Under Julian Sancton's pen, The Beligica expedition really comes to life. In fact so much so that Madhouse at the End of the Earth almost reads like fiction. There's a wealth of detail packed in the pages of this book. From the planning of the expedition to detailed descriptions of route, weather, landscapes, what scientific observations and experiments were conducted aboard the ship to the actual people who took part and their roles in the expedition. It must have taken an extraordinary amount of research to be able to paint such a complete and vivid image of this awe inducing adventure.

I would also like to point out that in my copy the biologist of the expedition is named Racovitza which is not his name. His name is Emil Racoviță. As I have not seen the other names being Americanised despite having characters that are not in English language, I hope the same respect will be show for Racoviță too and the book will be printed with the correct name,

Many thanks for the opportunity to read this.

What an excellent book! I recently watched the BBC adaptation of “the terror” and loved it so I knew I’d enjoy this type of story.

The author tells the story really well, and I was swept away from start to finish. I genuinely couldn’t believe the things that happened and the utter stupidity, all for the sake of pride, and to save face.

It’s a great telling of the story, and one I’d recommend to everyone.

My thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK, Ebury Publishing for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review

This is just the breakaway from fiction that I need. I was trying to find some fiction in the polar exploration category and as I couldn't find it, I came across this. What better story about survival than a true survival against the odds than a true story!!

Great atmospheric writing about people determined to go somewhere where no one has been before! Survival against the odds. It came across that the captain (as it were) was either inexperienced and/or had lots of misfortune on other seafaring adventures.

Also good to read about the lesser know characters that attempt these adventures and succeeded or failed

Madhouse at the End of the Earth revolves around an early polar expedition that went devastatingly awry trapping the ship’s crew on board and frozen solid for the entirety of the dark, frigid Antarctic winter. In August 1897, thirty-one-year-old commandant Adrien de Gerlache set sail aboard the Belgica, fueled by a profound sense of adventure and dreams of claiming glory for his native Belgium. His destination was the uncharted end of the earth: the icy continent of Antarctica. But the commandant's plans for a three-year expedition to reach the magnetic South Pole would be thwarted at each turn. Before the ship cleared South America, it had already broken down, run aground, and lost several key crew members, leaving behind a group with dubious experience for such an ambitious voyage.

As the ship progressed into the freezing waters, the captain had to make a choice: turn back and spare his men the potentially devastating consequences of getting stuck, or recklessly sail deeper into the ice pack to chase glory and fame. He sailed on, and the Belgica soon found itself stuck fast in the icy hold of the Antarctic continent. The ship would winter on the ice. Plagued by a mysterious, debilitating illness and besieged by the monotony of their days, the crew deteriorated as their confinement in suffocating close quarters wore on and their hope of escape dwindled daily. As winter approached the days grew shorter, until the sun set on the magnificent polar landscape one last time, condemning the ship's occupants to months of quarantine in an endless night.

Forged in fire and carved by ice, Antarctica proved a formidable opponent for the motley crew. Among them was Frederick Cook, an American doctor--part scientist, part adventurer, part P.T. Barnum--whose unorthodox methods delivered many of the crew from the gruesome symptoms of scurvy and whose relentless optimism buoyed their spirits through the long, dark polar night. Then there was Roald Amundsen, a young Norwegian who went on to become a storied polar explorer in his own right, exceeding de Gerlache's wildest dreams by leading the first expeditions to traverse the Northwest Passage and reach the South Pole.

This is an enthralling, fascinating and chilling read and drawing on firsthand accounts of the Belgica's voyage and exclusive access to the ship's logbook, Sancton tells the tale of its long, isolated imprisonment on the ice--a story that NASA studies today in its research on isolation for missions to Mars. In vivid, hair-raising prose, the author recounts the myriad forces that drove these men right up to and over the brink of madness. Some of the most crisp, icy descriptions are woven into the gripping narrative so much so that you can almost feel the chill emanating from its pages. An extensively researched, intricately detailed, captivating work of narrative nonfiction. Highly recommended especially to those with a prior interest in the expedition field.

Madhouse at the end of the earth

The book begins with the meeting of 2 men in Leavenworth Prison, Kansas in January 1926. One is Roald Amundsen, renowned and controversial Polar explorer and the other is Dr Frederick Cook, a disgraced fraudster and dubbed ‘the greatest imposter the world has ever known’. There is a bond between them which had been forged as they sailed on the Belgian ship, the Belgica, on its mission to reach the South Pole. It was a bond that would only be broken when Amundsen mysteriously vanished and was presumed dead.
The Antarctic and its two Poles captured the imaginations of 19th century explorers. Jules Verne and Edgar Allan Poe had both written books with it as a dramatic backdrop and there was also Coleridge’s ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. But who would be first to chart its vast, uncharted swathes?
Adrien de Gerlache de Gomery was determined to lead the first Belgian expedition there. He lobbied for funds and presented it as a scientific expedition as well as being a source of national pride.
The ship, Belgica, set sail on 16 August 1897 with an assorted crew of 13 Belgians and 10 foreigners. Among them was the Norwegian, Road Amundsen, who had volunteered himself and an American, Dr Frederick Cook, who joined later. Dr Cook had been on the Peary Polar expedition and his experience and knowledge from it would be invaluable on the Belgica. The ship was so loaded with equipment that it was a mere foot and half off the water which may have accounted for some of the delays that the ship encountered.
De Gerlache was not a natural leader and there were tensions amongst the crew. After 4 Belgians were kicked off the boat at one stop there were then more foreigners than Belgians on board. Amundsen resigned as first mate at one point. But it was de Gerlache who made the fateful decision to sail south at all costs which led to the Belgica and its crew sailing into pack ice and being forced to winter there during an Arctic winter. It’s this that forms the bulk of the book as the men have to survive a punishing Arctic winter where it would be night for 3 months. Until then, no man had ever lived through winter so far south. Would they survive?
This was one of the most fascinating books about exploration that I’ve ever read. I’d never previously heard of the Belgica expedition or how important it was. It was the ‘the first expedition to the polar region’ and according to the author, ‘the first truly international expedition of the modern era.’ Although there are photos from the Belgica, I had to go online to find pictures of the crew including a very luxuriantly fur coated Dr Cook.
It still seems incredible that these men would set sail in uncharted regions, not knowing what they might find or if they would ever return. The book is at its best when describing the men’s sojourn in the pack ice; surrounded by it as far as the eye could see while being completely in its power. The ice was almost as a character in itself as it shifts and moves beneath their feet as they learn to anticipate its moods. Isolated, with monotonous food supplies and with scurvy rife, they still went out and collected specimens. Dr Cook took what are believed to be the first photos of Antarctica in his capacity as anthropologist. The author has really recreated the Arctic landscapes in their treachery, their stark beauty and with mysterious screams in the night.
The Belgica’s discoveries were groundbreaking and they brought back unique specimens. Many of these were named after them or the boat and there are several areas in the Artic named after the crew and de Gerlache. They were fortunate to have Dr Cook’s previous experience of the Arctic as he pioneered light therapy for the men and persuaded them to eat raw meat to ward off scurvy. They managed to break free of the ice and avoid another Arctic winter and sailed home to a hero’s welcome and the author devotes a section to this. The Belgica has been studied by NASA on isolation on its missions to Mars.
I was intrigued by what drove these men: the desire for recognition, a restless urge to explore the unexplored or to record the vast wilderness. The complex nature, for example, or Dr Cook, a vital crew member who ended up reviled and in prison.
The author had really done his research and had access to the men’s diaries and journals and there is a fulsome bibliography at the end of the book.
Recommended.
My thanks to Ebury Publishing/Penguin Random House and Net galley for an ARC

"Madhouse at the End of the Earth" tells the story of the Belgica and its crew. I knew a little about the story before I picked up this book, but Julian Sancton brings it to life and solidifies the people and events. It's a harrowing story, but a thoroughly mesmerising one and I was hooked from the very first page. A superb piece of history.

My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley. This review was written voluntarily and is entirely my own, unbiased, opinion.

This was such a fascinating “truth can be stranger than fiction” read! This is the true story of the Belgian Adrien de Gerlache, who in 1897 set sail aboard the “Belgica” on an expedition to Antarctica in an attempt to be the first to reach the magnetic South Pole.

We first see de Gerlache’s attempts to put the expedition together back in Belgium and the hiring of the crew, including the much more experienced (in terms of polar exploration) Roald Admundsen and the American ship’s surgeon, Frederick Cook. The journey gets off to a bad start, with de Gerlache unable to maintain discipline amongst his crew. However, things go from bad to worse once they enter the Antarctic circle, with the “Belgica” ultimately becoming trapped in ice for the Antarctic winter. As the title of the book suggests, this has profound consequences on the physical and mental health of the crew, and we are left with a thrilling account of just how the men reacted to their situation.

Every description, from the danger of the ice flows to the stench of the penguins, is incredibly vivid, and the author is incredibly skilled in really bringing the trials of these incredible men to life. The back story is great if, like me, you have little knowledge of polar exploration in the late 19th century, and the research undertaken by the author is clearly meticulous. I also loved finding out “what happened next” to a lot of the characters involved. I would absolutely read more by this author.

My thanks to the author, NetGalley, and the publisher for the arc to review.

When commandant Adrien de Gerlache sets sail with a ragtag crew, including Roald Amundsen, and assorted scientists onboard the Belgica, he hopes to claim the South Pole for his homeland of Belgium. They eventually make it to the area but the ship becomes trapped in thick ice which freezes them within a large ice floe. A month of endless darkness draws in and the men start to suffer with physical and mental health issues, even the ship's cat becomes melancholy and dies of an unnamed illness. Although they have plenty of food onboard, it is not fresh and so the men begin to feel the effects of scurvy. Can they survive long enough for the ice to release the ship and sail home?

I read a book based on the true events of The Terror a couple of years ago, so I was very interested in reading this one about the Belgica. After a slow start, things pick up when they arrive in Antarctica, and there is a lot of information about the main individuals involved and the horrors they endured. I thought it was very well researched and written in an accessible way for people who don't know the history of the expedition - there are also several maps to help. It did drag a little in places though. Overall I rated this one 3.5 stars (rounded up to 4).

Thanks to NetGalley and publishers, Random House UK/Ebury Publishing/W H Allen, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

I was intrigued by the blurb for this book. I’ve always been interested in the Antarctic and have read a few accounts about Shackleton, Scott and other expeditions, but I’d never heard of this adventure.

Julian Sancton really draws the reader in to an account which seems to be meticulously researched. Here was an expedition which, if it had succeeded, would have changed histor.y. Sadly, despite the fascinating records and experiences, it’s a story which remains untold and largely unknown.

It’s absolutely packed with excitement. Madness, illness, loss of life, Antarctic winter trapped in ice….Given today’s knowledge and comforts, it’s difficult to remember how much has changed in the last 130 years. There is much to be learned about isolation and nutrition alone. These were true adventurers whose experiences paved the way for 20 th. century exploration. Fascinating account, well written and impressive b

My thanks to the publisher for a review copy via Netgalley.

In 1897, The Belgica was about to become the first scientific expedition to reach the South Pole. But when the ship became stuck in the ice of the Bellinghausen sea, the crew were forced to overwinter in Antarctica. The long polar night was to prove deadly. In the deep dark, the crew began to go slowly mad.... and this is the tale of what happened.

I absolute adore epic stories of survival and endurance, especially set in inhospitable, remote locations. So The Madhouse at the End of the Earth ticked all the boxes for me. Julian Sancton tells a tale of men on the edge, both literally and mentally. Roald Amundsen, the famous Polar explorer, is one of these men, and his actions along with other crew members was pivotal in their survival.

Drawing on first-hand crew diaries and journals, as well as the ship's logbook, Sancton's book is an unforgettable journey into the cold and dark.

This book was not exactly what I thought it was, and while that surprised me it did not take away the joy I had at reading it. It was a little hard going at times, I found the style not to my liking, but dont take that as a negative mark against this book, it is just more against myself and my own preferences. The historical details that the author manages to bring to your mind is incredible, there were moments where it felt like I was there, with the men, and it was terrifying.

This is a great book if you wish to read a historical account of the expedition, without the dry text book that some similar books have.

In 1897 the Belgian ship Belgica set sail for the Antarctic. Scientific discovery was her goal and Belgian national pride was evident.
The Antarctic had other ideas for the Belgica and her crew, which included Roald Amundsen, and this is the story of their adventurous travels and travails.
The narrative style brings the icy wilderness to life and the translation of the feelings and emotions of the crew and officers is given with clarity.

This book could so easily be titled "Mission Impossible" because, on the face of it, there was no way that the people involved could possibly manage to achieve what the mission was set-up to achieve. Yet, against all odds, this ill-matched bunch of ne'er do wells, nutters and delusionists turned "Mission Impossible" into "Mission by the skin of our teeth".

Personally, I am still trying to work out how they did it, bearing in mind that Antarctica is an unforgiving and cruel Continent, even with today's technology, ships, training, knowledge, equipment to name but a few things that they just did not have in the 1890s.

Do read the book for yourself and see how many times that you have to remind yourself that Madhouse at the End of the Earth is a true story, not fiction.

Absolutely fascinating. I was engrossed from start to finish. The writing is so accessible that it was like reading a novel. Having watched the terror on TV made it all the more interesting. Not somewhere I would want to go myself!

Non-fiction, historical books are not normally something I’d choose to read, but I couldn’t resist being drawn in by the adventures of these explorers, and the perils that they faced. I have to admit to skimming some of the background details about the crew and what they had done previously, it did take a few chapters for me to feel invested in the story, and it took me quite a while to get through the book, but overall I am very glad I read it. It is well written in a way that holds your interest well, and describes things so that they are clearly understood even by someone who does not have any prior knowledge of these events/geographical areas.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author via NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.

A thrilling account from the golden age of polar exploration. A wonderful historical account, with all the tension of a great modern thriller.

A fascinating account of the Belgica’s attempt to claim the not-yet-reached South Pole and battle with the Antarctic conditions.

This account is completely immersive, once I started reading it was hard to stop. The narrative is detailed and exciting, and covers every thing from exploration details to the scientific finds. I also appreciated the context and setting before the ship set sail, the why and the how, and the look at what happened to the crew and the ship herself after the harrowing journey.

I would highly recommend this for anyone interested in exploration, survival, or thrilling reads!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this true life story.
It is very well written and intriguing.
I could imagine myself on that ship, in the cold, dark Antarctic winter.
Definitely worth reading.

This is very well researched, fact-based fiction about the Belgian Antarctic Expedition in the late 1900s. There's a lot of detail, such as the difficulties encountered financing the trip, Dr Cook's assessment of the impact of lack of sun and freezing conditions on human health, and the crew's various attempts at freeing their ship from sea ice. The treacherous and nightmarish mission is skilfully described, as is the fate of some of the survivors in later chapters. I don't normally read this type of book but, if you are interested in polar exploration and the characters it attracts, it is a must read.

The harrowing true survival story of an early polar expedition that went terribly awry--with the ship frozen in ice and the crew trapped inside for the entire sunless, Antarctic winter--in the tradition of David Grann, Nathaniel Philbrick, and Hampton Sides.

This is a very well written account of the expedition and is very detailed. The hardships the men suffered were laid out in detail. I can't think of any aspect of the journey that wasn't discussed and told very well. This is an exceptional book. I will certainly look into other books written by Mr. Sancton.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.