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Madhouse at the End of the Earth: The Belgica's Journey into the Dark Antarctic Night

Name: Madhouse at the End of the Earth: The Belgica's Journey into the Dark Antarctic Night
Price: 13.99 USD
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Rating: 4.5 (3259 reviews)

4.5 of 5 Stars: Survival - Madhouse at the End of the Earth: The Belgica's Journey into the Dark Antarctic Night

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Book Synopsis: NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The “exquisitely researched and deeply engrossing” (The New York Times) true survival story of an early polar expedition that went terribly awry—with the ship frozen in ice and the crew trapped inside for the entire sunless, Antarctic winter

“The energy of the narrative never flags. . . . Sancton has produced a thriller.”—The Wall Street Journal

In August 1897, the young Belgian commandant Adrien de Gerlache set sail for a three-year expedition aboard the good ship Belgica with dreams of glory. His destination was the uncharted end of the earth: the icy continent of Antarctica. But de Gerlache’s plans to be first to the magnetic South Pole would swiftly go awry. After a series of costly setbacks, the commandant faced two bad options: turn back in defeat and spare his men the devastating Antarctic winter, or recklessly chase fame by sailing deeper into the freezing waters. De Gerlache sailed on, and soon the Belgica was stuck fast in the icy hold of the Bellingshausen Sea. When the sun set on the magnificent polar landscape one last time, the ship’s occupants were condemned to months of endless night. In the darkness, plagued by a mysterious illness and besieged by monotony, they descended into madness.

In Madhouse at the End of the Earth, Julian Sancton unfolds an epic story of adventure and horror for the ages. As the Belgica’s men teetered on the brink, de Gerlache relied increasingly on two young officers whose friendship had blossomed in captivity: the expedition’s lone American, Dr. Frederick Cook—half genius, half con man—whose later infamy would overshadow his brilliance on the Belgica; and the ship’s first mate, soon-to-be legendary Roald Amundsen, even in his youth the storybook picture of a sailor. Together, they would plan a last-ditch, nearly certain-to-fail escape from the ice—one that would either etch their names in history or doom them to a terrible fate at the ocean’s bottom.

Drawing on the diaries and journals of the Belgica’s crew and with exclusive access to the ship’s logbook, Sancton brings novelistic flair to a story of human extremes, one so remarkable that even today NASA studies it for research on isolation for future missions to Mars. Equal parts maritime thriller and gothic horror, Madhouse at the End of the Earth is an unforgettable journey into the deep.

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Embark on an extraordinary journey with "Madhouse at the End of the Earth: The Belgica's Journey into the Dark Antarctic Night." This captivating true survival story, a New York Times bestseller, will transport you to the heart of an early polar expedition gone wrong. Brace yourself for an epic tale of adventure, horror, and unimaginable human endurance.

Step aboard the good ship Belgica and join Commandant Adrien de Gerlache as he sets sail on a daring quest for glory. His sights are set on the uncharted icy continent of Antarctica, a land untouched by human exploration. But what awaits him and his crew is far beyond their wildest imagination.

As setbacks and challenges unfold, de Gerlache faces a monumental decision. Should he turn back in defeat and spare his men the brutal Antarctic winter? Or should he press on, risking it all to chase fame and the South Pole? With heart-pounding suspense, the commandant ventures deeper into freezing waters, unaware that this decision will seal their fates.

Trapped in the icy hold of the Bellingshausen Sea, the crew of Belgica is plunged into an eternal night. An unrelenting darkness descends upon them, whilst a mysterious illness and the onslaught of monotony, pushes them to the brink of madness. Julian Sancton masterfully paints a picture of the human psyche under extreme duress, leaving you gripping the edge of your seat in anticipation.

At the heart of this chilling account are two extraordinary individuals: Dr. Frederick Cook, who is hailed as both a genius and a con man, and Roald Amundsen, the ship's legendary first mate. The bond between them deepens as they face unimaginable horrors together. Their unlikely friendship holds the key to their survival, driving them to plan a desperate and audacious escape from the ice.

Based on the meticulously preserved diaries and journals of the Belgica's crew, "Madhouse at the End of the Earth" transports you to a world of sheer human extremes. Julian Sancton's exceptional storytelling ability brings this thrilling maritime adventure and gothic horror to life, leaving an indelible mark on your soul. NASA even draws inspiration from this remarkable tale for its research on isolation for future missions to Mars.

Don't miss your chance to experience the captivating, heart-stopping journey to the Madhouse at the End of the Earth. Order your copy now and be prepared to be transported to a world of wonder and terror that will haunt you long after you've turned the final page.

Click here to order "Madhouse at the End of the Earth: The Belgica's Journey into the Dark Antarctic Night" now.

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