Across the Top of the World: The Quest for the Northwest Passage

Across the Top of the World is a vivid retelling of one of the most enduring quests in the history of exploration and discovery--the Northwest Passage. It covers the earliest endeavors in the sixteenth century, the many ill-fated expeditions that followed, the successful crossing in 1905, and the scientific work conducted in the Northwest Passage today. The book is beautifully illustrated and gives readers a true sense of the harsh realities of the landscapes and seascapes traversed. Among the book's many highlights are the use of explorers' published accounts, the ill-fated Franklin Expedition in 1845-1847, historic and contemporary color photographs of significant artifacts, and contemporary images of the Northwest Passage from the air, land, and water.