A Fabulous Kingdom: The Exploration of the Arctic

The last great terrestrial frontiers were the poles and under the sea. Both have inspired their share of scientists, explorers, adventurers, glory-hunters, and wealth-seekers. When it comes to the northland of the Arctic, this is especially true and "A Fabulous Kingdom" is a well-written breathless survey of how Western Civilization has approached the frozen north. It starts in antiquity but quickly moves into the nineteenth century when a succession of northern European powers began concerted efforts to explore the region. They did not do it for scientific purposes, although such knowledge did result, but for practical geographical and economic purposes. The quest for a Northwest Passage, a westward water route from Europe to Asia in the far north, prompted considerable activity. Ironically, because of global warming this is now beginning to open up with Arctic sea ice melting. Sought for centuries by various European nations as a possible trading route, only in 1903-1906 was it finally navigated by the Norwegian Roald Amundsen. Even so, he found that the Arctic icepack prevented regular marine operations. That might be to the good since contested claims of sovereignty could have sparked international crisis had there been navigable waterways. For more than a century British, American, and Scandinavian explorers sought the Northwest Passage through Canada's northern archipelago and the North Pole. Romance motivated that effort, but poor planning and administrative bungling torpedoed much of it. The British Admiralty, especially, sent a succession of failed missions in search of the Northwest Passage. At a remarkable level the arrogance and romance of Western Civilization combined for more than a century of fruitless search for a presumed economic trade route that did not exist. This book provides a good summary of this effort. It also discusses more recent exploration, including the great "race" to the North Pole, especially the cantankerous and contravening efforts of Frederick Cook and Robert Peary for bragging rights in being the first to reach the North Pole. Who was first, no one knows but it looks increasingly like neither reached it, the position of the authors of "A Fabulous Kingdom." The debate has been laced with vitriol over the years. Although Peary received great acclamation in his lifetime for his polar exploit, most current professionals as reflected in this work view the claims of both Peary and Cook to have reached the North Pole with skepticism. More than a century after the controversy first erupted it seems that neither claim hold up well. Chapter 9, "Amateurs, Pros, and Cons," offers a witty discussion of this subject. As a general introduction to the history of the Arctic, "A Fabulous Kingdom" is excellent. It hits the high points and offers a usable, accessible narrative of a truly fascinating region and the people attracted to it.