A superb account of the American Navy's boldest and most tragically ill-fated effort to reach the North Pole.

"A gripping tale,""--The Washington Post"

"Truly exciting,""--The Atlantic Monthly"

"Beautifully executed narrative,""--Kirkus Reviews"

..".Uncovers intriguing new information, including the reason the expedition's full story was never revealed.""--The Cleveland Plain Dealer"

"Uncommonly stirring,""--John Barkham Reviews"

"On all levels, a book worth reading,""--The New York Times Book Review"

"As fascinating and exciting as any adventure novel."-"The Atlantic Monthly" "Adventure aplenty here, not to mention execution, mutiny, starvation, suicide, and cannibalism."-"Salon.com" "Will easily net the aficionados of adventure and disaster tales."-"Booklist" "Shares the elements of the bestsellers "Into Thin Air" and "The Perfect Storm." Guttridge chillingly recreates it all."-"P.O.V."

Corporal Leonard Guttridge was among the many unsung heroes of the Battle of Britain--the Royal Air Force mechanics and armorers who patched bullet holes, repaired engines, refueled empty tanks and replenished ammunition, enabling outnumbered pilots to return to the skies. His journal, written in tiny notebooks, at moments under enemy fire, chronicles the battle and its human toll, and portrays the tenacity of the RAF ground crews without whom the British could not have defeated the German Luftwaffe.

This lively history of the U.S. Navy in the age of sail is filled with brilliant insights and daring assessments of famous naval figures.