На юг, к Земле Франца-Иосифа!

by Valerian Albanov, Валериан Альбанов

Валериан Альбанов - штурман полярной экспедиции на судне "Святая Анна", отправившейся в Артику в начале ХХ века. Экспедиция стала одной из самых загадочных в истории Арктики, а ее события до сих пор будоражат умы современников. Эта книга - дневник В. Альбанова, написанный им как единственным, не считая матроса Конрада, спасшимся членом экипажа. В нем он описывает мучительно долгий поход, который он совершил вместе со своими товарищами к Земле Франца-Иосифа, после того, как они покинули борт закованного во льдах судна. Дневник В. Альбанова - уникальное свидетельство человеческого упорства, терпения и мужества. На этой книге выросло не одно поколение исследователей Арктики, она рассчитана на широкий круг читателей и, в первую очередь, на молодежь.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Adventure, Survival, Travel, Memoir, Russia

272 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1917

About the author

Valerian Ivanovich Albanov (Russian: Валериан Альбанов) was a Russian navigator, best known for being one of two survivors of the Brusilov expedition of 1912, which killed 22.

Reviews

[Ian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I often end up reading a polar adventure story at this time of year. It seems to be appropriate for the stormy weather outside and the long dark nights. The west coast of Scotland, where I live, has a mild climate for such a northerly location, but we can’t escape the effects of latitude on the hours of daylight. At this time of year in northern Scotland, daylight is like an exceedingly shy dinner guest, who creeps in apologetically and is gone again at the first opportunity, almost before anyone noticed they were there.

This book is essentially the journal of Valerian Albanov, second-in-command of a ship called the Saint Anna, which in 1912 left the port of Alexandrovsk (I think this is the present day town of Polyarny, near Murmansk) with the intention of sailing to Vladivostok via the northeast passage, along the north coast of Russia. This journey had only been undertaken once before, in 1879 by the Swedish explorer Baron Nils Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld. The Saint Anna was not on a voyage of exploration as such, but it was intended the journey would identify new locations for the hunting of seals, walrus and other arctic animals.

There were lots of delays to the departure of the Saint Anna, which did not sail until the end of August 1912. Starting so late in summer pretty much guaranteed the ship would be iced in that winter, and that duly happened in the Kara Sea in October. Getting iced-in for winter was a normal thing on an arctic journey and the ship had several years supply of food, though they had inexplicably failed to take any antiscorbutics. What the crew hadn’t realised though, was that ocean currents would carry the ice, and thus the ship, far to the north. The ship remained trapped in the ice during the summer of 1913 and the crew spent another winter on board. By the spring of 1914 the ship lay at 82º 58’ N, somewhere to the north of the Franz Josef archipelago, though at the time no-one knew the precise location of those islands.

Albanov thought that the ship was now so far north it would have no chance of escaping the ice. With the agreement of the commander, Lt. Brusilov, he and 13 others decided to try to make it back to civilisation by sledge and kayak, and it is this story that is related in the book. Brusilov and another part of the crew took their chances on the ship.

Albanov’s story is an absolutely gripping tale. I’m not going to go into detail about it because even though this is a true-life account it reads like a thriller. If you don’t know the story I would strongly recommend avoiding the Preface and Introduction (which outline the events in full) until after you have read Albanov’s account. The only thing I will say is that because it’s a journal, the style is very simple and direct.

Most British people of my generation know the stories of the polar expeditions of Scott and Shackleton (though I don’t think many younger people do). Albanov’s journey happened at more or less the same time, but is far less well-known in the Anglophone world. His tale deserves to be placed alongside those of his better known contemporaries.

[Francisco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Someone please explain to me why in the middle of the New England winter I set out to read books about Arctic and Antarctic expeditions. I was looking back and saw that I read about Shackleton's trip last winter and Robert Scot's the winter before. It struck me that it's similar to my need to listen to the saddest music I can find when I'm feeling sad. Maybe the best way to make it through winters and sadness is to go to them and through them instead of trying to avoid them. What a gem of a find this book is. In 1922 Valerian Albanov, a Russian navigator, sets off in a small ship (steam and sail) with a proposed trajectory from Alexdraovsk (present day Murmansk) to Vadivostok. My jaw dropped when I Googled the map of Russia. Start off at the top of Russia, a stone's throw from the Arctic sea, and then travel across all the northern boundary of Russia and then when you hit the end go South to almost the end of the Eastern boundary. They set out in late August which is a couple of months too late and by October the ship finds itself trapped in the ice of the Kara sea. It wintered over the ice expecting to be set loose by the warmth of the following summer but summer came without warmth and with no deliverance. In the meantime the ship kept drifting north some 2,400 miles from where it first was trapped. Another year goes by and finally, Albanov, second in command, and thirteen other crew members, set off in a southerly direction with Kayaks and sleds in search of land leaving the rest of the crew behind. What makes this book so extraordinary is first: the book is Albanov's first person account of his journey (only he and another sailor make it out alive) and second: Albanov can write. His diary is not the usual cold blooded: "Three miles against gail winds. Seal blubber almost gone. Spirits low." Albanov rails against his lazy, careless crew with Dostoievskian relish. He describes what he sees with the eyes and words of a poet. But most of all, and now that I think of it, maybe this is why I read these books, the man exudes through his words and exemplifies through his actions a kind of hope and courage that seems more than human. Why keep on month after month in unbelievable hopeless hardship? Why not just lay yourself down and sleep your way to a peaceful death? The writing is so real (remember this isn't fiction) that you cannot help but to put yourself right next to Albanov and wonder whether you would have it in you to persist and go on and not give up. I don't know the answer to that. I think probably not. But I am strengthened, by the fact that men like Albanov did. And this knowledge makes my own small winter more bearable.

[Katie Ziegler (Life Between Words) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing and harrowing - this is the incredible first hand account of a desperate (costly but successful) attempt to find rescue in the arctic after being icebound on a ship for over two years. If you like survival stories, this is a great one! Just...make sure you're warm and well-fed while reading it.

[GoldGato · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hey, let's go search for new discoveries in the unknown frozen Russian Arctic! And let's do it with a completely chaotic and disorganized expedition with only five experienced seamen. Let's do it!

Hey, let's not worry about getting stuck in the ice because we have an abundance of supplies! And let's not worry when the members of the expedition start losing their teeth to scurvy. Let's do it!

Hey, let's not bother to figure out that things are going downhill when we end up much farther north than intended! And let's desert the ship to make a dangerous trek to safety while hating every fellow deserter. Let's do it!

Another problem was the apathy of my companions. The closer we came to the island, the more unbearable their attitude became. They dragged their feet instead of striding bravely forward; they cursed each other constantly and lazed about for long periods on the ground.

This is quite a story, despite the one-sidedness of the narrative. In 1912, Valerian Albanov was the navigator for the ill-fated Brusilov Expedition, which went forth into the frozen Kara sea to search for new sources of walrus, seals, and polar bears. Captain Brusilov wasn't the greatest choice for this adventure and he soon had them entangled in ice that would not let the ship leave its clutches. Albanov decided he had enough and left, with ten other members, to search for a landward route back home. Eventually, only Albanov and one other companion would make it back alive. The fate of the ship and its remaining crew was unknown (at least until 2010 when some items were found).

I love, love, love, love stories of the Arctic and the dangers that overwhelmed some not-very-sensible explorers. This would be a five-star book if it wasn't for the incessant nitpicking by Albanov. Clearly, he had a lot more get-up-and-go than his fellow travellers, but we'll never know what they thought of him, so I take some of his ramblings with a grain of salt. All in all, a darned good book.

Also, best enjoyed listening to Solitude by John Coltrane while drinking chilled sake. Nothing to do with the book, but it helped.

Book Season = Winter (desert of ice)

[Andy Weston · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 1975, Arctic expert William Barr wrote “The name of Valerian Ivanovich Albanov must be ranked among those of the immortals of polar exploration. This is his story. In 1914, after 18 months trapped in the ice on board the Saint Anna , Albanov, known as the permission to abandon the ship along with 13 crew mates, to attempt to travel by hauling and sailing kayaks to the distant Franz Joseph Land. He sees it as their only chance of survival. With no map other than a rough sketch, and constant attacks by walrus, polar bear, and much sickness, the survival story is incredible, and the fact he kept a diary, even more so. His narrative was first published in Russian in 1917, but not translated until 2001. Yet it reads like a modern day Arctic survival thriller. There are references to the Jeanette , and the subsequent rescue attempts, told so wonderfully in Hampton Sides’s In The Kingdom Of Ice . Both books are excellent additions to the classics of polar exploration.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great a little book. After their boat was frozen in for 2 years, a group sets off across the ice flows to find help. The only bad thing was the journal that Valerian kept on the ship for the 2 years was lost!!! I would have loved to read that story. This first hand account of the trek across a frozen ocean is amazing. Well documented and gripping. His experience is truly something that very few have or ever will understand. I actually read the book twice... back to back. Yes, when I finished reading it I started over and read it again. I love exploration history and few stories rival this accomplishment. It shows that the will to survive can drive men to almost super human feats of strength and endurance. Beware the walruses!!!

[Ted · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent read. Written in a daily journal style, this is a book that drew me in and held my interest from start to finish. Easily one of the best survival stories that I've ever read.

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, it's January and that means it's time once again to vicariously trek to the far north (or south) to insanely frigid regions. Yes, this is the perfect way to keep from succumbing to the impulse to turn up the heat. It's chilly.... but so much warmer than in Siberia, after all. (I do a similar thing in the summer, reading about, say, the Bataan Death March when the weather seems unbearably hot and muggy. How can I complain?)

But enough about my odd ways of coping with the weather. This short account of an ill-prepared and short-sighted arctic expedition clips along at a bracing pace. Footnotes throughout the text add clarification and interesting side notes. Albanov writes with emotion and clarity, though at times he's a bit of a pill, moaning on about the shortcomings of his fellow crew members. But in terms of bad weather, bad timing, and all-around bad luck, combined with heroic effort and determination, this account is hard to beat. A fine addition to my "harrowing tales" shelf.

[C-shaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating, well written, horrifying! This is a mesmerizing story by Russian navigator Valerian Ivanovich Albanov of the plight of the Russian schooner _Saint Anna_, which attempted an Arctic voyage across the Northeast Passage to Vladivostok in 1912. Two years later, only Albanov and one other crew member survived, and the _Saint Anna_, which they departed with about 14 men in homemade kayaks and sledges when it became frozen in ice, was never recovered.

[Erika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Man ļoti patīk šāda stila grāmatas - balstītas patiesos notikumos par izdzīvošanu neiedomājamos apstākļos.
Šīs dienasgrāmatas autors Valerians Albanovs bija krievu Arktikas pētnieks. Pēc tam, kad 1912.gadā kuģis "Svētā Anna" uz diviem gadiem iestrēga Karas jūrā un kļuva skaidrs, ka tas no ledus neatbrīvosies, Albanovs kopā ar vēl 13 cilvēkiem no kuģa apkalpes nolēma doties pāri ledājiem uz Franča Jozefa zemi, cerot atrast glābiņu. Gājiens bija ārkārtīgi grūts — cilvēki sev līdzi vilka ragavas ar pārtiku un ekipējumu, cieta no bada, slimībām, spēku izsīkuma un apkārtējās vides briesmām, piemēram, plaisām starp ledus laukiem, stipra sala un vētrām. Turklāt ledus nepārtraukti dreifēja, kā rezultātā ceļš nereti izrādījās iets bezjēdzīgi, jo dreifējošais ledus cilvēkus nesa atpakaļ un grupa faktiski kustējās uz vietas. Spēku izsīkums, sals, slimības, skarbie apstākļi un arī bezcerība sasniegt sauszemi bija iemesli, kāpēc gandrīz visi gājiena dalībnieki zaudēja motivāciju turpināt ceļu, ceļā gāja bojā vai pazuda bez vēsts. Albanovs un tikai vēl viens biedrs, Aleksandrs Konrads, sasniedza sauszemi un vēlāk (faktiski tikai laimīgas sagadīšanās dēļ) tika izglābti.
Šī ir Albanova dienasgrāmata par šo ceļojumu, kas vēlāk kļuva par nozīmīgu Arktikas izdzīvošanas liecību un vienu no spilgtākajiem piemēriem par cilvēka izturību ekstremālos apstākļos.
Skumji, ka cilvēks, kura pārsteidzošās zināšanas par navigāciju, drosme, izturība un neatlaidība palīdzēja viņam izdzīvot Arktikā, zaudēja dzīvību 33 gadu vecumā Krievijas pilsoņu kara laikā 1919.gadā.
Šis stāsts man atgādināja Alfreda Lānsinga grāmatu "Izturība" par polārpētnieka Ernesta Šelktona un viņa 27 līdzgaitnieku pārsteidzošo izglābšanos līdzīgos apstākļos (arī šajā gadījumā vairāki vīri, kas izglābās tik ekstremālos apstākļos, dažus gadus vēlāk zaudēja dzīvību Pirmajā pasaules karā). Grāmata "Izturība" mani iespaidoja daudz, daudz vairāk, pateicoties sīkajām detaļām un izsmeļošajiem aprakstiem, lai gan skaidrs, ka abus darbus nevar salīdzināt - šī ir ekstrēmos apstākļos rakstīta dienasgrāmata, atšķirībā no "Izturības", ko "mierīgā vidē" sarakstījis žurnālists. Taču domāju, ka tie, kas novērtēja "Izturību" par Šelktona grupas piedzīvoto, ar interesi lasīs arī Albanova dienasgrāmatu.
Paldies mūsdienu tehnoloģijām, kas ļāva ne vien internetā pieejamajās kartēs sekot līdzi Valeriana Albanova un viņa biedru noietajam ceļam (kopumā ap 300 kilometru!), bet arī sīki izpētīt, kā izskatās Franča Jozefa zeme un dienasgrāmatā minētās vietas. Kā arī uzzināt stipri vairāk par šo dramatisko notikumu. Tostarp arī to, ka 2010.gadā - teju 100 gadus pēc traģiskā notikuma - netālu no Albanova un Konrāda izglābšanas vietas atrasts cilvēka skelets, karote, nazis un ekipējuma atliekas, kas zinātniekiem liek sliekties domāt, ka atrastās mirstīgās atliekas pieder vienam no Albanova grupas vīriem, kurš, atdalījies no pārējiem, vēlāk viens pats bija sasniedzis sauszemi, taču nespēja vai nepaspēja izglābties.
Kopumā ļoti skumjš un nomācošs notikums un stāsts. Turklāt arī ledū iestrēgušais kuģis "Svētā Anna" un desmit cilvēki, kuri izvēlējās uz tā palikt, cerot, ka kuģis tiks brīvs no ledus un varēs turpināt ceļu, pazudis bez pēdām un tā arī nav atrasts līdz pat šodienai...

[MargaretDH · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a fascination with the Arctic and Arctic stories, and this hit the spot.

In 1912, Albanov signed on to an expedition to the Russian Arctic as Navigator on the Saint Anna. The ship was almost immediately locked in ice, and after two years with no thaw in sight, Albanov set off with 13 other men to escape the ice and find land. They crossed miles of ice and open water, finally reaching some tiny islands, but even that doesn't guarantee their safety.

This is a translation of Albanov's diary, beginning in the days before he leaves the ship and ending once he reaches Russia proper. It's a fascinating story, and Albanov is an honest and thoughtful narrator. He also does a wonderful job describing the animals and landscape of the Arctic, and doesn't skimp on the hardship. The text is lightly annotated to correct factual errors or to suggest medical explanations for some of the things that happened, but it's almost entirely his words on the page. You can't help but admire someone who refused to leave his diary behind, and wrote bent over a smoky bear fat lamp with frozen finger, just so he could keep a record.

If you're interested in Shackleton, or you liked The Terror, or if you like expedition narratives, definitely pick this up. It's fascinating, extremely readable, and gives a glimpse into a world very few of us will ever experience.

[Doubledf99.99 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A harrowing epic of survival, hope and the will of the human spirit to survive, Good story, and best have a warm fire going or read it in the summer...

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Albanov war zur selben Zeit, in der Shakleton in der Antarktis um sein Überleben und das seiner Mannschaft kämpfte als Navigator auf einem Schiff in der Arktis unterwegs. Ziel war das Ergründen neuer Fanggebiete. Die Expedition war mehr oder weniger zum Scheitern verurteilt, da schlechte Vorbereitungen getroffen worden und die Mannschaft aus unerfahrenen Männern bestand (es war sogar eine Frau an Bord!). Als das Schiff über ein Jahr im Eis eingeschlossen war, erbat sich Albanov von seinem Kaiptän, mit dem er eh nicht klar kam, die Erlaubnis das Schiff zu verlassen und über das Eis Land zu erreichen. Von diesem Zeitpunkt aus erzählt er von seiner Reise auf selbstgebauten Schlitten und Kajaks mit einigen Freiwilligen. Albanov erzählt sehr unterhaltsam und kurzweilig von den Geschehnissen und der täglichen Qual über unwegsamen Eis zu wandern. Ein Abzug, da mir manchmal Albanov Stil etwas zu übertrieben vorkam (Das Buch basiert auf seinem Tagebuch, er hat es nach der Expedition für die Veröffentlichung umgeschrieben.). Als Kapitän hätte er sich auch nicht so wirklich geeignet, fällt es ihm doch schwer, sich in seine Mitstreiter reinzuversetzen. Trotzdem ein schöne Lektüre, mit der man wunderbar in die kalten Gefilde der Arktis reisen kann.

[Nadja · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great, intriguing book that I read in a little over one day. It is the true story of the trials and tribulations of a group of men walking across hundreds of miles of ice to reach land after their ship becomes icebound. The narrative is in the form of the diary entries of the ship's navigator, Valerian Albanov. Not to give too much away (this information is on the back cover of the book), but only the narrator and one other man survive, out of an original crew of over 20. The story is so harrowing. The strength of character and sheer wherewithal that some people have astounds me. I was happy to read this tale from the comfort of my sofa, under a duvet with a cup of hot tea to keep me company. Reading a story like this is about as adventurous as I get.

I was so impressed by Albanov - his poetic turns of phrases, his storytelling abilities, and the quality of his character. And I was astonished to learn in the Epilogue that two months after being rescued, he boarded another ship to the Arctic! WTF!!?? He must have been a sucker for punishment.

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here we are, back in the Arctic, because apparently I never learn. I thought this would just be a standard, journalistic read about yet another doomed Arctic quest, and until I got to the epilogue, that's exactly what it was. If you read this book, whatever you do, do not skip the epilogue. That's where the real drama unfolds, and the aspect of the narrative revealed in the epilogue changes everything. You have to read the rest of the book for the bombshell to land, however.

[Caitlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A true story. Shipwrecked in the frozen north, a small team of Russian scientists and sailors attempts to survive by slowly heading south on foot and rowboat. The translation may have interfered, but the writing style was not well done. However, the story itself is fascinating. The conflicts the team had with aggressive walruses has stuck with me and changed the way I think of walruses.

[zunggg · Rating 4 out of 5]

In one of the lesser-known tales of polar survival, a Russian voyage in search of whales, bears, seals, and the Northeast passage goes spectacularly wrong, and after two winters drifting north in the grip of the pack ice, ten of the 23 on board decide to trek south with sledges and kayaks in the hope of reaching Franz Josef Land. Only two of them live to tell the tale.

There’s all the usual stuff you expect from the genre: frostbite, scurvy, raw birds and polar bear liver for breakfast, and frequent dunkings in frigid brine. But what makes this one especially interesting compared to the likes of Nansen, Shackleton, Cherry, Mawson etc. is that none of these guys signed up for an arctic death-march. The crew of the Sant Anna, a mix of ordinary sailors, hunters, general adventurers, and, extraordinarily, a woman (who, however, stays behind on the ship) has almost no polar experience and is unprepared even for the planned itinerary. They have hardly any maps or geographical knowledge, not enough fuel, one sleeping bag between them, they have to improvise their sledges and kayaks out of stuff lying around the ship. The author and ship’s navigator, Albanov, shows some leadership ability by his own account, but the men in general are resigned, indolent, querulous bordering on mutinous, and habitually uncooperative — just as you’d expect ordinary people, rather than intrepid British/Norwegian arctic hands, to be. Where Scott and Shackleton and their men have nightly revues and singalongs to keep their spirits and stiff upper lips up, this lot always look on the gloomy side of life. In a way, it’s as miraculous that 10% of them made it out alive as it is that 100% of Shackleton’s did. In a dark and somehow very Russian twist of fate, the author only lived a few more years — blown up in a freak munitions train explosion.

Don’t skip the afterword, which contains a fascinating revelation about Albanov’s fellow survivor.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the Land of White Death is the harrowing account of Valerian Albanov and some of his crewmate’s grueling trek to reach safety as conditions on their icebound ship deteriorated. Out of the original 26 crew members, 14 of which attempted the journey back, only two survived. Told in stunning detail from his journal, this book is an exemplar on the saying: truth is stranger than fiction.

I have read quite a few histories and fiction (especially horror) about polar exploration and have never encountered the level of detail and, surprisingly, wry humor, found in this diary. Albanov displays both caustic and tender feelings for his, as he sees it, largely incompetent crew. The preface (by Jon Krakauer) and introduction provide even more context and history that add to the remarkable details provided by the author. Here you learn to fear walruses over the Arctic trop favorite, polar bears, and read the author’s ecstasy over the joys of plain white bread.

I highly recommend this for any fans, like me, of all things polar and survival horror adjacent.

[Jack Abernethy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have been waiting for a cold and snowy day to read this. Started it yesterday but all the snow melted! Anyway once I started I couldn’t stop. Very good polar memoir, obviously Albanov believes mental toughness is more important than physical stamina. The epilogue was just as interesting as the memoir itself—Konrad’s account is fascinating and gives a good insight into Albanov and the rest of the crew. Clearly no one had an idea what they were doing except Albanov and it’s one of the tragedies of this account that so many of the hardships were so avoidable.

[Troutstream · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a great winter book to read. Polar exploration during the 19th and early 20th centuries is fascinating. The hardships and extent of human capability for survival described in this book were exceptional. Learning about explorers that were mapping uncharted parts of the globe without modern technology kept me enthralled throughout this entire book. Highly recommend for any adventurer. This book is humbling for any person that has ever been cold or isolated in the backcountry, especially during winter.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emimently readable, but depressing. At the beginning, we are told that only 2 men survive, but the whole way I kept hoping I had read that incorrectly. I hadn't. Not really a spoiler since it is mentioned either in the preface or the intro by David Roberts.

There are helpful footnotes along the way (thank you for footnotes and not endnotes, so annoying having to flip to the end of the book to find the right endnote and then hope you didn't lose your place accidentally).

[Jrobert · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a diary written in 1912 over a 2 yr period as an expedition was trying to find a route to the North Pole. 28-30 men and 1 woman set out on a Ship but became lodged in ice. 10 men set out with kayaks and “sledges” to head south to get help. It is a true story of survival and a very interesting read. Only 2 men came home. The rest perished on the trek for help as well as those who stayed with the ship. If you like survival stories this was a good short read.

[Nina Schiefelbein · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book should be up there with the writings of Nansen, Shackleton, and Amundsen. Albanov's writing is incredibly engaging, both vivid and straightforward, and even with his constant frustration towards his fellow survivors the responsibility and compassion he feels towards them comes through on every page. A truly incredible account and I will be rereading it!

[L Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating Read.

This true journal of men’s attempt to escape from a ship caught in the ice far north of Russia, making their way over the ice hauling heavy sledges, or between the ice floes in kayaks is fascinating to read.

[Keaton Ibendahl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Given the situation the Albanov was pretty calm and handled the whole thing pretty well tbh. If I were in the situation I would definitely not have made it out!

[Leslie McNamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exceptional! From the introductions to the original works and journal entries of the survivors, this is a living, breathing work that deserves notice and applause. How these men made it through this ordeal is astounding, oftentimes shocking, and always gripping. A must read.

[Aaron Welborn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great way to beat the summer heat! The epilogue to the Modern Library edition is definitely worth reading, as it changes your understanding of the book completely and makes you want to go back and start it all over with fresh eyes. In addition to being a great adventure story, it's another testament to the lost art of the travel diary.

[Marko · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ingenuity, resourcefulness, and resolve presented in this first-hand account are admirable, and a testament of Albanov's expertise as a sailor. This was an intriguing glimpse of unintended adventure and willpower being pushed to the limit.

[Jim · Rating 1 out of 5]

There are two mentions by different men as to how this first-hand chronicle escaped notice for so long, with both claiming the feats detailed compare favorably, if not surpass, those of contemporaries Shackleton and Scott, among a couple others named in passing. After reading this dull narrative I could understand why, as it is so unimaginably boring and poorly written. The tale lacks any secondhand verification, counter-narrative, factual support, or unbiased reportage as to make it feel like one man's account of what he wanted people to believe happened. I am not doubting, at least not completely, that the skeleton of events is probably-possibly true enough, but Albanov comes across as such a boor and so self-aggrandizing that his telling is hard to take at face value. He spends more time embellishing his tale with needless asides and denigrations that it rings rather false. There is still much paucity of proof to his "diary", and he even admits here to writing it well after the events which lends itself to overstatement and flourishes of grandeur. Even now there is doubt in Russia as to what the truth of the reasons for Albanov's desire to quit the Saint Anna and strike out for rescue or simply escape. His plan to go it alone seems foolhardy at best, or an after-the-fact lie to make him sound heroic. No one but a fully insane individual would think he could survive alone in those conditions. Especially someone with little to no relevant experience outside of being a capable ship's navigator. Merely being Russian hardly equates to skill at traversing that level of dangerous, capricious, and un-charted landscape. His claim he used a broken chronometer and guessed East over West just reads bullshit or simply dumb luck. Moving away from any actual veracity, Albanov's writing is dismal and unexciting, turning something that would seem to be intriguing - like Shackleton's harrowing trials, maybe? - into a tasteless porridge of blech. He has been critiqued heavily for making something that would have been incredibly difficult, even under the best of all possible choices and outcomes, seem like a fun weekend camping trip with some dullard friends. So that alone makes the narrative suffer, as his recounting of the hardships and dangers don't read as hard or dangerous, just minor blips along the way to obvious safety and success. I do know artefacts have been found that support the truth of the Saint Anna's expedition, but there is nothing but Albanov's account to rely on for information about the trip, the relationships of the crew and captains, the complications of a female on board, or what transpired after he abandoned ship and left the remaining crew behind. The lack of so much information leaves a lot to be desired with respect to the truth and provability of Albanov's writing. Reading about it, doubtful or not, felt like more of a burden than Albanov's trek. A poor accounting and not one I will remember with any excitement.

[A]

"In the Land of White Death" is the (nonfiction) diary account of Officer Albanov as he struggles for survival across the arctic ocean in hopes of finding land. On August 28, 1912 the Saint Anna with a crew of 23 set sail from the port of Alexandrovsk on a hunting expedition that was expected to end in Vladivostok. By October 15, the ship became lock in the arctic ice sheet and drifted ever northward. The crew survived two brutal winters inboard despite running out of fuel and having limited supplies. On April 10, 1914 Valerian Albanov along with several of his crewmen left the Saint Anna in hope of making the 235 miles journey back to land. They travel across the arctic ice on foot using homemade kayaks and sleds to transport their few supplies. The crew fights through near constant subzero temps, malnutrition, glaciers, walruses, northward ice flows and dense fog all while using an incomplete hand drawn map to navigate across an ever changing terrain. At one point Albanov writes about constructing kayaks in -36F without gloves. Another time he explains how his crew is without sleeping bags so they use the hides of reindeer. However, the hides only cover up half of their body, so they need to choose which half would be cold for the night.

Overall the book is stunning. In addition to being a great story the writing style is very engrossing, which makes the 190 pages go by exceptionally fast.