In the Kingdom of Ice: The Grand and Terrible Polar Voyage of the USS Jeannette Summary & Key Insights

Hampton Sides' "In the Kingdom of Ice" recounts the disastrous 1879 Arctic expedition of the USS Jeannette, a tale of human endurance, scientific ambition, and the unforgiving power of nature. The book focuses on the ill-fated attempt by George Washington De Long, a dashing, ambitious, and ultimately tragically flawed Navy lieutenant, to reach the North Pole by sailing through the Bering Strait and into the Arctic Ocean. De Long believed a navigable polar sea existed, a theory that proved disastrously wrong.

The main plot follows the Jeannette's journey from San Francisco, through the Bering Strait, and into the icy grip of the Arctic pack ice. The crew, a diverse group including experienced sailors, scientists, and even a journalist, faced mounting hardships. The ship became trapped for over two years, drifting helplessly with the ice, enduring brutal cold, scurvy, and the constant threat of crushing ice floes. The ship's gradual demise is a central narrative thread, highlighting the men's struggle against the elements and the erosion of their hope.

Key characters beyond De Long include Chief Engineer George Melville, a pragmatic and resourceful leader who eventually played a crucial role in the survival of some of the crew, and the ship's surgeon, Dr. Ambler, whose medical expertise was tested to its limits. The story also highlights the bravery and resilience of the ordinary seamen, many of whom faced immense personal hardship with stoicism. The contrasting leadership styles of De Long and Melville, one idealistic and prone to reckless decisions, the other practical and decisive, become pivotal to the unfolding tragedy.

Ultimately, the Jeannette is crushed by the ice, forcing the crew to abandon ship in flimsy boats. De Long, demonstrating a lack of navigational skills in the perilous environment, leads his group toward the Lena Delta in Siberia. Facing starvation, hypothermia, and exhaustion, most of De Long's party perish. Melville, meanwhile, leads a group that successfully makes its way to safety. The survivors' harrowing tales, pieced together from diaries and journals, form the emotional core of the narrative.

The overarching themes explore the human drive for exploration and discovery, the limitations of human ambition in the face of overwhelming natural forces, and the complex interplay of leadership, luck, and survival. Sides masterfully weaves together historical accounts, scientific background, and personal narratives to create a gripping and ultimately tragic story of courage, failure, and the enduring allure of the Arctic. The book serves as a potent reminder of the fragility of human life against the backdrop of the vast, unforgiving Arctic wilderness.