Hell on ice : $b The saga of the "Jeannette"

"Hell on Ice: The Saga of the Jeannette" by Edward Ellsberg is a book chronicling the harrowing journey of the USS Jeannette's Arctic expedition in the late 1800s. The narrative, part historical document and part fictional story, recounts Captain George Washington De Long and his people's struggle against the deadly Arctic ice as they sought the North Pole, presenting insights into the strong will of the human spirit and the desire to understand the unknown. Opening with the memories of George Wallace Melville, the ship's head engineer, readers learn of the tragic expedition and the eventual loss of De Long and his crew. The book describes the intense preparations for the expedition, the changes to the ship to survive the Arctic, the choosing of officers, and the anxious mood as they began their journey. As the story continues, the crew's troubles become clear, giving an early glimpse into the disasters waiting for them in the frozen north.