Nathaniel Philbrick is a historian and broadcaster who has written extensively about sailing. He is director of the Egan Institute of Maritime Studies on Nantucket Island, and a research fellow at the Nantucket Historical Association. He was a consultant on the movie Moby Dick. Aged 41, he has lived on Nantucket with his wife and two children since 1986. His previous book, ‘In the Heart of the Sea’ was a Top Ten best seller in hardback and paperback.

‘Philbrick reconstructs this remarkable expedition in heroic detail…an exemplary account of an important and neglected expedition.’ The Times‘A stirring yarn, a satisfying lump of cultural history, and a thoughtful moral fable.’ Daily Telegraph‘Elegant and meticulously researched…Philbrick’s book brings the motivation and nature of exploration into sharp relief.’ Independent‘It is a fine salty tale, with a becalmed beginning, a stormy centre and a long, messy accusation-filled return to shore.’ Sunday Times‘A gripping history of the remarkable search for the “ice studded mystery” at the bottom of the world…Superb.’ Economist‘Philbrick, a conscientious historian and an articulate writer, manages to bring a strong sense of narrative to his tale while still placing it within the broader historical perspective…Perhaps the greatest merit of the book is in its redressing the oversights of history…[It is] a reappraisal of naval history and a powerful study of flawed genius.’ Times Literary Supplement

Nathaniel Philbrick is a historian and broadcaster who has written extensively about sailing. He is director of the Egan Institute of Maritime Studies on Nantucket Island, and a research fellow at the Nantucket Historical Association. He was a consultant on the movie Moby Dick. Aged 41, he has lived on Nantucket with his wife and two children since 1986. His previous book, ‘In the Heart of the Sea’ was a Top Ten best seller in hardback and paperback.

‘Philbrick reconstructs this remarkable expedition in heroic detail…an exemplary account of an important and neglected expedition.’ The Times‘A stirring yarn, a satisfying lump of cultural history, and a thoughtful moral fable.’ Daily Telegraph‘Elegant and meticulously researched…Philbrick’s book brings the motivation and nature of exploration into sharp relief.’ Independent‘It is a fine salty tale, with a becalmed beginning, a stormy centre and a long, messy accusation-filled return to shore.’ Sunday Times‘A gripping history of the remarkable search for the “ice studded mystery” at the bottom of the world…Superb.’ Economist‘Philbrick, a conscientious historian and an articulate writer, manages to bring a strong sense of narrative to his tale while still placing it within the broader historical perspective…Perhaps the greatest merit of the book is in its redressing the oversights of history…[It is] a reappraisal of naval history and a powerful study of flawed genius.’ Times Literary Supplement

Nathaniel Philbrick is a historian and broadcaster who has written extensively about sailing. He is director of the Egan Institute of Maritime Studies on Nantucket Island, and a research fellow at the Nantucket Historical Association. He was a consultant on the movie Moby Dick. Aged 41, he has lived on Nantucket with his wife and two children since 1986. His previous book, ‘In the Heart of the Sea’ was a Top Ten best seller in hardback and paperback.

‘Philbrick reconstructs this remarkable expedition in heroic detail…an exemplary account of an important and neglected expedition.’ The Times‘A stirring yarn, a satisfying lump of cultural history, and a thoughtful moral fable.’ Daily Telegraph‘Elegant and meticulously researched…Philbrick’s book brings the motivation and nature of exploration into sharp relief.’ Independent‘It is a fine salty tale, with a becalmed beginning, a stormy centre and a long, messy accusation-filled return to shore.’ Sunday Times‘A gripping history of the remarkable search for the “ice studded mystery” at the bottom of the world…Superb.’ Economist‘Philbrick, a conscientious historian and an articulate writer, manages to bring a strong sense of narrative to his tale while still placing it within the broader historical perspective…Perhaps the greatest merit of the book is in its redressing the oversights of history…[It is] a reappraisal of naval history and a powerful study of flawed genius.’ Times Literary Supplement