Frozen In Time: Amazon.ca: Owen Beattie: Books

Product Description

Review

“Chilling...will keep you up nights turning pages.” -- The Chicago Tribune

Book Description

In its revised form, Frozen in Time updates the research outlined in the original edition and introduces independent confirmation of Dr. Beattie's lead hypothesis, along with new information about his discovery of physical evidence for both scurvy and cannibalism.

The new edition includes never-before-seen photographs from the exhumations on Beechey Island and additional rarely seen historical illustrations.

In addition, the book includes a new introduction written by Margaret Atwood, who has long been fascinated by the role of the Franklin Expedition in Canada's literary conscience and has made a pilgrimage to the site of the Franklin Expedition graves on Beechey Island. The unfolding of Dr. Beattie's unexpected findings is not only a significant document but also, in itself, a tale of high adventure.

See all Product Description

Inside This Book (Learn More)

Explore More
Concordance

Tag this product

(What's this?)

Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items.

Customer Reviews

8 Reviews

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

Average Customer Review

4.6 out of 5 stars (8 customer reviews)

Share your thoughts with other customers:

Create your own review

Most helpful customer reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Graphic and Chilling, Jun 16 2001

By

Rodney Meek (Austin, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: Frozen in time: The fate of the Franklin expedition (Paperback)

While not perhaps a "must-have" for aficionados of the field of polar literature, this is nevertheless a very good book and is well suited as a sort of primer to those who have only a casual interest in the subject.

The book provides a brief outline of disappearance the Franklin Expedition on its quest for the Northwest Passage in the early 1800s and the aftermath of the search conducted by various international parties, government and otherwise. It then relates the events of three research expeditions undertaken by the author, a forensic anthropologist who was interested in finding and reviewing various skeletal remains originally discovered decades after the loss of the Franklin party.

Eventually, he concentrates his efforts on exhuming the frozen bodies of three crewmen who had died in the Franklin Expedition's first icebound season, before they had well and truly plunged irrevocably into tragedy. These men had been buried in well-prepared graves on a small island north of Canada's Hudson Bay. Even to this day, the bodies remain fantastically preserved, and the author was able to uncover intriguing evidence that suggests that the expedition did not succumb in a heroic struggle against the large and grand forces of nature, but rather fell to altogether more pedestrian and minute agents.

The exhumation and autopsy processes are well described, and the theory that later develops is explained simply enough for the layman to follow.

Perhaps the biggest strength of this book is the beautifully composed color photos that show the gravesites and the actual bodies. These pictures are truly stirring and invocative.

The maps are also nicely done. However, the book would have benefited from a timeline and from an additional map showing the location of various Franklin party remains and artifacts. It sometimes becomes difficult to recall who was found where and when, since as it turns out, the expedition members covered a lot of ground and some of them split up. With that exception, though, this is an interesting book and a quick but thought-provoking read.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Report abuse

5.0 out of 5 stars Good enough to fire my interest in the Arctic, Dec 31 2009

By

Marc Ranger "Baseball fan" (qu�bec, canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: Frozen In Time (Paperback)

I've read all there is to know about Antarctica, and was left with nothing more to read. I had to read something else, and naturally, tried North West Passage litterature.

Well, Frozen in time opened the door for me. It fueled my interest in the Arctic and I found that the Arctic history was as fascinating as the South Pole.

Great book to get.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Report abuse

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing and Factual Read!, Oct 9 2002

By

Wendy Voltura (Pocatello, Idaho United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: Frozen in time: The fate of the Franklin expedition (Paperback)

I loved this book! Well written for even the historical novice. Fascinating tale of hardship and tragedy from both historical viewpoint and human frailty. The additional trips made by the author, Owen Beattie, and company showed a true respect for humankind. His written words regarding the excavation and autopsies of the lost men, was both rewarding in explanation and thrilling in discovery. This historical book drew me in and I couldn't put the book down. I've become so fascinated with the fate of the Franklin Expedition that I am reading other books relating to this and other failed Arctic expeditions. Who knew history could be so fascinating? Highly recommended!

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Report abuse

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 8 customer reviews on Amazon.ca

Want to see more reviews on this item?

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 19 reviews 4.7 out of 5 stars

Most recent customer reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Good book, not great
I would use this book to complete a collection on polar exploration and the search for the Northwest Passage; however, this wouldn't be my starter book. Read more

Published on Dec 13 2001 by T. Schmitt

5.0 out of 5 stars Informative and Readable
I can't argue with the other reviewers of this book, and I won't bother reiterating their comments. I would like to add that the author had done a wonderful job of explaining... Read more

Published on Dec 28 2000 by Liana Winsauer