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 book also pays tribute to many
others too: the Scotch Irish, the whalers and not least the Inuit,
with whom the Scottish explorers cooperated and generally enjoyed
good relations, relying on their knowledge of the environment in
many crucial cases. The awakening of the Scots to the magnificence
and dread of the hyperborean regions – as places of discovery, of
inspiration and, regrettably, of exploitation – is traced, with
particular emphasis on the first half of the nineteenth century
until the search for the missing Franklin expedition mid-century.
General
Imprint: |
Birlinn
|
Country of origin: |
United Kingdom |
Release date: |
September 2023 |
Authors: |
Edward J. Cowan
|
Dimensions: |
234 x 156 x 37mm (L x W x T) |
Pages: |
464 |
ISBN-13: |
978-1-78027-787-5 |
Categories: |
Books
|
LSN: |
1-78027-787-3 |
Barcode: |
9781780277875 |
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