Empire of Ice and Stone

Gripping and mesmerizing!

I absolutely LOVED this book! The artic exploration undertaken by Vilhjalmur Stefansson was doomed from the start. Although Captain Bob Bartlett had some misgivings about how things were being done, he continued through with the commitment that he had made - not only to the trip, but to the men that were along on the fated voyage.

As the Karluk became encased in ice, Stefansson departed, taking the cowards way out of the situation, and leaving the men on the ship to their fate. He never thought about going back for them, or looking for survivors. He was only thinking of himself and the glory that he was so fleetingly chasing. Bartlett saw the mission through, although he spent months worrying about the people he had left behind in the ice. He had to find help, and fast. If he was not able to get help, then everyone would perish.

This book was amazing from start to finish. The compelling story gave an inside account of the men, their thoughts, and the occurrences that happened as they waited for rescue. The amazing fortitude and will to survive their predicament was palpable, and you could almost feel their desperation as you read through the pages.