A Cold Spell: A Human History of Ice

by Max Leonard

Taking us from the beginning of our story to the present day, A Cold Spell examines how ice has shaped our thoughts, actions and societies – and what it means for us that it is rapidly disappearing from our planet
Ice has confounded, delighted and fascinated us since the first sparks of art and culture in Europe and it now underpins the modern world. Without ice, we would not feed ourselves or heal our sick as we do, and our towns and cities, countryside and oceans would look very different. Science would not have progressed along the avenues it did and our galleries and libraries would be missing many masterpieces.A Cold Spell uses this vital link to understanding our past to tell a surprising story of obsession, invention and adventure – how we have lived and dreamed, celebrated and traded, innovated, loved and fought over thousands of years. It brings together a sacrificial Incan mummy, Winston Churchill's secret plans for unusual aircraft carriers, strange bones that shook Victorian beliefs about the world and a macabre journey into the depths of the human body. It is an original and unique way of looking at something that is literally all around us, whose loss confronts us daily in the news, but whose impact on our lives has never been fully explored.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, The World, Science

403 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 9, 2023

Reviews

[Ian · Rating 3 out of 5]

The human history of ice is one of those slightly “quirky” subjects for a history book, of a type that is increasingly forced to jostle for space in a crowded market. This one didn’t really do it for me. I listened to the audiobook but I think the written word might have been better on this occasion. The author uses the phrase “whistle-stop tour” to describe one of the book’s chapters, and that describes his style more generally. The book has separate chapters covering the impact of ice on particular aspects of human society, so one chapter might be on ice and food, another on medicine, another on recreation etc. Much of it follows a format along the lines of “In 1797 so-and-so made such-and-such an innovation. This was improved upon in 1804 by someone else” and continuing on in that vein. I already don’t remember the names of any of these people or what they invented, whereas with a written book I could refer back more easily. At one point the author gives us a long list of 19th century women mountaineers in the Alps “So-and-so climbed this peak, the following year someone else climbed another one,” etc. He ends this section by saying, “And finally, because the list could go on…” I couldn’t help feeling it had gone on too long already.

One chapter covered the arctic explorers seeking the northwest and northeast passages, and the author adopts a sort of mocking tone towards those who set out on these journeys. That’s something I rarely appreciate. There’s a theme of “human hubris” running though the book, so for example there’s a chapter on ice and war, which only considers the 20th century, and which is substantially taken up describing a harebrained British scheme to create a ship made out of ice and woodchips, that would act as a sort of unsinkable aircraft carrier in the North Atlantic, to be used by aircraft hunting for U-boats. It came to nothing of course.

There were a couple of chapters I quite enjoyed. My favourite was an early chapter that discussed the use of ice for human entertainment during the 17th and 18th centuries, the so-called “Little Ice Age.” It covers the famous “frost fairs” on the River Thames in London, and looks at the winter activities depicted by early Dutch and Flemish painters like Pieter Bruegel the Elder, and especially Hendrick Avercamp.

There aren’t many reviews of this book, but those that have reviewed it seemed to have enjoyed it more than I did. Personally I didn’t get much out of this one. I thought about a 2-star rating but I’ll be generous and go with three.

[Donna Holland · Rating 4 out of 5]

A marvellous read capturing how ice has shaped the world .really enjoyed this book .

[Stefani - SpelingExpirt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful exploration of the history of ice and humans interaction with it.

Part science, part history and part climate change awareness; this book is funny in places and full of insightful looks at how ice has shaped who we are and how we live.

You really feel the joy and passion that Max Leonard has for his subject and the narrator helps to bring that to life and infuse the reader with the same level of joy and passion.

[Kate Vane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an entertaining rove around the theme of our relationship with ice which brings in culture, history, science and climate.

I particularly enjoyed the chapter on the Little Ice Age, how it both changed daily life and led to major social and political change. There were also some interesting literary insights, such as the impact of ice on Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, and how the work of physicist Bernard Vonnegut on seeding clouds to change the weather influenced his brother Kurt's novel Cat's Cradle.

For the more scientifically minded, there are sections on how ice shaped medicine and anatomy, the (surprisingly late) adoption of ice to preserve food, and how humans are shaping climate.

The narration was good, but you might want to have a text format as well. I just had the audio and I felt there were parts I would have liked to go back over, and others I might have skimmed, which is not so easy in an audiobook.
*
Copy from NetGalley

[Laura Newsholme · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book really fascinating and incredibly accessible. Obviously in a book of this nature, there were some focuses that I liked more than others - I particularly enjoyed the chapters dealing with prehistoric man, mammoths and the more physical aspects of ice - but each chapter had its own points of interest. It was mind blowing to read about the discovery that ice could be used to freeze food, for example given that we take such things for granted nowadays. Overall, this was a really interesting and enjoyable read and I would definitely recommend it.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Floris]

Review pending

[Nita Randall · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very interesting history into how ice has shaped our world. My only reason for giving a lowish star rating is I wanted more about the Arctic explorers.

[Bethan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The human history of ice is a fascinating topic that I've never given much thought to. This book talks about everything from the ice age to the Thames freezing over to food preservation to trying to control the weather. Very informative and easy to read.

Something I really enjoyed about this book was how Max Leonard included some women's opinions and relationships with ice during a time when women were restricted in what they were allowed to do.

He talked about how Mary Shelley's trip on the Mer de Glace inspired Frankenstein, how women were being restricted in being able to explore the difficult terrane of glaciers, he also talked about the patriarchy and how some women felt more able to be themselves climbing glaciers and snowy mountains than in society. While not imperative to our perspective of ice, it was a welcome insight and new perspective.

[Mary Pilkington · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a little gem of a book. Not quite what I was expecting. I think I was thinking more of it in terms of the science but instead got more history and fascinating history at that. The book is scattered with stories of exploration, discovery, health, challenge and more.
Ice……….such an ordinary everyday substance that most of us hardly give a moments thought to. After reading this book you will have a whole new appreciation of its value. With climate change so topical and the disappearance of the planet’s glaciers this book couldn’t have come at a better time.
I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did an excellent job throughout.
I can only say……….read it.

Thanks to NetGalley.co.uk and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for this honest review.