Expertly researched, Erebus is an evocative account of two journeys: one successful and forgotten, the other tragic yet unforgettable. Delving into the research, he describes the intertwined careers of the two men who shared the ship’s journeys: Ross, the organizational genius who mapped much of the Antarctic coastline and oversaw some of the earliest scientific experiments to be conducted there and Franklin, who, at the age of 60 and after a checkered career, commanded the ship on its last disastrous venture. Palin travels across the world - from Tasmania to the Falkland Islands and the Canadian Arctic - to offer a firsthand account of the terrain and conditions that would have confronted the Erebus and her doomed final crew. It was rediscovered under the arctic waters in 2014. Michael Palin brings the fascinating story of the Erebus and its occupants to life, from its construction as a bomb vessel in 1826 through the flagship years of James Clark Ross’s Antarctic expedition and finally to Sir John Franklin’s quest for the holy grail of navigation - a route through the Northwest Passage, where the ship disappeared into the depths of the sea for more than 150 years. I didn’t want it to end.” (Bill Bryson)ĭriven by a passion for travel and history and a love of ships and the sea, former Monty Python stalwart and beloved television globe-trotter Michael Palin explores the world of HMS Erebus, last seen on an ill-fated voyage to chart the Northwest Passage. It does not store any personal data.“Beyond terrific. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Two years ago I watched most of the ‘Terror’ TV series on a long plane flight back from Sydney to London. ‘Michael Palin is a cracking good companion on this journey of ambition, longing, triumph and tragedy… the age of adventure lives on’ – Alanna Mitchell, author of The Spinning Magnet: The Force that Created the Modern World and Could Destroy It This beautifully produced volume – colour plates, outstanding maps – is a landmark achievement.’ – Ken McGoogan, author of Fatal Passage But when the prize was North Korea, I found this was not a view shared by my wife. Like My philosophy of travel, such as it is, is that the more difficult somewhere is to get to, the greater the prize to be won by getting there. He turns up obscure facts, reanimates essential moments, and never shies away from taking controversial positions. Michael Palin, Erebus: One Ship, Two Epic Voyages, and the Greatest Naval Mystery of All Time. Where I up until now only new EREBUS and TERROR by their accomplishments during their fateful last journey into oblivion searching for the Northwest Passage Palin opens up a whole new universe of even more gripping and fantastic stories of these ships. ‘Palin is a superb stylist, low-key and conversational, who skillfully incorporates personal experience. The Erebus story is the Arctic epic we’ve all been waiting for.’ – Nicholas Crane ‘Thoroughly absorbs the reader… Carefully researched and well-crafted, it brings the story of a ship vividly to life.’ – Sunday Times Vividly recounting the experiences of the men who first set foot on Antarctica’s Victoria Land, and those who, just a few years later, froze to death one by one in the Arctic ice, beyond the reach of desperate rescue missions, Erebus is a wonderfully evocative account of a truly extraordinary adventure, brought to life by an avid explorer and storyteller. The ship was filled with fascinating people: the dashing and popular James Clark Ross, who charted much of the ‘Great Southern Barrier’ the troubled John Franklin, whose chequered career culminated in the Erebus’s final, disastrous expedition and the eager Joseph Dalton Hooker, a brilliant naturalist – when he wasn’t shooting the local wildlife dead. Michael brings the remarkable Erebus back to life, following it from its launch in 1826 to the epic voyages of discovery that led to glory in the Antarctic and to ultimate catastrophe in the Arctic.
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