Fast in the Ice


Read by Esther

(4.4 stars; 92 reviews)

At the age of 16 Ballantyne went to Canada and was six years in the service of the Hudson's Bay Company. His rule in writing, being in every case, was to write as far as possible from personal knowledge of the scenes he described. (2 hr 52 min)

Reviews

THIS IS A NOVEL AND IS FICTION


(3.5 stars)

This is a Fiction novel not as stated below by reviewers to be none fiction... no idea why someone would pretend it's a real account one person even aligned it with Shackleton's polar rescue....sorry but it's not real R. M. Ballantyne was a Scottish writer of juvenile fiction. Born Robert Michael Ballantyne in Edinburgh, he was part of a famous family of printers and publishers. At the age of 16 he went to Canada and where he served for six years with the Hudson's Bay Company. He returned to Scotland in 1847, and published his first book the following year, Hudson's Bay: or Life in the Wilds of North America. For some time he was employed by Messrs Constable, the publishers, but in 1856 he gave up business for literature, and began the series of adventure stories for the young with which his name is popularly associated. Less

supurb


(5 stars)

ditto's to review below. I wish the book were 2-3x longer. It's very very interesting.


(5 stars)

Well read Ester. Makes one glad to be a "land lubber" and living in 2019.

BETTER TO READ ABOUT SHACKLETON


(4.5 stars)

The Man Who Ate His Boots


(3.5 stars)

A fascinating tale, wish there was more. Well read.

interesting !


(5 stars)

loved story, and reader..thank you !

Arresting Non-Fiction Adventure Story


(5 stars)

This memoir is a tremendous account from the 19th century. It is well written, and well read too. I enjoyed it all the more because it was -30 celcius (-22 farenheit) outside my window while I listened. The author has purposed to teach as well as narrate, which makes the memoir doubly interesting. And so the battles with walruses and polar bears are supplemented with explanations of how icebergs form and how igloos are built. There is just a hint of religion in the memoir. How to approach the Eskimos with the gospel may be answered by the fact (at least in that day) that the Eskimos encountered by the sailors think stealing is not a sin. The attempt to navigate the northern seas occasions privation, endurance, death, and 'salty tears.' This memoir is wanting for nothing.

Free Audio Review


(5 stars)

A while back I was blown away by Shackletons account of his exploits at the pole, and that lingering awe is what drew me to this story. We have the recorded account of a captain and his crew as they become locked in by the ice. It's a very interesting read/listen you get to hear about the practicalities of the physical environment the men build and the social and mental stresses they go through just trying to survive. We also hear about their escapades with Bears and the occasional interaction with the indiginous people. The story as told is mildly engaging and kept me hooked right to the end. As a bonus the reader is excellent and delivers the reading in a delightful bouncy tone that brings the text alive. For more of my reviews visit http://FreeAudioReview.blogspot.com