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32nd out of 84 books
—
29 voters
The Arctic Grail: The Quest for the Northwest Passage and the North Pole, 1818-1909
Berton brings the story of the remarkable adventurers in the history of the Arctic exploration to life in all their glories and eccentricities--including some shocking revelations about who really reached the Pole. Tour. Illustrated.
Hardcover, 672 pages
Published
November 1st 1988
by Viking Books
(first published 1988)
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I have always been fascinated by polar exploration. Fortunately, there has been no dearth of excellent books on the subject, not to mention film documentaries. Dr. Mosher was kind enough to loan me a tape of the British series The Last Place on Earth, which dramatizes Roland Huntford's book about the Scott and Amundsen race to the South Pole. (If you get a chance, this is a must film -- especially during July.)
Pierre Berton has written an absorbing chronicle of the obsession the 19th century ci...more
Pierre Berton has written an absorbing chronicle of the obsession the 19th century ci...more
The amount of research and content in this book is amazing and it was not the least bit boring or dry. How can you not get sucked in by these fantastic stories of heroism, tragedy, and egotistic competition? Each time I read of a truly amazing story, either of survival or tragedy, I would think "someone needs to make a movie about that". Then, in the next chapter, I would think the same thing all over again. I will try to stop complaining about the cold Maine winters by remembering the Greely ex...more
Scores of nineteenth-century expeditions battled savage cold, relentless ice and winter darkness in pursuit of two great prizes: the quest for the elusive Passage linking the Atlantic and the Pacific and the international race to reach the North Pole. Pierre Berton's #1 best-selling book brings to life the great explorers: the pious and ambitious Edward Parry, the flawed hero John Franklin, ruthless Robert Peary and the cool Norwegian Roald Amundsen. He also credits the Inuit, whose tracking and...more
My love for this type of book started over 20 years ago with a read of Arctic Dreams by Barry Lopez. Arctic Grail is a must for any one interested in this area of history. This book lead me to many others on arctic exploration and also south pole adventures. As one who has set foot on the polar ship "Fram" the conditions these men endured is indeed a treat.
I have a whole shelf dedicated to polar adventure books...this one was one of my favorites.
I have a whole shelf dedicated to polar adventure books...this one was one of my favorites.
There is something about 19th century Arctic exploration that fascinates me. Ross, Franklin, Parry, Rae, and the list goes on. Berton's exhaustive and entertaining account of these "heroes" of the Arctic will satisfy the most curious-minded readers. If you enjoyed the Nova special "Frozen in Time" or Dan Simmons' Terror (a fictionalized account of the voyage of the Erebus and the Terror), you will find this very thick book highly engaging.
A bit of a slog after two thirds read - the parade of Arctic expeditions are hard to keep separate. Good treatment of the disastrous Franklin effort, which was done retrospectively by following the search parties that eventually revealed the truth. I am happy to have read it and surprised I hadn't before.
Wow - From the outside, this book like it will be dry and text-like (it's over 600 pages, as well). However, it's really a very interesting story, told very well by the author. I continues to amaze me how expedition after expedition suffered innumerable hardships because they refused to learn from the natives. I'd definitely recommend this to people who like books about travel/history/exploration.
A sweeping, epic account of the history of polar exploration in the 19th century. A must-have for anyone building a library of arctic sources.
What a fabulous book. Some of the stories I've heard before but many were new. Loved it.
I can only post a somewhat insincere cliche - who knew history could be so exciting???
Sep 09, 2010
Velvetink
marked it as to-read
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
exploration,
history
*note to self. Copy from A.
Pierre Berton's greatest gift was popularizing history (mostly Canadian history). From the search for the Northwest Passage to the quest for the North Pole, Berton chronicles the adventurers who braved the unforgiving Arctic. Some were brave and resourceful, others foolish yet gallant. As much as I love so many of his books, especially The National Dream/The Last Spike, The Arctic Grail is perhaps even better.
Fantastic storytelling. Quite a narrative of incredibly brave, incredibly foolhardy British explorers (and others) sailing off to their doom. Lots of astonishing tales of survival against ridiculous odds. Each one would make a good book (and in some cases has--see Stephen Heighton's "Afterlands"). Makes me want to read more Berton.
A surprisingly riveting account of the men who quested for the Northwest Passage and the North Pole. The book details the efforts of the capable and the less-than-capable men that were willing to freeze their posteriors for the fame of the unknown.
This was a long & difficult read, but worth the effort. Extremely comprehensive history of all the attempts to reach the North Pole by expeditions from many nations, including the one that ultimately succeeded.
Too many of the British would-be Arctic explorers seemed to refuse to learn anything from their predecessors; Sir John Franklin's expedition was just one of many that needlessly ended in tragedy.
It's been a while since I've read this book, and having finished Fury Beach which chronicled John Ross' four years in the Arctic, I figured I'd better reread this one.
Somewhat dry, but very informative and complete. If your interest lies in this topic, it's a good place to start relative to the NW Passage saga.
A fascinatig account of the attempts to find a sea route from the North Atlantic above Canada to Alaska. More possible now in the time of global warning.
There is a great deal of information in this book but a lot more as well. Berton finds the true motive and emotion of the explorers involved.
A historical novel about arctic exploration and the hardships endured. Very well written from a historical side, but engaging.
unforgettable, beautifully told history of arctic exploration.
One of my very favorite books.
May 18, 2013
Michael Brady
marked it as to-read
May 13, 2013
Courtney Keren
marked it as to-read
May 12, 2013
Elaine
marked it as to-read
May 07, 2013
Daniela
marked it as to-read
May 01, 2013
Milley
marked it as to-read
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From narrative histories and popular culture, to picture and coffee table books to anthologies, to stories for children to readable, historical works for youth, many of his books are now Canadian classics.
Born in 1920 and raised in the Yukon, Pierre Berton worked in Klondike mining camps during his university years. He spent four years in the army, rising from private to captain/instructor at the...more
More about Pierre Berton...
Born in 1920 and raised in the Yukon, Pierre Berton worked in Klondike mining camps during his university years. He spent four years in the army, rising from private to captain/instructor at the...more
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Feb 23, 2010 02:57am