Summary & Analysis - In The Kingdom Of Ice: Based On The Book By Hampton Sides

SUMMARY & ANALYSIS

IN THE KINGDOM OF ICE

BASED ON THE BOOK BY HAMPTON SIDES

SUMMARY WRITTEN BY: BOOK SUMMARY STATION

CONTENT

Setting the Stage: James Gordon Bennett and the New York Herald

The Arctic Beckons: De Long's Ambition and the Open Polar Sea

Preparing for the Expedition: Securing the Jeannette

The Centennial Exhibition and Scientific Pursuits

Setting Sail: San Francisco and the Final Farewells

Into the Ice: The Jeannette's Arctic Drift

Discovery and Abandonment: Bennett Island and the Crushing of the Jeannette

The Long March and Separation: Disaster in the Lena Delta

Fates Sealed: Melville's Rescue Efforts and the Discovery of De Long's Camp

Analysis

ABOUT THE ORIGINAL BOOK

Hampton Sides' In the Kingdom of Ice chronicles the harrowing voyage of the U.S.S. Jeannette and its crew's ill-fated attempt to reach the North Pole. Led by .L.ieutenant .G.eorge .D.e .L.ong, the expedition sets sail with high hopes, fueled by the belief in an open polar sea. However, the Jeannette becomes trapped in ice, initiating a long and brutal ordeal. As the ship drifts for months, the crew faces dwindling supplies, perilous conditions, and growing uncertainty.

When the ship is finally crushed, the crew is forced to abandon ship and make a desperate attempt to reach civilization across the Arctic ice. Split into separate boats, the men encounter storms and navigate treacherous terrain, with .D.e .L.ong and .M.elville leading separate groups. The book follows these groups as they struggle to survive, facing starvation, exhaustion, and the relentless forces of nature. The central themes are exploration, leadership, and the extreme limits of human endurance.

© 2025 Book Summary Station (Audiobook): 9798347911646

Release date

Audiobook: February 27, 2025