NORTHERN LIGHTS: A History of The Arctic Scots

Surprisingly, the remarkable story of the Scottish role in the discovery of the Northwest Passage, a long-desired trade route connecting the Atlantic and Pacific, has not received a great deal of attention. This book charts the extensive contribution to Arctic exploration made by the Scots including significant names such as John Ross from Stranraer, veteran of three Arctic expeditions; his nephew James Clark Ross, the most experienced Arctic and Antarctic explorer of his generation and discoverer of the Magnetic North Pole; John Richardson of Dumfries, a medical doctor, seasoned explorer and engaging natural historian; and Orcadian John Rae, who discovered evidence of the grisly demise of John Franklin and his crew. The search for the Northwest Passage was one of the greatest maritime challenges of the era and it was not until the 1850s that the first one-way partial transit of the passage was made. Previous attempts like that of Sir John Franklin in 1845 ended in tragedy with the loss of the entire expedition of two ships and 129 men. Northern Light pays tribute other overlooked characters including the Scotch Irish, the whalers and especially the Inuit, whose unparallelled knowledge of the Arctic environment was often indispensable, and with whom the Scottish explorers cooperated and generally enjoyed good relations. Particular emphasis is given on the first half of the 19th century until the search for the missing Franklin expedition. It is a story of magnificence and dread, of places of discovery, inspiration and regrettably of exploitation. It is a vivid new addition to the rich tradition of Polar narratives. 412pp, 16 pages of colour photos.