Customer Reviews

Trial by Ice: The True Story of Murder and Survival on the 1871 Polaris Expedition

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I enjoyed this book very much. Well written and engaging, Richard Parry's latest work was a page-turner. I finished all 310 pages in one day. Parry draws upon the 1871 Polaris Expedition inquest transcripts, his experience as a physician, several secondary sources, and scientific analysis to skillfully re-create the story of the doomed ship. Moreover, the author makes an excellent argument as to how the ship's captain met his demise, and who was ultimately responsible.

The only drawback is that the two maps on the front and back covers are somewhat incomplete and vague, missing several locations mentioned by the author.

Overall, a very satisfying read.

I did not expect to find "Trial by Ice" so good.
Using very colorful and vivid writing style, author presents events during the ill-fated polar expedition. Action takes place on the deck of steamer Polaris, along the north/west Greenland's shore and on the ice floes of Baffin Bay.
This is a classic tale of survival describing international motley crew of officers, seamen, scientists and Inuits fighting for their lives after Polaris destruction.
Without leadership and teamwork all efforts are difficult and dramatic. Dark human nature and low morality quite often prevails, hardship creates lack of loyalty, national partiality and racism.
This book has an extra flavor - elements of crime and detective story.
Writing and explanations are enhanced by author's scientific and medical knowledge combined with his experience of living in a harsh climate of Alaska. He knows what he is writing about.
The story of Polaris is just another example of how little we usually know about causes and reality of current political, criminal and social events. True facts and motives stay hidden and masked to be fully exposed and published at much later time.
I rank this book in the same category as "Wreck of the Medusa", "In the Heart of the Sea" and "South".
If Dr. Parry was as good surgeon as he is now a writer, then many patients must be missing his medical practice.

The history of the 1871 Polaris expedition to the North Pole and the mysterious death of it's leader Charles Francis Hall is poorly presented by this effort. It is well researched but the book would have benefitted greatly from an effort to edit and organize this presentation. If you are interested in the history of these events, a reader might look elsewhere for the information.

Mr. Parry tells the story of the Polaris expedition in a highly readable fashion. Gleaning facts from the sailor's journals and court testimonies, he paints the grim picture of what occured on this tragic journey.

Although C. F. Hall had grand plans to reach the North Pole, he was thwarted on many levels. Most of the men he wanted along on the journey were passed over and others placed under his command had little regard for this self-taught man. Hall had the hardiness to succeed and hard won knowledge of survival in the inhospitable Arctic climate, but he was undermined again and again by men who had their own agendas. Conflicts arose along lines of nationality and difference of opinion as to the more important tasks of the expedition - finding the North Pole or scientific research of the region.

Hall dies a terrible death at the hands of a murderer. Soon after, discipline falls by the wayside and eventually it is "every man for himself". Interspersed with the facts, Mr. Parry has placed vivid descriptions of the Arctic panorama, from the beauty of the aurora borealis to the thunderous sounds of the colliding icebergs. The reader feels as if he is there with the crew as they endure unthinkable hardships. This is a first-rate story of impossible odds and the will of man to survive.

As a huge fan of American history, I found the book a wonderful discovery of a virtually unknown expedition and a superlative example of how the excitement delivered in historical literature can far exceed the most imaginative fiction. The Polaris Expedition story is compelling on its own merit, but Richard Parry has enhanced the saga by skillfully weaving together the pervasive risks of polar exploration, the failings of human nature, and the hubris of 19th Century Western culture. Demonstrating the talents of a master craftsman, Parry is to be lauded for buttressing a truly incredible series of events with vivid images of nature that elevates the book from good history to great literature.

Skip the "reality shows" or your favorite edition of CSI and read this book! Neither my wife nor I could "put the book down" and we genuinely anticipate a suspenseful screenplay and block-buster movie that will inevitably fall short of the book. There is just too much scenery, intrigue, suspense, and action in "Trial by Ice" to squeeze into a two-hour movie.

I am a avid reader of Non-fiction only so when I find a book that can combine fact with good reading i highly recommend it. The author did an excellent job presenting the facts while adding interest in the use of his words. Good riviting story that i couldn't put down.

It was a great book written by Richard Parry. The decription from the book was very well written and it felt as if you were there on the ship. It was full of surprises and it was amazing to see what the crew went through. Also, how the Captain Hall's murder was very unexpected. I would say this is one of the best books I have read this year. It is so addicting to read so you finish it in a short period.

At the beginging it is slow because of the introduction but, it gets better after that.

I was very glad that I read this book, but also very glad that I was finished reading this book, if you know what I mean. The story is fantastic, and what happened to Hall and his team contains instructive lessons that can be applied throughout history and today. BUT, my god was there some bad writing going on here. For example, Parry LOVES the word inexorably. EVERYTHING moved "inexorably towards"...something else. I lost count after the 27th usage of the word. Also, it couldn't be "bitterly cold" it had to be "a cold that would cut to the mens very souls and challenge their will to survive it" or words to that effect.

Without the authors weak stab at poetry, the book would have been a lot shorter, and a much more enjoyable read.

Trial by Ice is very well written and gives you a history lesson you can't forget. Extremely well documented! If you liked The Alienist by Caleb Carr you will love this book.

Four stars for the research and the history, one star for the author's attempt to describe their environement. This is an interesting account of the Hall North Pole attempt. For me, the major problem is the flowery descriptions of the weather and landscape he throws in: "The icy breath of the iceberg chilled their lungs.." "The only signs of light consisted of scattered ribbons of violet and purple fluttering briefly behind the sable mountains."

Come on, this is history. The descriptions the author has chosen to add to spice up the book were very hard for me to wade through. I almost gave up because of them, but instead, decided to skip-over and ignore the flowery descriptions and concentrate on what the crew went through and survived!