Glyn Williams's book charts the 18th-century's perilous and often fatal attempts to discover a passage through the Arctic to the Pacific. Set in the heat of 18th century exploration fever it charts the many perilous expeditions undertaken to find the "maritime philosopher's stone" from amongst the ice and eskimos of Hudson Bay. Fuelled by the promise of fame and riches from revitalised British trade and dominance of the North American continent, the search for this illusory passage even captivated Cook - the most pragmatic of explorers. Williams examines successive expeditions from James Knight to George Vancouver. The secretive Hudson's Bay Company plays a supporting role throughout, as does Sir Arthur Dobbs whose political ambition - and obsessive pursuit of the illusory passage - relied heavily on exploitative cunning, personal greed and putting other's lives at risk.
- ISBN10 0007145063
- ISBN13 9780007145065
- Publish Date 7 May 2002 (first published 18 March 2002)
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 17 October 2011
- Publish Country GB
- Publisher HarperCollins Publishers
- Imprint HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
- Format Paperback
- Pages 320
- Language English