Name: Amanda Valentin's review of In the Kingdom of Ice by Hampton Sides
Item: In the Kingdom of Ice
Rating: 4
Author: Amanda Valentin

Hampton Sides

New York Times bestselling author Hampton Sides returns with a white-knuckle tale of polar exploration and survival in the Gilded Age In the late nineteenth century, people were obsessed by one of the last unmapped areas of the globe: the North Pole. No one knew what existed beyond the fortress of ice rimming the northern oceans, although theories abounded. The foremost cartographer in the world, a German named August Petermann, believed that warm currents sustained a verdant island at the top of the world. National glory would fall to whoever could plant his flag upon its shores. James Gordon Bennett, the eccentric and stupendously wealthy owner of The New York Herald, had recently captured the world's attention by dispatching Stanley to Africa to find Dr. Livingstone. Now he was keen to re-create that sensation on an even more epic scale. So he funded an official U.S. naval expedition to reach the Pole, choosing as its captain a young officer named George Washington De Long, who had gained fame for a rescue operation off the coast of Greenland. De Long led a team of 32 men deep into uncharted Arctic waters, carrying the aspirations of a young country burning to become a world power. On July 8, 1879, the USSJeannette set sail from San Francisco to cheering crowds in the grip of "Arctic Fever." The ship sailed into uncharted seas, but soon was trapped in pack ice. Two years into the harrowing voyage, the hull was breached. Amid the rush of water and the shrieks of breaking wooden boards, the crew abandoned the ship. Less than an hour later, theJeannette sank to the bottom,and the men found themselves marooned a thousand miles north of Siberia with only the barest supplies. Thus began their long march across the endless ice—a frozen hell in the most lonesome corner of the world. Facing everything from snow blindness and polar bears to ferocious storms and frosty labyrinths, the expedition battled madness and starvation as they desperately strove for survival. With twists and turns worthy of a thriller, In The Kingdom of Ice is a spellbinding tale of heroism and determination in the most unforgiving territory on Earth.

The Grand and Terrible Polar Voyage of the USS Jeannette

In the Kingdom of Ice

John Manoogian III

Amanda Valentin

This subject is not one I would normally read. However, this book has been getting amazing reviews so I thought I would give it a try. I was blown away with this book it was never boring and it was always interesting and riveting! I purposely did not read any summaries about this book before I started reading, because I wanted to be surprised about what happened to the USS Jeannette and her crew. I highly recommend this historical adventure to anyone! It was an enjoyable read!

John Manoogian III &
In the Kingdom of Ice by Hampton Sides

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John Manoogian III &In the Kingdom of Ice by Hampton Sides

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John Manoogian III &
In the Kingdom of Ice by Hampton Sides