|  | Author: Valerian Albanov
Creators: Alison Anderson, Jon Krakauer, David Roberts
Publisher: Modern Library
List Price: $14.95
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Rating:  33 reviews
Sales Rank: 59003
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published)
Media: Paperback
Edition: Expanded
Pages: 288
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 8 x 5.2 x 0.6
ISBN: 067978361X
Dewey Decimal Number: 919.804
EAN: 9780679783619
ASIN: 067978361X
Publication Date: October 17, 2000
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Light shelf wear and minimal interior marks. Millions of satisfied customers and climbing. Thriftbooks is the name you can trust, guaranteed. Spend Less. Read More.
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Showing reviews 26-30 of 33
 Couldn't put it down! February 26, 2001
R. Gerstein (Amherst, MA USA)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Beautifully written. The story grabs you and won't let go. Once you start reading it, you'll want to finish it within a few sittings. A must read if you enjoy learning about individuals who are endowed with an amazing human spirit and will to survive.
 In the Land of White Death February 21, 2001
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
This pearl of a book, so eloquently written, is exactly what makes non-fiction adventure so compelling. You simply cannot believe what you are reading or that the human spirit can overcome such despair. Is it possible to relate to this incredible story in an age where we complain of parking too far from the mall entrance on a cold day? The synopsis is recounted in every review but the essence is captured when Albanov nearly drowns in the icy stormy sea. When most men lose the will to fight death, Albanov resists with every ounce in his body. "Who will ever know how we died? No one! The idea that no one would ever know how we fought against these indomitable elements, and that our end would remain a mystery forever, was an unspeakable torture to me." The irony is that the Russian and translated French diary itself was almost lost in obscurity. The size of this little treasure, which easily fits in the palm of your hand, certainly belies the strength of the story within. It is highly recommended.
No stopping to smell the flowers on this hike January 17, 2001
Joseph Haschka (Glendale, CA USA)
13 out of 14 found this review helpful
Navigating the Barents Sea north of Russia and Siberia can be a dodgy proposition. Nevertheless, in August 1912 the Russian ship "Saint Anna", with 25 men and one female nurse aboard, set sail from Murmansk for Vladivostok (7,000 miles distant via the Northeast Passage), with the expressed purpose of discovering new Arctic hunting grounds. By mid-October, the vessel was trapped in the ice, and, for the next 18 months, drifted helplessly northwards. In April of 1914, ten of the crew and the ship's navigator, Valerian Albanov, despairing of the vessel's eventual release, voluntarily left their shipmates in an attempt, with kayaks and sledges, to reach the Franz Josef island group somewhere to their south. IN THE LAND OF WHITE DEATH, subsequently written by Albanov, is based on his diary of the 3-month, 235-mile odyssey over the ice pack, frigid water and deserted island shores to reach Cape Flora on Northbrook Island, from which point he anticipated rescue.There are many points of similarity between this book and ENDURANCE: SHACKLETON'S INCREDIBLE VOYAGE, by Alfred Lansing, which describes the same sort of gritty survival journey achieved by Sir Ernest Shackleton and his 27 men after their ship, "Endurance" was trapped and crushed by Antarctic ice in 1915 during an abortive attempt to reach the South Pole. Notwithstanding the facts that Shackleton was a more charismatic leader, that Shackleton's men were of better mettle, and that their journey to safety was over a longer distance, the Albanov narrative remains a gripping, tautly told account of men against the elements. One of its chief attractions, for those with short attention spans or too many books to read, is its brevity --190 pages in small-format hardcover. Sadly, there is no photo section (as is included in ENDURANCE). One might wonder why this tale took so long to be noticed by the reading public as opposed to various accounts of the Shackleton ordeal. Perhaps it's because it first had to be translated from Russian, or because Albanov, unlike Shackleton, died in obscurity, or because Shackleton was already a figure of some fame by 1915. Or because all of the Endurance's crew came back alive, while the Saint Anna's crew, well ... In any case, WHITE DEATH is a little gem of a book, and I unreservedly recommend it.
Great story of Arctic survival January 6, 2001
Robert R. Briggs (Santa Barbara, CA USA)
We are fortunate that this incredible story of Arctic survival has finally been translated from the Russian diary of Valerian Albanov so that we can vicariously share in his adventure. If you are a fan of Arctic or Antarctic exploration, then this book is a must read for you. As in the Endurance epic of Ernest Shackleton in Antarctica, Albanov's ship was also locked in the ice only in the far reaches of the Arctic near Franz Josef Land. Albanov and a few others decide to leave the ship and make their way over the ice to the safety of land many miles away. This account documents their efforts as they encounter one hardship after another. I have been to this part of the world and having seen it first hand, it is almost impossible for me to imagine how they survived. It is interesting to compare this story with that of the Shackleton adventure. Both took place at about the same time in history, yet at opposite Poles. The main contrast I noted was the superior leadership qualities of Shackleton. While Albanov did not measure up to that standard, he, nonetheless, with great difficulty seemed to keep his men going. Unfortunately, he did not have the success of Shackleton. This book is a good addition to any library on Polar adventure stories.
Land of White Death December 19, 2000
BRAD KATZMAN (ONTARIO, CALIFORNIA USA)
5 out of 6 found this review helpful
Excellent book. I have read all of Shackelton's books and actually visited the Shackelton exhibit in Ireland and New York. This previously unknown and unpublished adventure is a must for all people who love artic adventures to read. I enjoyed it immensly.Dr Brad Katzman
Showing reviews 26-30 of 33
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