Product Description

In 1845 Captain Sir John Franklin led a large, well equipped expedition to complete the conquest of the Canadian Arctic, to find the fabled North West Passage connecting the North Atlantic to the North Pacific. Yet Franklin, his ships and men were fated never to return. The cause of their loss remains a mystery. Shocked by the disappearance of all 129 officers and men, and sickened by reports of cannibalism, the Victorians re-created Franklin as the brave Christian hero who laid down his life, and those of his men. Later generations have been more skeptical about Franklin and his supposed selfless devotion to duty. But does either view really explain why this outstanding scientific navigator found his ships trapped in pack ice seventy miles from magnetic north? Andrew Lambert re-examines the life and the evidence with his customary brilliance and authority. In this riveting story of the Arctic, he discovers a new Franklin: a character far more complex, and more truly heroic, than previous histories have allowed.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #35637 in Books
• Published on: 2009-07-02
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 448 pages

About the Author
Andrew Lambert is Professor of Naval History at King's College, London, and has been described as 'the outstanding British naval historian of his generation' (David Cannadine). His books include Trincomalee: The Last of Nelson's Frigates and The Foundations of Naval History, and his highly successful history of the British Navy, War at Sea, was broadcast on BBC2.

Customer Reviews

Very good - in parts!
Let me start with two aspects of the book which are excellent and actually entirely justify buying and reading this book.
The first is that Andrew Lambert really does give an excellent account of the scientific (specifically magnetic) research which was a very large part of the justification for the expedition, and of Franklin's qualifications in this respect for the leadership of the expedition. This adds a whole different dimension to the well known story. The second is his account of Franklin's (and Lady Franklin's) work in Van Diemen's land. The account which emerges also helps to explain the regard in which Franklin was held apart from his reputation as "the man who ate his boots".
However there are some considerable whinges to add. The first is the editing of the book seems to have taken a good deal of the scientific background very thoroughly out of order (presumably in order to make a catchy first chapter or so, preparatory to the story about the boots, coming back to the tough stuff when the reader is hooked). However this means that crucial definitions of terms which appear in chapter 1 don't actually appear until chapter 4, which is infuriating. Likewise also we are teased in chapter 1 with a suggestion that it was not all Barrow's fault, but the finger only gets pointed much later - in chapter 4 again. I therefore strongly recommend anyone approaching this book to read chapter 4 first of all. Second whinge: Andrew Lambert expresses his view that the Canadian expedition establishes Franklin as a great leader - but the account which he gives does not convince. Third whinge: as noted by another reviewer, when he gets to the actual fate of Franklin and those on Erebus/Terror the touch is a little unsure. Obviously he has to deal with this, but there is more than enough material for a book evaluating the different accounts and theories, so what to do? The result will almost inevitably rouse the ire of anyoone who has written on the subject (or even read extensively). There is also, frankly, rather too much harping on cannibalism! Finally I remain unconvinced that quite such a detailed account of Lady Franklin's attempts to keep the search going is necessary (it is certainly wearing and one gains great sympathy for the objects of her correspondence).
So all in all a good book on its central points, but don't be disappointed if you find it patchy!

Franklin - A Re-assessment of the Arctic Hero
Andrew Lambert's contribution is a well balanced and detailed account of Franklin's life and his achievements. He avoids speculating at length on the events surrounding Franklin's death, many of which cannot be substantiated, and importantly, he svoids the delving into the unseemly conflict of Lady Franklin and Sir Clements Markham versus Dr. John Rae, who was of course reporting on the facts as he uncovered them in the years after Franklin's death. Much if Franklin's life is fascinating, his contribution to science unknown, likewise his contribution to changing life in Tasmania, asssisted ably by Lady Franklin. It is well written book and eminently readable, and I can recommend it to anyone with an interest in the history Polar science.

Omissions
I was looking forward to another Franklin-redeeming biography and while the book is indeed giving valuable insight into Franklin's achievements I could not help but notice some omissions.
For example two vital biographies (Captain Francis Crozier: Last Man Standing?) and even a (highly recommended) biography about Franklin himself (Deadly Winter: The Life of Sir John Franklin) are notably absent from the bibliography. Lambert is also sceptic about Beattie's lead poisoning theory, claiming the high lead contents of the exhumed bodies stem from exposure to lead before the expedition sailed. But Beattie examined hair samples which show recent exposure and while not claiming lead was the main killer he does rightly claim that lead may have been a vital part in weakening physical and mental abilities.

It seems THE definite book about Franklin has not been written yet, whatever Andrew Lambert thinks.