![]() Told in a very relaxed and sometimes – as you might expect – very funny Palin style. Thoroughly sifts through the many varied and often contradictory theories about what happened to the 129 men aboard Franklin’s two ships. ![]() Palin’s book charts the 1845 voyage of Sir John Franklin, who sought the Northwest Passage with HMS Terror and HMS Erebus. His account is written in crisp, unshowy prose. Nicholas Crane, current president of the Royal Geographical Society, has described Palin, one of his predecessors, as "the world’s most appealing practitioner of geographical curiosity", and it’s that curiosity which drives his stirring new book. Palin is a diligent researcher who has trawled the primary sources and, largely in the course of filming his television series Pole to Pole, has visited many of the key sites here. This lively account reveals much about both exploration and the Royal Navy in the 19th century. Michael Palin has done full justice to and all these remarkable men. Palin’s experiences, including a voyage on a Russian ship to the channel where the wreck of Erebus was discovered, give a sense of immediacy and proportion to his narrative. Colin Greenwood, Radiohead bassist, Spectator His moving account of the discovery of abandoned items, taken on board as comforts of home by the officers – silver cutlery with their initials indented, scattered on a frozen shore – affected me the most. with a wry enthusiasm, bolstered by his own experiences as an eminent explorer and film-maker. Michael’s historical non fiction debut charts both journeys and brings back to life all those who sailed on her. HMS Erebus embarked on two of the most dramatic Polar expeditions in history. Sunday ExpressĬombines a fascinating episode of naval history with flair for storytelling. successfully reanimates the corpse, bringing Erebus back from the depths of time so her funnels once more blast smoke as she forges through new and wondrous seas. pulls together very effectively much of the work that’s been done to establish the truth about Franklin’s fate. does an admirable job of recounting the life of this doughty ship, from construction at Pembroke dockyard in 1826 to her last days stuck fast in the ice. Lorraine Kelly, ITV LorraineĪ timely account of Sir John Franklin’s 1845 expedition to find a way through the Northwest Passage. I absolutely loved it: I had to read it at one sitting. brings not just a historian’s and writer’s skills to it, but those of a traveller. He brings energy, wit and humanity to a story that has never ceased to tantalise people since the 1840s. A natural storyteller, captures beautifully the sense of awe experienced by Ross and his men as they encountered the wonders and terrors of Antarctica. Carefully researched and well-crafted, it brings the story of a ship vividly to life. The Erebus story is the Arctic epic we’ve all been waiting for. This beautifully produced volume – colour plates, outstanding maps – is a landmark achievement. He turns up obscure facts, reanimates essential moments, and never shies away from taking controversial positions. Palin is a superb stylist, low-key and conversational, who skillfully incorporates personal experience. John Geiger, co-author of Frozen in TimeĪt this late date, and against all odds, Michael Palin has found an original way to enter and explore the Royal Navy narrative of polar exploration. With this irresistible and often harrowing account, Michael Palin makes a convincing case that one heroic little ship embodied the golden ago of polar exploration better than any other: HMS Erebus. Brings energy, wit and humanity to a story that has never ceased to tantalise people since the 1840s.' The Times Read moreīeyond terrific. Told in a very relaxed and sometimes - as you might expect - very funny Palin style.' David Baddiel, Daily Mail Carefully researched and well-crafted, it brings the story of a ship vividly to life.' Sunday Times The Erebus story is the Arctic epic we've all been waiting for.' Nicholas Crane It's a fascinating story that brings full-bloodedly to life.' Guardian Now available: Michael Palin's North Korea Journals Her fate remained a mystery for over 160 years. On the second, she vanished with her 129-strong crew in the wastes of the Canadian Arctic, along with the HMS Terror. ![]() On the first, she ventured further south than any human had ever been. In the early years of Queen Victoria's reign, HMS Erebus undertook two of the most ambitious naval expeditions of all time. ![]() THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER: the remarkable true story of the exploration ship featured in The Terror Michael Palin brings to life one of the greatest adventures of all time
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