Stray Leaves from an Arctic Journal Or, Eighteen Months in the Polar Regions, in Search of Sir John Franklin's Expedition, in the Years 1850-51

"Stray Leaves from an Arctic Journal" by Sherard Osborn is a firsthand chronicle of an Arctic voyage during the mid-1800s to find Sir John Franklin’s missing expedition. Osborn, the commanding officer of the HMS Pioneer, recounts the crew’s journey through treacherous, icy landscapes. Starting with the enthusiastic departure from England in 1850, he paints a picture of the crew's initial optimism and wonder as they navigate toward the Arctic. He highlights the complexities that arose from interactions within the crew, the surprises of the frigid environment, the scientific observations made, the challenges of Arctic navigation, and the unique traditions of the Inuit people whom they met on the journey. The writing honors Franklin’s legacy and the expedition’s purpose.