Labyrinth of Ice: The Triumphant and Tragic Greely Polar Expedition

An Amazon Best Book of December 2019: In 1881, American Army officer Lieutenant Adolphus W. Greely and his crew of scientists and explorers set off on an expedition to go as far north as possible—to the Farthest North—and to break the record held by the British for three centuries. While stationed there, Greely’s team established research stations and collected scientific data, all while fighting frostbite, intense darkness, mutinous crew, and packs of marauding wolves. After waiting two years for resupply ships to reach them, Greely took his men on a harrowing journey south to find rescue, travelling over 200 miles with ever-dwindling supplies, the men going so far as to eat their shoes and sleeping-bag covers to stay alive. Levy’s narrative situates the expedition within the complex cultural framework of the late nineteenth century, giving his readers plenty of background to the political decisions that drove the exhibition and the accompanying rescue missions. At the same time, Levy never overburdens his readers in minutiae, deftly telling the harrowing story of Greely and his men and their historic voyage. —Alison Walker "[An] inspiring and harrowing tale...[ Labyrinth of Ice ] shows that the past is a foreign country, in earth science as in so many disciplines." ―New England Historical Society"Buddy Levy, noted for bringing a fine novelist’s sense of storytelling to his narrative histories, tells this difficult but fascinating story with a compassion and vividness often lacking in works of this nature...Labyrinth of Ice is a remarkable book. It should not be missed." ― Anchorage Daily News "An engaging, superbly written, and meticulously researched chronicle of the Greely expedition that proves it is one of the most engaging adventure narratives ever. With cinematic prose, great economy of language, and vivid descriptions, Levy places readers in the middle of the action and makes them see the snow, feel the hunger and the tension, and hear the cracking of the ice.... Labyrinth of Ice reads like an outstanding script for an action movie." ―NPR"An armchair explorer’s dream―all the drama, all the fear, all the steadfastness that fans could want. Unexpectedly, Levy manages also to carve out important space in the narrative for Greely’s wife, Henrietta, who was key to the rescue. An invaluable addition to polar history." ― Booklist "Levy’s masterful use of primary sources from Greely and others create a highly detailed narrative that brings the men and their expedition to life. This gripping book is a testament to the bravery and sheer doggedness of men determined to survive despite harsh conditions." ― Library Journal "Evocative, deeply researched...the result is an intense historical adventure with modern-day relevance for the climate change debate." ― Publishers Weekly "A graphic tale of horrific deprivation that is sure to be the benchmark account." ― Kirkus Reviews "A gripping account of historical adventure and horror that maintains tension from beginning to end, despite the conclusion having been known for more than 130 years. Perfect for fans of Nathaniel Philbrick and Erik Larson." ― Shelf Awareness [With] all the ingredients for a harrowing armchair adventure." ― Lewiston Tribune "Levy paints with pathos a picture of the expedition’s members, from commander to the lowliest private. In these portraits-in-miniature, their character and personalities reveal both the best and worst of humans in crisis: heroism, grit, selflessness, but also dishonesty, disobedience, and callous self-regard. It is a tale as old as time, but never gets old in the telling―and Levy does it superbly. Labyrinth of Ice takes the reader to the forbidding Farthest North in the best way possible as we avidly turn the pages, sipping hot tea from a cozy, warm chair." ― Open Letters Review “Polar exploration is utter madness. It is the insistence of life where life shouldn’t exist. And so, Labyrinth of Ice shows you exactly what happens when the unstoppable meets the unmovable. Buddy Levy outdoes himself here. The details and story are magnificent.” ―Brad Meltzer, bestselling author of The First Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill George Washington “Buddy Levy’s Labyrinth of Ice is the harrowing saga of A.W. Greely’s doomed polar exploration of 1881. Every page shivers with high-stakes drama and survivalist instinct. There is never a dull moment in this thoroughly researched epic. Highly recommended!" ―Douglas Brinkley, Author of American Moonshot: John F. Kennedy and the Great Space Race " Labyrinth of Ice is a must-read for armchair adventurers everywhere. Buddy Levy's research is thorough and his writing fast-paced, making for an epic page-turner." ―Martin Dugard, #1 New York Times Bestselling AuthorNo one brings the narratives of history to life more brilliantly than Buddy Levy. With laser accuracy, keen intelligence, exhaustive research, exhilarating detail, and genuine compassion, he takes us on wondrous journeys so packed with stunning moments of heroism, hope, fear, and survival that we feel that we are witnessing the events not in the past, but in the present. In Levy's most recent book Labyrinth of Ice , moments of unimaginable human endeavor, folly, and sacrifice become something more than myth, more than legend, more than history itself: they become an unforgettable part of our own reality." ―Kim Barnes, Author of In the Kingdom of Men and the Pulitzer Prize Finalist In the Wilderness: Coming of Age in Unknown Country "Few tales of survival against great odds and even greater misfortune can top that of the Lady Franklin Bay Expedition. Levy has produced a page-turner that tells in fascinating detail the story of Lt. Adolphus Greely―who ranks as one of the 19th-century's most intrepid and ruthless explorers -- and the two dozen men of his command who battled the Arctic elements and each other to try to survive one of the most harrowing voyages of discovery ever recorded."―Tom Clavin, New York Times bestselling author of Dodge City and The Heart of Everything that Is "Buddy Levy’s Labyrinth of Ice is a thrilling and harrowing story. If it’s a cliche to say I couldn’t put this book down, well, too bad: I couldn’t put this book down." ―Jess Walter, bestselling author of Beautiful Ruins " Labyrinth of Ice is another masterful narrative by America's premier historiographer of harrowing, character-baring expeditions into the unknown. A tour de force of vivid detail and voluminous research!" ―Alex Shoumatoff, editor of DispatchesFromTheVanishingWorld.com “Buddy Levy’s Labyrinth of Ice is riveting. It’s a true tale of unparalleled discovery, endurance, survival and patriotism, set in one of the world’s most unforgiving places: the Polar North. Levy writes history with a novelist’s timing and describes the stunning landscapes with precise, imagistic language. A gripping, unforgettable story.”―Erik Weihenmayer: Global Adventurer, Speaker, and Author. BUDDY LEVY is the author of more than half a dozen books, including Labyrinth of Ice: The Triumphant and Tragic Greely Polar Expedition; Conquistador: Hernán Cortés, King Montezuma, and the Last Stand of the Aztecs; River of Darkness: Francisco Orellana’s Voyage of Death and Discovery Down the Amazon . He is coauthor of No Barriers: A Blind Man’s Journey to Kayak the Grand Canyon and Geronimo: Leadership Strategies of an American Warrior. His books have been published in eight languages. He lives in Idaho. Read more