Though immortalized by Samuel Coleridge’s “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner;†few people know that eighteenth-century British adventurer Samuel Hearne became the first European to see the Arctic Ocean while standing on America’s northernmost shore. In Ancient Mariner; McGoogan demonstrates that Hearne was far more complex; accomplished; and influential than history has shown. A Royal Navy midshipman during the Seven Years’ War; Hearne moved to London; and in 1766; just twenty-one; joined the Hudson’s Bay Company. He embarked on an overland quest for rich veins of copper supposedly located “far to the northward where the sun don’t setâ€â€”and also to discover the Northwest Passage. Hearne’s posthumously published journal; the first book by a European explorer on the Arctic; describes a journey of 3;500 miles marked by hardship; and mitigated only by his friendship with the legendary Dene leader Matonabbee. His epic adventure culminated in the infamous and still-controversial massacre at “Bloody Fallsâ€â€”a murderous battle between two native tribes that changed him forever. In a fascinating example of literary detective work; McGoogan determines that; having returned to London to live out his final days; Hearne met Samuel Taylor Coleridge; inspiring the poet to write “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.â€
#2888883 in Books 2015-09-30Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.90 x .90 x 6.90l; 1.50 #File Name: 0786477083388 pages
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Fascinating accountBy GinaIn 1845 Sir John Franklin together with 128 men and the two ships HMS Erebus and HMS Terror set out to find the North-West Passage and vanished. From 1848 a plethora of ships and men were sent so look for the lost expedition and to finish what Franklin had set out to do. Many ended up in just the same dangerous situation as Franklin's expedition. Beset in the ice; scurvy; hunger and cold taking their toll on the men who found themselves soon fighting for survival as well. One of those expeditions left England 1850 in the ships HMS Enterprise under Captain Ricard Collinson and HMS Investigator under Captain Robert McClure. Like Erebus and Terror; both ships were consorts; meant to undertake the journey together; one acting as the insurance of the other. Why Investigator and Enterprise were separated; the Investigator entered the ice alone and what consequences that had is the subject of Glenn M. Stein's book and makes a fascinating reading.In the preface Mr. Stein says that he set out to tell the human story of the HMS Investigator's ordeal and that he does. He takes the reader by the hand and lifts the veil of heroism and myth and shows us a wooden microcosm where contempt and distrust add to the claustrophobic atmosphere; ambition and recklessness play a key role but also bravery and almost inhuman endurance. The book tells a fascinating tale not only about the officers; but the sailors as well who in other works are often regarded only as an anonymous mass. This book tells their story as well and that alone shows how much diligent research went into the writing of the book. A fact also demonstrated by the lush appendix ranging from a short biography of every crew member of the Investigator over the history of the Arctic Medal (a topic Mr. Stein is a renowned expert on) to a very extensive index of sources and notes. Even the fate of the Investigator herself is told in this excellent book that from now on will take its place among the key works on arctic exploration history.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Discovering the North-West PassageBy Bradley L KautzGlenn M. Stein has written a captivating account of the last voyage of HMS Investigator; under the command of Robert McClure; which discovered the 'Holy Grail' of a sea route connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans via passage through the Arctic. The Holy Grail; yet also eminently impractical and with great risk to life and limb.The Investigator left England in 1850 as part of a two-pronged attempt to rescue Sir John Franklin; whose exploration for the Northwest Passage had departed in 1845 and hadn’t been heard from since. Sailing around South America McClure commanded one of two ships sent to enter the Arctic from the west in search of Franklin. McClure became separated from his companion ship upon arrival in the Arctic; and the rest of the story; as is said; is history.Stein has given detailed portraits of the key players in the adventure; as well as an excellent chronology of their journey. McClure was an ambitious commander; always with an eye towards his reputation; mindful of his primary mission of searching for Franklin; as well as seeking the sea route long-presumed to exist but as yet undiscovered. The expedition spent four years continually in the Arctic; much more by circumstance than plan; and in spite of McClure's ambition he is to be commended for managing the available resources in such a way that there was only minimal loss of life; and then only near the end of the voyage.I greatly enjoyed this very readable account of a relatively lesser-known bit of Arctic history.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. A very compelling readBy LeserinIt was high time for a comprehensive book about the 1850-55 journey of HMS Investigator; and Glenn M. Stein has done a fabulous job researching and telling this compelling story. Every bit of information that can be found about every crew member is in there; painting a lively picture of the ship's company that had almost met the same fate as the Franklin Expedition but was eventually saved. It's a true story of terrible hardship; starvation; even drama in one of the most remote places on earth and this book does it full justice. Accompanied by several illustrations; many of which I hadn't seen before; it makes for a great read; and it doesn't matter whether you're already an expert on polar history or have never heard about the subject before; you're certainly going to enjoy reading it.
