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Erebus: One Ship, Two Epic Voyages, and the Greatest Naval Mystery of All Time by Michael Palin
daja57's review against another edition
3.0
Palin follows the voyages of HMS Erebus, the ship that, with HMS Terror, took James Clark Ross on his voyage of exploration in the Antarctic in 1839 - 1843 before taking Sir John Franklin on his doomed search for the North-West Passage 1845 - 1848.
My biggest problem with books of this kind is that I find it difficult to follow the journeys without reference to a map. There are several maps in this book: most of them are adequate but I found great difficulty when it came to the quite intricate details of the North-West Passage, especially when Palin was describing the multiple searches for Franklin. Repetition of eg Lancaster Sound and Bering Straits (especially as the latter didn't seem to be marked on the maps) and all the islands that might have been promontories just left me confused.
This book was great on the Antarctic explorations but for the North-West Passage I think 'Barrow's Boys' and 'Ninety Degrees North', both by Fergus Fleming, are much better.
My biggest problem with books of this kind is that I find it difficult to follow the journeys without reference to a map. There are several maps in this book: most of them are adequate but I found great difficulty when it came to the quite intricate details of the North-West Passage, especially when Palin was describing the multiple searches for Franklin. Repetition of eg Lancaster Sound and Bering Straits (especially as the latter didn't seem to be marked on the maps) and all the islands that might have been promontories just left me confused.
This book was great on the Antarctic explorations but for the North-West Passage I think 'Barrow's Boys' and 'Ninety Degrees North', both by Fergus Fleming, are much better.
adriana69's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
5.0
This is a fabulous book. The story of a ship, but also of all those who sailed in her.
The expedition south with James Clark Ross and Francis Crozier, and then the great mystery of the Franklin expedition to the North West passage.
Michael Palin has a lovely accessible writing style with wry humour at times. He's not afraid to draw his own conclusions from the evidence. Includes the Inuit story of the disappearance which gives a very different perspective (welcome) and of course the 21st century postscript.
He has also of course been to many of the places involved himself which gives some first hand experience few can match.
5*, fascinating and thoroughly enjoyable.
The expedition south with James Clark Ross and Francis Crozier, and then the great mystery of the Franklin expedition to the North West passage.
Michael Palin has a lovely accessible writing style with wry humour at times. He's not afraid to draw his own conclusions from the evidence. Includes the Inuit story of the disappearance which gives a very different perspective (welcome) and of course the 21st century postscript.
He has also of course been to many of the places involved himself which gives some first hand experience few can match.
5*, fascinating and thoroughly enjoyable.
pcloeb's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
wendyf's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
3.5