Man Who Ate His Boots: Sir John Franklin and the Tragic History of the Northwest Passage

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Dozens of missions set out for the Arctic during the first half of the nineteenth century; all ended in failure and many in disaster, as men found themselves starving to death in the freezing wilderness, sometimes with nothing left to eat but their companions' remains. Anthony Brandt traces the complete history of this noble and foolhardy obsession, which originated during the sixteenth century, bringing vividly to life this record of courage and incompetence, privation and endurance, heroics and tragedy. Along the way he introduces us to an expansive cast of fascination characters: seamen and landlubbers, scientists and politicians, sceptics and tireless believers. "The Man Who Ate His Boots" is a rich and engaging work of narrative history - a multifaceted portrait of noble adventure andof imperialistic folly.

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Anthony Brandt is the author of two previous books, and the editor of the Adventure Classics series published by National Geographic Society Press. He is also the books editor at National Geographic Adventure magazine and was previously the book critic for Men's Journal. His work has appeared in The Atlantic Monthly, GQ, Esquire among many other magazines. He lives in Sag Harbor, New York.