Journal Entry 1 by tgyardbird1 from York, Pennsylvania USA on Friday, October 24, 2003

Another of Guttridge's well-researched and detailed accounts of Arctic exploration, which showed every side of the human condition, but primarily its tragic side.

An 1881 expedition to establish a US weather station in the Arctic turns badly for the 25 member team of experts, including its leader, Lt. Adolphus Greeley.

The team quickly disintegrates, through the loss of its ship, bad luck, bickering, politics and human folly. Greeley's arrogance, his obsession with command and control and lack of leadership spin the group into trouble as they make a desperate dash across the ice pack in small boats.

Murder, cannibalism and madness dictate the pace of events, coupled with a government that hardly cares about the expedition and does too little, too late to save it.

Only six survive, Greeley among them. He is considered a hero at home, but those who survived and history know he was a miserable failure, along with the Cape Sabine expedition.

This book is well-done, but beware: depressing, especially as Guttridge gets you inside the minds and hearts of those who perished and who survived in spite of it all. 

Journal Entry 2 by tgyardbird1 at Sartbucks (Inside) in York, Pennsylvania USA on Friday, October 24, 2003

Released on Friday, October 24, 2003 at Sartbucks (Inside) in York, Pennsylvania USA. 

Journal Entry 3 by MaryZee from Taneytown, Maryland USA on Saturday, October 25, 2003

Picked this up when I visited Starbucks this evening. Thanks TGYardBird1. Will hold onto this long enough to read it. My daughter may want to read it too. Then we'll pass it along. 

Journal Entry 4 by MaryZee at Taneytown, Maryland USA on Wednesday, June 02, 2010

Although portions of this story do read just a bit dry (the wrangling between the various government departments to decide who should control the expedition), other parts are very compelling. From the point when the final rescue attempt was begun, until the remains of Greely's party were found, I could hardly put the book down.

Although I've read a few stories of survival in extreme circumstances (Into Thin Air, The Climb, Into the Wild, etc.), I think this is the first book I've read about Arctic explorations. Such a shame that the expedition was so poorly planned, with no real Arctic experts along to make the journey. This was a very important expedition, in that they now had learned much more about the conditions in the polar region and also meteorological and other scientific data.

Thanks for sharing this Tgyardbird1. So sorry I held on to it as long as I did. This will soon be looking for a new home. 

Journal Entry 5 by MaryZee at Baltimore, Maryland USA on Sunday, June 27, 2010

Released 1 yr ago (6/27/2010 UTC) at Baltimore, Maryland USA

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Took this to our meet earlier today. I got together with a few of the folks from BCinDC, to welcome Bookczuk who was visiting from SC. We met at the Panera near the Book Thing today, and had lots of books to share at our get-together today. Someone picked this up; I hope they enjoy it. 

Journal Entry 6 by authorauthor at Baltimore, Maryland USA on Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Caught this one at the meetup at Panera in Baltimore last month and should have registered it sooner. I'm currently on a road trip to Chicago and will release it along the way. 

Journal Entry 7 by authorauthor at Residence Inn Youngstown in Poland, Ohio USA on Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Released 1 yr ago (8/24/2010 UTC) at Residence Inn Youngstown in Poland, Ohio USA

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

On the bookshelf in the hotel breakfast area.