Madhouse at the End of the Earth: The Belgica's Journey into the Dark Antarctic Night
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- Create Date：2022-03-03 10:19:47
- Update Date：2025-09-07
- Status：finish
- Author：Julian Sancton
- ISBN：1984824341
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
Reviews
Elizabeth Stolar
，
5/7。 An enjoyable read。 It reminded me a lot of Nathaniel Philbrick's books Sea of Glory and In the Heart of the Sea。 It is always interesting to read about how the leadership qualities and personalities of captains and other officers are such a factor in a voyage's success。 I wish that there had been a little bit of explanation of the scientific facts about ice and ice floes and I would have liked some color photographs of the author's personal voyage to the Belgica Strait， as well as more of t 5/7。 An enjoyable read。 It reminded me a lot of Nathaniel Philbrick's books Sea of Glory and In the Heart of the Sea。 It is always interesting to read about how the leadership qualities and personalities of captains and other officers are such a factor in a voyage's success。 I wish that there had been a little bit of explanation of the scientific facts about ice and ice floes and I would have liked some color photographs of the author's personal voyage to the Belgica Strait， as well as more of the photographs that are referenced in the text， but not included among the pictures in the book。 I'm always amazed by these harrowing ship journeys of the 19th century， which are always impressive feats。 It was interesting to read about Dr。 Cook and what a shame it was that his important contributions to the Belgica's journey were overshadowed by his later questionable claims and fraudulent acts。 It is clear the Belgica wouldn't have made it back without Cook。 I've long wanted to visit Antarctica， but this description sure makes it sound both unimaginably beautiful and horrifyingly awful。 It's very striking to think about the very small window of time available for any sort of safe visit -- I was surprised to learn that even February was thought of as too late for explorers to get out alive in many cases。 There sure isn't much time after the summer solstice （December 21） before the conditions start to rapidly deteriorate。Also， I kept wondering why they hadn't brought more cats？ （I'm still angry with Lecointe for what he did to one of them。） 。。。more
Cindy
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Fascinating tale of the real-life expedition to Antarctica！ The author uses actual diaries of the men to tell the story， and every once in a while I swore that if I looked up from my book， I'd be standing in front of a glacier :）And。。。I will never look at a penguin the same way again！ Fascinating tale of the real-life expedition to Antarctica！ The author uses actual diaries of the men to tell the story， and every once in a while I swore that if I looked up from my book， I'd be standing in front of a glacier :）And。。。I will never look at a penguin the same way again！ 。。。more
Johnett
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4++。 Excellent book！ A well-researched nonfiction that reads almost like a thriller！ Amazing 🤩
Stefany
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The bold， risky expedition to Antarctica in the late 1800s described here was absolutely fascinating。 The almost unimaginable hardships faced by the crew were harrowing to read about。 I found the medical and neurological effects of the voyage to be especially interesting， as well as descriptions of the new species discovered by the scientists on board。 A well-researched nonfiction triumph。
Monty Milne
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Belgium’s attempt at Antarctic exploration was something of a fiasco， although at least most of the crew survived。 The expedition commander， Baron Adrien de Gerlache de Gomery， was a lot more colourless than his splendid name suggests， and although he was broadly speaking a decent human being he was also weak and vacillating。 The author acknowledges the assistance of de Gerlache’s descendants: I wonder what they thought of this less than heroic account of their ancestor。 De Gerlache is not even Belgium’s attempt at Antarctic exploration was something of a fiasco， although at least most of the crew survived。 The expedition commander， Baron Adrien de Gerlache de Gomery， was a lot more colourless than his splendid name suggests， and although he was broadly speaking a decent human being he was also weak and vacillating。 The author acknowledges the assistance of de Gerlache’s descendants: I wonder what they thought of this less than heroic account of their ancestor。 De Gerlache is not even the most important character in the story – he is eclipsed， in all kinds of ways， by Amundsen and Cook。 Both these men were also deeply flawed: Amundsen， despite being heroically resourceful and omnicompetent， was disloyal and comes across as oddly unlikeable。 Cook， the ship’s doctor， is the most intriguing character of all: hugely charismatic and of vital importance， but also not a little mad and bad – he went on to be jailed for fraud。 This is a remarkably engrossing and well told narrative which I really enjoyed reading。I read this whilst living in an old house by a wild coastline where for three weeks I was tormented by shrieking wind and lashing rain。 Struggling along a clifftop with the waves crashing below and the temperatures just above freezing， I recalled the crew of the Belgica， slowly going mad under the months of total darkness in the Antarctic winter， held fast in the sea ice。 And suddenly my circumstances seemed a great deal more comfortable。 。。。more
Beata
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Fascinating non-fiction that offers analysis of a little known voyage undertaken by The Belgica at the end of the 19th century to do research of then still unchartered Antarctica。 A powerful tale of stamina， determination， endurance and weaknesses。 For some inexplicable reasons I am into tales of men whose courage and determination allowed the cruellest places on our planet to be described and defined 。。。。A definite must for readers interested in polar exploration。A big thank-you to Julian Sanct Fascinating non-fiction that offers analysis of a little known voyage undertaken by The Belgica at the end of the 19th century to do research of then still unchartered Antarctica。 A powerful tale of stamina， determination， endurance and weaknesses。 For some inexplicable reasons I am into tales of men whose courage and determination allowed the cruellest places on our planet to be described and defined 。。。。A definite must for readers interested in polar exploration。A big thank-you to Julian Sancton， Random House UK， and Netgalley for arc in exchange for my honest review。* 。。。more
Chris Cullinane
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 It is hard to imagine a more harrowing experience than what the men of the Belgica endured in 1898-99。 Months spent in total darkness aboard a cramped， rat-infested schooner with 18 other men， surviving on nothing but rancid penguin and seal meat and nondescript canned gruel。。。while stuck in the Antarctic winter's pack ice， a beautiful yet malevolent and ever-changing landscape， where new and hidden dangers abound with any and all variation in weather conditions。To be frank， I am surprised only It is hard to imagine a more harrowing experience than what the men of the Belgica endured in 1898-99。 Months spent in total darkness aboard a cramped， rat-infested schooner with 18 other men， surviving on nothing but rancid penguin and seal meat and nondescript canned gruel。。。while stuck in the Antarctic winter's pack ice， a beautiful yet malevolent and ever-changing landscape， where new and hidden dangers abound with any and all variation in weather conditions。To be frank， I am surprised only 2 men perished over the course of the entire 26-month expedition （particularly given its severe underpreparation， onboard underqualifications， and overall haphazardness）。 And the name - Madhouse at the End of the Earth - I can't lie when I say I thought more than one man would descend into raving madness in the frozen， unrelenting darkness。 The story is masterfully told。 The only thing deeper than the Antarctic winter is the depth of research Sancton has put into this account。 Despite drawing upon numerous sources of varying nature， in several languages and spanning across generations， he presents this fascinating story in such a straightforward but captivating way。 At not one stage did I find myself questioning any aspect of the tale， with all bases thoroughly covered and no question left unanswered。 Nor was I ever bored， hanging on every twist and turn in the miserable story of this boat and her crew。 A fabulous book。 。。。more
Susan Copeland
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I have read the book Endurance multiple times and it's one of my favorites so I was looking forward to another thrilling adventure。 Unfortunately， I only was able to get through about 100 pages before I decided it just wasn't for me。 I found it to be very dry。 I have read the book Endurance multiple times and it's one of my favorites so I was looking forward to another thrilling adventure。 Unfortunately， I only was able to get through about 100 pages before I decided it just wasn't for me。 I found it to be very dry。 。。。more
Laurence
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Compelling narrative of an expedition of which I knew nothing before chancing upon this book in a store in Falmouth。Particularly interesting for observations re Cook and Amundsen， but also for the space given to medical consideration of the effect of the polar night。
Michelle
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Wow， what a great read。 I recommend this to anyone that likes adventure stories。 There was a part of the book that was kinda dry， but most of it was very interesting and kept me wanting to read 'just one more page' until I finished。 If you like the Dirk Pitt books by Clive Cussler， this should be on your read list as well。 The brave men of the Beligica are true heroes！ Wow， what a great read。 I recommend this to anyone that likes adventure stories。 There was a part of the book that was kinda dry， but most of it was very interesting and kept me wanting to read 'just one more page' until I finished。 If you like the Dirk Pitt books by Clive Cussler， this should be on your read list as well。 The brave men of the Beligica are true heroes！ 。。。more
Cheri
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This book is amazing。 I enjoyed it much more than Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage。 This read more like a novel to me。 The insight into the psychology of the crew and the personalities was fascinating。 I am trying to come up with an equivalent to what these men went through today - but even the exploration of space has connectivity to "base。" What these men experienced is just beyond modern comprehension。 I really enjoyed how Sancton tied in his visit to Antarctica at the end of the boo This book is amazing。 I enjoyed it much more than Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage。 This read more like a novel to me。 The insight into the psychology of the crew and the personalities was fascinating。 I am trying to come up with an equivalent to what these men went through today - but even the exploration of space has connectivity to "base。" What these men experienced is just beyond modern comprehension。 I really enjoyed how Sancton tied in his visit to Antarctica at the end of the book and how stark the differences are between his trip and what the Belgica crew endured。 。。。more
Anne
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This is a fascinating and very well written book。 Although it is obviously deeply and meticulously researched， it reads like a novel。 The story is so incredible that it’s amazing anyone survived the experience， never mind went on to succeed greatly in future polar exploration。Mr Sancton tells of a treacherous journey into Antarctica in 1897。 The question of turn back or drive on is barely considered before The Belgica is trapped in ice in a polar winter。 But it isn’t a case of sitting it out as This is a fascinating and very well written book。 Although it is obviously deeply and meticulously researched， it reads like a novel。 The story is so incredible that it’s amazing anyone survived the experience， never mind went on to succeed greatly in future polar exploration。Mr Sancton tells of a treacherous journey into Antarctica in 1897。 The question of turn back or drive on is barely considered before The Belgica is trapped in ice in a polar winter。 But it isn’t a case of sitting it out as the shifting ice can break the hull。 And it isn’t a case of go for a walk and come back because when you return from your survey， the ship isn’t where you left it。 No wonder the men were suffering and experienced episodes of "madness"。"After skiing for about ten minutes， Cook， Amundsen， and Tollefsen were enveloped by a dense fog。 The Belgica vanished from sight。 To find their way back， the men had to follow their ski tracks in reverse。 But soon those tracks led straight into the sea。 In the hours since they’d crossed it， this area of the pack had been transformed beyond recognition。"Compasses weren’t particularly reliable because of the changing magnetic system…"Polar exploration， to Amundsen， was not a job but an almost chivalric calling。 He had volunteered to serve without pay because money was secondary to glory。"These were driven men with ambitions I admire though I will never understand。 A book about the human condition and why we do what we do。 Recommended。I was given a copy of this book by Netgalley 。。。more
Becky Kelly
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Finished reading Madhouse At The End Of The Earth by Julian Sancton。 Well worth a read。 Non-fiction history book about the Belgian ship The Belgica， and her ill-fated voyage to the South Pole。 Did not make me crave a sea voyage I'll say that much。 But I have immediately started reading Erebus by Michael Palin， so clearly it's ignited a lust for reading about doomed nautical voyages。 🤷♀️Well researched， interesting and empathetic。 4 stars。 Finished reading Madhouse At The End Of The Earth by Julian Sancton。 Well worth a read。 Non-fiction history book about the Belgian ship The Belgica， and her ill-fated voyage to the South Pole。 Did not make me crave a sea voyage I'll say that much。 But I have immediately started reading Erebus by Michael Palin， so clearly it's ignited a lust for reading about doomed nautical voyages。 🤷♀️Well researched， interesting and empathetic。 4 stars。 。。。more
Allegra
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yes this is my second time reading this。 and what about it。 COOK AND AMUNDSEN 4EVER
Paulette
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I remember watching Shackleton on PBS forty years ago。 I read Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage years ago while listening to Vaughn Williams' Antarctica Suite， one of my favorite pieces of music。 Madhouse at the End of the Earth is a better book。 Covering the expedition of Adrien de Gerlache and George Lecointe， with a young Roald Amundsen and Dr Frederick Cook as major figures， the explorers wintered over in Antarctica， stuck in the polar ice for just short of two years。 This is the sto I remember watching Shackleton on PBS forty years ago。 I read Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage years ago while listening to Vaughn Williams' Antarctica Suite， one of my favorite pieces of music。 Madhouse at the End of the Earth is a better book。 Covering the expedition of Adrien de Gerlache and George Lecointe， with a young Roald Amundsen and Dr Frederick Cook as major figures， the explorers wintered over in Antarctica， stuck in the polar ice for just short of two years。 This is the story of their voyage。 The author had access to voluminous primary source material since most onboard kept a diary or scientific notebook。 The result is a very well written， compelling， intriguing and exciting non-fiction account of an amazing voyage。 This book reads like fiction。 Treat yourself to a glimpse into the turn of the century polar exploration。 。。。more
Ryan
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So good。 Another great survival story。
Gaurav Langan
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A compelling story of how men driven by glory and adventure can survive in the most brutal conditions。 Also gives a gives a glimpse into psychology of isolation， where one man can go insane， other just treats it as a practice for future expeditions。 Makes me want to go into the rabbit hole of polar explorations and read more about John Franklin's and Robert Scott's ill fated expeditions。 A compelling story of how men driven by glory and adventure can survive in the most brutal conditions。 Also gives a gives a glimpse into psychology of isolation， where one man can go insane， other just treats it as a practice for future expeditions。 Makes me want to go into the rabbit hole of polar explorations and read more about John Franklin's and Robert Scott's ill fated expeditions。 。。。more
Megan
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'With time to think and plan， there developed a longing to get out over the world into the unknown to blaze a trail for a life of useful adventure'。'But what reality has ever equaled the sweet splendour of dreams！' 'With time to think and plan， there developed a longing to get out over the world into the unknown to blaze a trail for a life of useful adventure'。'But what reality has ever equaled the sweet splendour of dreams！' 。。。more
Jolanta （knygupe）
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3，5*
Lauren Lewsley
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Madhouse at the End of the Earth by Julian Sancton is a triumph。 Since reading the very first page I was completely and utterly obsessed。 The story of the Belgica is one that I had never heard of before and since reading， I have been filling my shopping carts with more books about the Belgica as well as the sailor's accounts。 Sancton manages to write a non-fiction book that reads as well as the latest thriller。 Sancton managed to build tension， and create the atmosphere of being in a claustropho Madhouse at the End of the Earth by Julian Sancton is a triumph。 Since reading the very first page I was completely and utterly obsessed。 The story of the Belgica is one that I had never heard of before and since reading， I have been filling my shopping carts with more books about the Belgica as well as the sailor's accounts。 Sancton manages to write a non-fiction book that reads as well as the latest thriller。 Sancton managed to build tension， and create the atmosphere of being in a claustrophobic， dark， and cold Antarctic wasteland。 I cannot recommend this book enough。 5 stars all around。 。。。more
Mike
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Fantastic nonfiction book。 One of the few times I wish I had the hardcover edition instead of my kindle， because of the fantastic photos。 They’re in the kindle edition but not as enjoyable in that format。 Read this in the wintertime to enjoy it even more。 Especially those of you （us） who think true hardship is when the internet is down。 What a bunch of softies we’ve all become。 Quarantine takes on an entirely new meaning here。 Probably the most researched book I’ve ever read by an author。
Susan
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I received this book as an ARC。 Slow to start， too much mundane background on each character。 Title is a bit inaccurate， leading you into thinking there was going to be horrific happenings all over the place。 A lot of bad decisions led to the ship being trapped in the Antarctic ice， the crew struggle to survive， but it's more a tale of endurance and suffering than anything。 The description of their surroundings was most interesting， hard to fathom why someone would want to journey to such a hars I received this book as an ARC。 Slow to start， too much mundane background on each character。 Title is a bit inaccurate， leading you into thinking there was going to be horrific happenings all over the place。 A lot of bad decisions led to the ship being trapped in the Antarctic ice， the crew struggle to survive， but it's more a tale of endurance and suffering than anything。 The description of their surroundings was most interesting， hard to fathom why someone would want to journey to such a harsh environment。 And， as mankind continues to do， so much slaughter and destruction of the native species as well as "trashing" the area with their garbage， discarded carcasses， feces， etc。 Had to skim some of the technical jargon so I didn't lose the thread of the story。 Interesting， but not pulse-pounding reading。 。。。more
Jannes Hessels
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Interesting gripping story of an arctic exploration somewhat unknown to me。 Closely interlinked with future explorations of for instance Amundsen。
Reid Walters
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Sancton transports the reader to the antarctic in this text。 His vivd description and thorough use of primary sources paints a full and clear picture of the Belgica expedition and the crew who comprised it。 He also masterfully describes the character of three main crew members， shedding light on their strengths， flaws， and how they changed not only polar exploration， but terrestrial and extraterrestrial exploration as a whole。
Katie
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Absolutely captivating story about a polar expedition that went sideways。 Fascinating characters， lots of drama and suspense。
Mrs B
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An engrossing account of the Belgica， trapped overwinter in 1897， in the grip of an Antarctic ice pack。The author brings the story to life primarily via the friendship between the maverick Frederick Cook， ship’s doctor， and the determined explorer Roald Amundsen， a friendship which is founded in respect and a mutual imagining of ambitious and vast projects。The author - or his publishing team - have been careful to sell the thrill and danger contained within the pages （just like the ship’s Captai An engrossing account of the Belgica， trapped overwinter in 1897， in the grip of an Antarctic ice pack。The author brings the story to life primarily via the friendship between the maverick Frederick Cook， ship’s doctor， and the determined explorer Roald Amundsen， a friendship which is founded in respect and a mutual imagining of ambitious and vast projects。The author - or his publishing team - have been careful to sell the thrill and danger contained within the pages （just like the ship’s Captain， de Gerlache， who is aware of the reader’s thirst for danger， and courts it）。 But the promise of chilling madness doesn’t quite materialise in the way you might expect from the book’s publicity。 Rats swarm the ship but the menace never goes beyond them nibbling a few clothes to shreds。 Again， madness and scurvy threaten， but aside from the case of one or two unfortunate souls， these dangers are staved off with some nutritious penguin meat。 And at the end of the day， the crew do in the main escape。 It’s gripping， yes， and a fascinating slice of history。 The mens’ ordeal was clearly terrifying and their bravery outstanding。 But the story has a happier ending， and is less dire， than the book jacket suggests。 。。。more
Dirk Flach
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Impressive。
Ann
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Non-fictie die leest als een thriller。 Aanrader！
arkadi cloud
，
https://blog。arkadi。one/p/madhouse-at。。。 https://blog。arkadi。one/p/madhouse-at。。。 。。。more
Dianne
，