In the Land of White Death : An Epic Story of Survival in the Siberian Arctic on + 35 more book reviews
This book should be included in the annals of Arctic exploration literature. It is a translation of Albanov's account of his escape from the ice-bound ship Santa Anna. After a year and a half the Russian ship remained ice-bound in the frigid arctic Kara Sea with no hope of escape. With tempers just short of mutiny, the navigator Albanov requested and obtained permission from the captain to leave the ship and begin the dangerous trek across the sea ice to find Franz Joseph land and safety. Initially 15 men decided to go with him, but two returned to the ship. This is Albanov's narrative of their journey. I have read other narratives, such as the Jeannette and the Karluk, and Albanov's is notable for his exquisite description of arctic scenery, and his matter-of-fact and honest portrayal of his feelings and observations. Introspective and poetic at times, it is well written and the translation is superlative. A must-add to any collection of Arctic exploration literature and an intersting and compelling read.
Leo T. reviewed In the Land of White Death : An Epic Story of Survival in the Siberian Arctic on + 1775 more book reviews
A short book (because the author entrusted his diary to a shipmate who didn't make it) of an ill-considered voyage along Russia's Arctic Sea passage just before WWI. This was a commercial venture, although there were explorers interested in the area, which was lucky for the author and his shipmate who found the cache of supplies and cabins left behind by an expedition for use by needy mariners. Well worth a few hours of reading.
