This book includes a few different prefaces, introductions, and an epilogue by Jon Krakauer and David Roberts but the bulk of the book is a story told by a Russian sailor who after being ice-bound on a ship in the Siberian Arctic Ocean for several years, takes about 10 other sailors, and tries to make it back to land on home-made kayaks and sledges. The trip took 3 months and ultimately only Albanov and one other ship-mate survived. The story was lost to the West for many years but I am glad both the story and the protagonist were rescued as the story is a very interesting one.

"In the Land of White Death" is the (nonfiction) diary account of Officer Albanov as he struggles for survival across the arctic ocean in hopes of finding land. On August 28, 1912 the Saint Anna with a crew of 23 set sail from the port of Alexandrovsk on a hunting expedition that was expected to end in Vladivostok. By October 15, the ship became lock in the arctic ice sheet and drifted ever northward. The crew survived two brutal winters inboard despite running out of fuel and having limited supplies. On April 10, 1914 Valerian Albanov along with several of his crewmen left the Saint Anna in hope of making the 235 miles journey back to land. They travel across the arctic ice on foot using homemade kayaks and sleds to transport their few supplies. The crew fights through near constant subzero temps, malnutrition, glaciers, walruses, northward ice flows and dense fog all while using an incomplete hand drawn map to navigate across an ever changing terrain. At one point Albanov writes about constructing kayaks in -36F without gloves. Another time he explains how his crew is without sleeping bags so they use the hides of reindeer. However, the hides only cover up half of their body, so they need to choose which half would be cold for the night.

Overall the book is stunning. In addition to being a great story the writing style is very engrossing, which makes the 190 pages go by exceptionally fast.

really not as thrilling as the blurb suggests

In the Land of White Death is the harrowing account of Valerian Albanov and some of his crewmate’s grueling trek to reach safety as conditions on their icebound ship deteriorated. Out of the original 26 crew members, 14 of which attempted the journey back, only two survived. Told in stunning detail from his journal, this book is an exemplar on the saying: truth is stranger than fiction.

I have read quite a few histories and fiction (especially horror) about polar exploration and have never encountered the level of detail and, surprisingly, wry humor, found in this diary. Albanov displays both caustic and tender feelings for his, as he sees it, largely incompetent crew. The preface (by Jon Krakauer) and introduction provide even more context and history that add to the remarkable details provided by the author. Here you learn to fear walruses over the Arctic trop favorite, polar bears, and read the author’s ecstasy over the joys of plain white bread.

I highly recommend this for any fans, like me, of all things polar and survival horror adjacent.

Fascinating Read.

This true journal of men’s attempt to escape from a ship caught in the ice far north of Russia, making their way over the ice hauling heavy sledges, or between the ice floes in kayaks is fascinating to read.

Great book, but the much praised and highly anticipated Epilogue that was to provide more information and additional clues as to the fate of the Saint Anna, was missing from the ebook I borrowed from my online library! What a disappointment!

I can not believe this journey and rescue is not more well-known. Even though it was a diary, I found myself riveted to my seat at various points in this story. For those who find it “boring, I would ask you to consider that Albanov wasn’t setting out to provide a 21st century thriller-it was a DIARY of a harrowing trek and rescue.

This recently translated diary is a must-read for those interested in polar expeditions gone awry.

3.5 stars, rounded up

Having read Empire of Ice and Stone: The Disastrous and Heroic Voyage of the Karluk, by Buddy Levy, not too long ago, parts of this book seemed somewhat familiar – a ship trapped in the Arctic ice, some of the crew setting out to find help, the trek across the vast frozen wilderness. This story, however, was worse than what those aboard the Karluk had to endure, if only because it occurred over a much longer time.

The diary of one of the men who set out to find help, this book details their journey and all the misadventures that came their way. It is both chilling and amazing to read of the many obstacles they overcame, and their dedication to continue when it would have been easier just to give up.

This was a perfect read for a cold, blustery Pennsylvania winter day, but now I need to find something to warm up with - physically as well as in my reading :)

Interesting read. It would have been nice if someone aboard the Saint Anna had a diary that survived time so that we could know what their two years Ice bound was like. But, great story after Albinov left the ship on foot across the ice.

Hey, let's go search for new discoveries in the unknown frozen Russian Arctic! And let's do it with a completely chaotic and disorganized expedition with only five experienced seamen. Let's do it!

Hey, let's not worry about getting stuck in the ice because we have an abundance of supplies! And let's not worry when the members of the expedition start losing their teeth to scurvy. Let's do it!

Hey, let's not bother to figure out that things are going downhill when we end up much farther north than intended! And let's desert the ship to make a dangerous trek to safety while hating every fellow deserter. Let's do it!

Another problem was the apathy of my companions. The closer we came to the island, the more unbearable their attitude became. They dragged their feet instead of striding bravely forward; they cursed each other constantly and lazed about for long periods on the ground.

This is quite a story, despite the one-sidedness of the narrative. In 1912, Valerian Albanov was the navigator for the ill-fated Brusilov Expedition, which went forth into the frozen Kara sea to search for new sources of walrus, seals, and polar bears. Captain Brusilov wasn't the greatest choice for this adventure and he soon had them entangled in ice that would not let the ship leave its clutches. Albanov decided he had enough and left, with ten other members, to search for a landward route back home. Eventually, only Albanov and one other companion would make it back alive. The fate of the ship and its remaining crew was unknown (at least until 2010 when some items were found).

I love, love, love, love stories of the Arctic and the dangers that overwhelmed some not-very-sensible explorers. This would be a five-star book if it wasn't for the incessant nitpicking by Albanov. Clearly, he had a lot more get-up-and-go than his fellow travellers, but we'll never know what they thought of him, so I take some of his ramblings with a grain of salt. All in all, a darned good book.

Also, best enjoyed listening to Solitude by John Coltrane while drinking chilled sake. Nothing to do with the book, but it helped.

Book Season = Winter (desert of ice)

Amazing first-hand story that buries you in the details of what it was like to explore, in close quarters with folks, many of whom you lack respect for but on which you're dependent, in the early 1900s. Fast read that I did not want to put down. Found myself looking at maps and tracing their route the entire read.