The Great Frozen Sea: A Personal Narrative of the Voyage of the "Alert"

"The Great Frozen Sea: A Personal Narrative of the Voyage of the 'Alert'" by Albert Hastings Markham is a true story from the late 1800's that retells the adventures of Markham and his team during their Arctic journey in 1875-1876 on the ships "Alert" and "Discovery." The story follows their struggles as they travel through dangerous ice and empty lands, paying attention to both the amazing nature around them and the personal stories of the crew in tough situations. The book starts with the busy preparations before they leave Portsmouth, showing how carefully the ships and crew were chosen and equipped. Markham uses strong descriptions to show the excitement and friendship among the sailors as they get ready for exploring the Arctic. Early problems with bad weather and rough seas create a feeling of excitement and worry about what's to come, suggesting the hard times they will face in the huge, frozen wild. The main point of the narrative is to share the feeling of adventure and the strong will of those who dared to explore the unknown.