William Edward Parry Bücher

William Edward Parry, born in Bath in December 1790, began his naval career at thirteen as a first-class volunteer on the Channel fleet's flagship. After seven years of service and study, he became a lieutenant in 1810 and was soon sent to the Arctic to protect British whale fisheries and revise admiralty charts. In 1813, he transitioned to blockade service in North America, where he wrote a book on Nautical Astronomy, published in 1817. The search for a North-West Passage had been dormant for over fifty years until Parry joined an expedition under Sir John Ross in 1818. Although Ross turned back, Parry wished to continue. In 1819, he led his own expedition, reaching Lancaster Sound, discovering Prince Regent Inlet, and pushing Arctic exploration further than ever before. He returned to England triumphantly, was promoted to Commander in 1820, and became a Fellow of the Royal Society. Parry embarked on a second expedition in 1821 and a third in 1824, with the latter documented in his journal. His 1827 voyage faced challenges with shifting ice. Seeking a more active life, he spent several years in Australia as Commissioner to the Agricultural Company, was knighted, and became a Rear-Admiral in 1852. He served as Lieutenant-Governor of Greenwich Hospital until his death in July 1855.

First published in 1828, this gripping account tells the story of an ill-fated expedition to reach the North Pole. Led by William Edward Parry, the expedition faced a host of challenges, including harsh weather conditions, treacherous ice floes, and dwindling supplies. Despite ultimately falling short of their objective, Parry's narrative offers a thrilling glimpse into the spirit of adventure and exploration that defined the age of polar exploration, and remains a classic of the genre to this day.