In The Kingdom Of Ice: The Grand And Terrible Voyage Of The USS Jeannette By Hampton Sides - Non Fiction - Paperback
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Title:
In the Kingdom of Ice: The Grand and Terrible Polar Voyage of the USS Jeannette
Condition: BRAND NEW
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781780747453
Overview:
From acclaimed historian and bestselling author Hampton Sides, In the Kingdom of Ice: The Grand and Terrible Polar Voyage of the USS Jeannette reanimates one of the last great feats of earth’s edge with relentless clarity and cinematic vitality. In 1879, the USS Jeannette departed San Francisco to resounding public acclaim, bound for uncharted Arctic seas that many believed would reveal new routes and new truths about the world. Under the command of Captain George De Long, the crew confronted a landscape where maps ended and endurance began, where hunger, exposure, and the sheer scale of the polar night tested every decision. Sides draws from journals, logs, and archival material to recreate a journey that reads with the tempo of a thriller while never compromising historical accuracy. The narrative moves from bold optimism to chilling desperation, tracing how a ship trapped in floes and a team separated by ice and distance endured, improvising, and finally facing a brutal reckoning with nature. This paperback edition makes a landmark expedition accessible to modern readers, inviting history lovers, mystery readers, and curious minds to walk the icy margins of frontier exploration—with every page turning like a breath held in the polar wind. A demanding, page‑turning read for fans of narrative history, polar exploration, and nonfiction that grips from start to finish.
What Makes This Book Stand Out:
Hampton Sides delivers a masterclass in narrative non-fiction. He blends meticulous archival research with a journalist’s eye for scene and a novelist’s sense of pacing, producing a story that feels both documentary and immersive. The Kingdom of Ice does more than recount dates and ships; it invites readers into the psychology of leadership under extreme duress, the camaraderie and competing rivalries among crew members, and the brutal arithmetic of hunger and cold. The prose sustains suspense without sacrificing accuracy, offering vivid depictions of ice‑bound days, treacherous weather, and the intermittent spark of hope. For readers who crave depth alongside thriller‑quality tension, this is a rare fusion: a history book that reads like a gripping novel, a tribute to endurance that never shies from the costs of ambition. It is also a powerful testament to the unresolved mystery that still surrounds polar exploration—the limits of human knowledge in a place where every decision can be the difference between life and death.
Who This Book Is Perfect For:
This is ideal for adults and serious readers who love: narrative history, true survival stories, and expedition epics. It suits book clubs seeking challenging, conversation‑driving nonfiction and fans of polar exploration, maritime history, and literary journalism. Gift buyers will find it a standout present for history buffs, science and geography enthusiasts, or anyone fascinated by the age of exploration and the men who chased the last blank spaces on the map. It also makes a compelling pick for readers who enjoy non‑fiction that reads with the tension and pace of a novel, rewarding careful attention with rich detail and unforgettable scenes.
Key Highlights:
- Compelling true-life adventure told with narrative‑nonfiction finesse
- Meticulous research drawn from journals, logs, and primary sources
- Vivid, cinematic scenes of Arctic voyage and survival
- Thoughtful portraits of leadership, courage, and human error
- Accessible paperback edition ideal for gifting and discussion
- A landmark work in polar and maritime history for collectors
About the Author:
HAMPTON SIDES is the author of In the Kingdom of Ice, Ghost Soldiers, Blood and Thunder, Hellhound On His Trail, and other bestselling works of narrative history and literary non-fiction. His newest work, On Desperate Ground, will be published by Doubleday this October. Hampton is an editor-at-large for Outside magazine. His magazine work, collected in numerous published anthologies, has been twice named a Finalist for the National Magazine Awards in feature writing.
Why You’ll Love This Book:
In the Kingdom of Ice offers more than a gripping survival saga. It provides a lucid window into late‑19th‑century exploration, a vivid portrait of the men who risked everything for discovery, and a precise, almost tactile sense of place—the hunger, the cold, the ice—woven into a narrative that educates as it entertains. The paperback format invites relaxed reading at home or on commute, while the compelling storytelling makes it a standout choice for gifting, discussion, and long‑term shelf appeal. For anyone who has ever wondered what it takes to push beyond the human boundary, this book delivers a powerful, unforgettable invitation to walk in the footsteps of Arctic explorers—but with all the safety and clarity a modern reader expects.
Please Note: The individual books included in this listing will be dispatched as per the original UK ISBN and UK edition cover image shown in the image.
