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In the Land of White Death: An Epic Story of Survival in the Siberian Arctic
A New York Times Bestseller In 1912, thirty-two-year-old Russian navigator Valerian Albanov embarked on an expedition that would prove to be disastrous. His ship, the Santa Anna, froze fast in the pack ice of the treacherous Kara Sea. For nearly a year and a half, the crew of twenty-five men and one woman endured terrible hardships and danger as the ship drifted helplessly north. Then Albanov and thirteen crewmen left the ship, and embarked on a 235-mile journey to reach safety. The fact that any survived is as amazing as the fact that Albanov kept his diary of the ninety-day ordeal.
285 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1917
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About the author
Valerian Albanov
3books8followersValerian Ivanovich Albanov (Russian: Валериан Альбанов) was a Russian navigator, best known for being one of two survivors of the Brusilov expedition of 1912, which killed 22.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 237 reviews
December 22, 2024
I often end up reading a polar adventure story at this time of year. It seems to be appropriate for the stormy weather outside and the long dark nights. The west coast of Scotland, where I live, has a mild climate for such a northerly location, but we can’t escape the effects of latitude on the hours of daylight. At this time of year in northern Scotland, daylight is like an exceedingly shy dinner guest, who creeps in apologetically and is gone again at the first opportunity, almost before anyone noticed they were there.
This book is essentially the journal of Valerian Albanov, second-in-command of a ship called the Saint Anna, which in 1912 left the port of Alexandrovsk (I think this is the present day town of Polyarny, near Murmansk) with the intention of sailing to Vladivostok via the northeast passage, along the north coast of Russia. This journey had only been undertaken once before, in 1879 by the Swedish explorer Baron Nils Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld. The Saint Anna was not on a voyage of exploration as such, but it was intended the journey would identify new locations for the hunting of seals, walrus and other arctic animals.
There were lots of delays to the departure of the Saint Anna, which did not sail until the end of August 1912. Starting so late in summer pretty much guaranteed the ship would be iced in that winter, and that duly happened in the Kara Sea in October. Getting iced-in for winter was a normal thing on an arctic journey and the ship had several years supply of food, though they had inexplicably failed to take any antiscorbutics. What the crew hadn’t realised though, was that ocean currents would carry the ice, and thus the ship, far to the north. The ship remained trapped in the ice during the summer of 1913 and the crew spent another winter on board. By the spring of 1914 the ship lay at 82º 58� N, somewhere to the north of the Franz Josef archipelago, though at the time no-one knew the precise location of those islands.
Albanov thought that the ship was now so far north it would have no chance of escaping the ice. With the agreement of the commander, Lt. Brusilov, he and 13 others decided to try to make it back to civilisation by sledge and kayak, and it is this story that is related in the book. Brusilov and another part of the crew took their chances on the ship.
Albanov’s story is an absolutely gripping tale. I’m not going to go into detail about it because even though this is a true-life account it reads like a thriller. If you don’t know the story I would strongly recommend avoiding the Preface and Introduction (which outline the events in full) until after you have read Albanov’s account. The only thing I will say is that because it’s a journal, the style is very simple and direct.
Most British people of my generation know the stories of the polar expeditions of Scott and Shackleton (though I don’t think many younger people do). Albanov’s journey happened at more or less the same time, but is far less well-known in the Anglophone world. His tale deserves to be placed alongside those of his better known contemporaries.
This book is essentially the journal of Valerian Albanov, second-in-command of a ship called the Saint Anna, which in 1912 left the port of Alexandrovsk (I think this is the present day town of Polyarny, near Murmansk) with the intention of sailing to Vladivostok via the northeast passage, along the north coast of Russia. This journey had only been undertaken once before, in 1879 by the Swedish explorer Baron Nils Adolf Erik Nordenskiöld. The Saint Anna was not on a voyage of exploration as such, but it was intended the journey would identify new locations for the hunting of seals, walrus and other arctic animals.
There were lots of delays to the departure of the Saint Anna, which did not sail until the end of August 1912. Starting so late in summer pretty much guaranteed the ship would be iced in that winter, and that duly happened in the Kara Sea in October. Getting iced-in for winter was a normal thing on an arctic journey and the ship had several years supply of food, though they had inexplicably failed to take any antiscorbutics. What the crew hadn’t realised though, was that ocean currents would carry the ice, and thus the ship, far to the north. The ship remained trapped in the ice during the summer of 1913 and the crew spent another winter on board. By the spring of 1914 the ship lay at 82º 58� N, somewhere to the north of the Franz Josef archipelago, though at the time no-one knew the precise location of those islands.
Albanov thought that the ship was now so far north it would have no chance of escaping the ice. With the agreement of the commander, Lt. Brusilov, he and 13 others decided to try to make it back to civilisation by sledge and kayak, and it is this story that is related in the book. Brusilov and another part of the crew took their chances on the ship.
Albanov’s story is an absolutely gripping tale. I’m not going to go into detail about it because even though this is a true-life account it reads like a thriller. If you don’t know the story I would strongly recommend avoiding the Preface and Introduction (which outline the events in full) until after you have read Albanov’s account. The only thing I will say is that because it’s a journal, the style is very simple and direct.
Most British people of my generation know the stories of the polar expeditions of Scott and Shackleton (though I don’t think many younger people do). Albanov’s journey happened at more or less the same time, but is far less well-known in the Anglophone world. His tale deserves to be placed alongside those of his better known contemporaries.
February 28, 2016
Someone please explain to me why in the middle of the New England winter I set out to read books about Arctic and Antarctic expeditions. I was looking back and saw that I read about Shackleton's trip last winter and Robert Scot's the winter before. It struck me that it's similar to my need to listen to the saddest music I can find when I'm feeling sad. Maybe the best way to make it through winters and sadness is to go to them and through them instead of trying to avoid them. What a gem of a find this book is. In 1922 Valerian Albanov, a Russian navigator, sets off in a small ship (steam and sail) with a proposed trajectory from Alexdraovsk (present day Murmansk) to Vadivostok. My jaw dropped when I Googled the map of Russia. Start off at the top of Russia, a stone's throw from the Arctic sea, and then travel across all the northern boundary of Russia and then when you hit the end go South to almost the end of the Eastern boundary. They set out in late August which is a couple of months too late and by October the ship finds itself trapped in the ice of the Kara sea. It wintered over the ice expecting to be set loose by the warmth of the following summer but summer came without warmth and with no deliverance. In the meantime the ship kept drifting north some 2,400 miles from where it first was trapped. Another year goes by and finally, Albanov, second in command, and thirteen other crew members, set off in a southerly direction with Kayaks and sleds in search of land leaving the rest of the crew behind. What makes this book so extraordinary is first: the book is Albanov's first person account of his journey (only he and another sailor make it out alive) and second: Albanov can write. His diary is not the usual cold blooded: "Three miles against gail winds. Seal blubber almost gone. Spirits low." Albanov rails against his lazy, careless crew with Dostoievskian relish. He describes what he sees with the eyes and words of a poet. But most of all, and now that I think of it, maybe this is why I read these books, the man exudes through his words and exemplifies through his actions a kind of hope and courage that seems more than human. Why keep on month after month in unbelievable hopeless hardship? Why not just lay yourself down and sleep your way to a peaceful death? The writing is so real (remember this isn't fiction) that you cannot help but to put yourself right next to Albanov and wonder whether you would have it in you to persist and go on and not give up. I don't know the answer to that. I think probably not. But I am strengthened, by the fact that men like Albanov did. And this knowledge makes my own small winter more bearable.
March 31, 2017
Amazing and harrowing - this is the incredible first hand account of a desperate (costly but successful) attempt to find rescue in the arctic after being icebound on a ship for over two years. If you like survival stories, this is a great one! Just...make sure you're warm and well-fed while reading it.
March 31, 2024
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)
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)
April 15, 2018
In 1975, Arctic expert William Barr wrote “The name of Valerian Ivanovich Albanov must be ranked among those of the immortals of polar exploration. This is his story. In 1914, after 18 months trapped in the ice on board the Saint Anna , Albanov, known as the permission to abandon the ship along with 13 crew mates, to attempt to travel by hauling and sailing kayaks to the distant Franz Joseph Land. He sees it as their only chance of survival. With no map other than a rough sketch, and constant attacks by walrus, polar bear, and much sickness, the survival story is incredible, and the fact he kept a diary, even more so. His narrative was first published in Russian in 1917, but not translated until 2001. Yet it reads like a modern day Arctic survival thriller. There are references to the Jeanette , and the subsequent rescue attempts, told so wonderfully in Hampton Sides’s In The Kingdom Of Ice . Both books are excellent additions to the classics of polar exploration.
January 18, 2023
Well, it's January and that means it's time once again to vicariously trek to the far north (or south) to insanely frigid regions. Yes, this is the perfect way to keep from succumbing to the impulse to turn up the heat. It's chilly.... but so much warmer than in Siberia, after all. (I do a similar thing in the summer, reading about, say, the Bataan Death March when the weather seems unbearably hot and muggy. How can I complain?)
But enough about my odd ways of coping with the weather. This short account of an ill-prepared and short-sighted arctic expedition clips along at a bracing pace. Footnotes throughout the text add clarification and interesting side notes. Albanov writes with emotion and clarity, though at times he's a bit of a pill, moaning on about the shortcomings of his fellow crew members. But in terms of bad weather, bad timing, and all-around bad luck, combined with heroic effort and determination, this account is hard to beat. A fine addition to my "harrowing tales" shelf.
But enough about my odd ways of coping with the weather. This short account of an ill-prepared and short-sighted arctic expedition clips along at a bracing pace. Footnotes throughout the text add clarification and interesting side notes. Albanov writes with emotion and clarity, though at times he's a bit of a pill, moaning on about the shortcomings of his fellow crew members. But in terms of bad weather, bad timing, and all-around bad luck, combined with heroic effort and determination, this account is hard to beat. A fine addition to my "harrowing tales" shelf.
July 29, 2023
An excellent read. Written in a daily journal style, this is a book that drew me in and held my interest from start to finish. Easily one of the best survival stories that I've ever read.
July 24, 2019
This is a great a little book. After their boat was frozen in for 2 years, a group sets off across the ice flows to find help. The only bad thing was the journal that Valerian kept on the ship for the 2 years was lost!!! I would have loved to read that story. This first hand account of the trek across a frozen ocean is amazing. Well documented and gripping. His experience is truly something that very few have or ever will understand. I actually read the book twice... back to back. Yes, when I finished reading it I started over and read it again. I love exploration history and few stories rival this accomplishment. It shows that the will to survive can drive men to almost super human feats of strength and endurance. Beware the walruses!!!
June 17, 2017
Fascinating, well written, horrifying! This is a mesmerizing story by Russian navigator Valerian Ivanovich Albanov of the plight of the Russian schooner _Saint Anna_, which attempted an Arctic voyage across the Northeast Passage to Vladivostok in 1912. Two years later, only Albanov and one other crew member survived, and the _Saint Anna_, which they departed with about 14 men in homemade kayaks and sledges when it became frozen in ice, was never recovered.
June 9, 2020
I have a fascination with the Arctic and Arctic stories, and this hit the spot.
In 1912, Albanov signed on to an expedition to the Russian Arctic as Navigator on the Saint Anna. The ship was almost immediately locked in ice, and after two years with no thaw in sight, Albanov set off with 13 other men to escape the ice and find land. They crossed miles of ice and open water, finally reaching some tiny islands, but even that doesn't guarantee their safety.
This is a translation of Albanov's diary, beginning in the days before he leaves the ship and ending once he reaches Russia proper. It's a fascinating story, and Albanov is an honest and thoughtful narrator. He also does a wonderful job describing the animals and landscape of the Arctic, and doesn't skimp on the hardship. The text is lightly annotated to correct factual errors or to suggest medical explanations for some of the things that happened, but it's almost entirely his words on the page. You can't help but admire someone who refused to leave his diary behind, and wrote bent over a smoky bear fat lamp with frozen finger, just so he could keep a record.
If you're interested in Shackleton, or you liked , or if you like expedition narratives, definitely pick this up. It's fascinating, extremely readable, and gives a glimpse into a world very few of us will ever experience.
In 1912, Albanov signed on to an expedition to the Russian Arctic as Navigator on the Saint Anna. The ship was almost immediately locked in ice, and after two years with no thaw in sight, Albanov set off with 13 other men to escape the ice and find land. They crossed miles of ice and open water, finally reaching some tiny islands, but even that doesn't guarantee their safety.
This is a translation of Albanov's diary, beginning in the days before he leaves the ship and ending once he reaches Russia proper. It's a fascinating story, and Albanov is an honest and thoughtful narrator. He also does a wonderful job describing the animals and landscape of the Arctic, and doesn't skimp on the hardship. The text is lightly annotated to correct factual errors or to suggest medical explanations for some of the things that happened, but it's almost entirely his words on the page. You can't help but admire someone who refused to leave his diary behind, and wrote bent over a smoky bear fat lamp with frozen finger, just so he could keep a record.
If you're interested in Shackleton, or you liked , or if you like expedition narratives, definitely pick this up. It's fascinating, extremely readable, and gives a glimpse into a world very few of us will ever experience.
May 18, 2020
A harrowing epic of survival, hope and the will of the human spirit to survive, Good story, and best have a warm fire going or read it in the summer...
January 28, 2021
Albanov war zur selben Zeit, in der Shakleton in der Antarktis um sein Überleben und das seiner Mannschaft kämpfte als Navigator auf einem Schiff in der Arktis unterwegs. Ziel war das Ergründen neuer Fanggebiete. Die Expedition war mehr oder weniger zum Scheitern verurteilt, da schlechte Vorbereitungen getroffen worden und die Mannschaft aus unerfahrenen Männern bestand (es war sogar eine Frau an Bord!). Als das Schiff über ein Jahr im Eis eingeschlossen war, erbat sich Albanov von seinem Kaiptän, mit dem er eh nicht klar kam, die Erlaubnis das Schiff zu verlassen und über das Eis Land zu erreichen. Von diesem Zeitpunkt aus erzählt er von seiner Reise auf selbstgebauten Schlitten und Kajaks mit einigen Freiwilligen. Albanov erzählt sehr unterhaltsam und kurzweilig von den Geschehnissen und der täglichen Qual über unwegsamen Eis zu wandern. Ein Abzug, da mir manchmal Albanov Stil etwas zu übertrieben vorkam (Das Buch basiert auf seinem Tagebuch, er hat es nach der Expedition für die Veröffentlichung umgeschrieben.). Als Kapitän hätte er sich auch nicht so wirklich geeignet, fällt es ihm doch schwer, sich in seine Mitstreiter reinzuversetzen. Trotzdem ein schöne Lektüre, mit der man wunderbar in die kalten Gefilde der Arktis reisen kann.
January 1, 2018
This was a great, intriguing book that I read in a little over one day. It is the true story of the trials and tribulations of a group of men walking across hundreds of miles of ice to reach land after their ship becomes icebound. The narrative is in the form of the diary entries of the ship's navigator, Valerian Albanov. Not to give too much away (this information is on the back cover of the book), but only the narrator and one other man survive, out of an original crew of over 20. The story is so harrowing. The strength of character and sheer wherewithal that some people have astounds me. I was happy to read this tale from the comfort of my sofa, under a duvet with a cup of hot tea to keep me company. Reading a story like this is about as adventurous as I get.
I was so impressed by Albanov - his poetic turns of phrases, his storytelling abilities, and the quality of his character. And I was astonished to learn in the Epilogue that two months after being rescued, he boarded another ship to the Arctic! WTF!!?? He must have been a sucker for punishment.
I was so impressed by Albanov - his poetic turns of phrases, his storytelling abilities, and the quality of his character. And I was astonished to learn in the Epilogue that two months after being rescued, he boarded another ship to the Arctic! WTF!!?? He must have been a sucker for punishment.
March 25, 2016
Here we are, back in the Arctic, because apparently I never learn. I thought this would just be a standard, journalistic read about yet another doomed Arctic quest, and until I got to the epilogue, that's exactly what it was. If you read this book, whatever you do, do not skip the epilogue. That's where the real drama unfolds, and the aspect of the narrative revealed in the epilogue changes everything. You have to read the rest of the book for the bombshell to land, however.
November 21, 2024
A true story. Shipwrecked in the frozen north, a small team of Russian scientists and sailors attempts to survive by slowly heading south on foot and rowboat. The translation may have interfered, but the writing style was not well done. However, the story itself is fascinating. The conflicts the team had with aggressive walruses has stuck with me and changed the way I think of walruses.
December 22, 2024
In one of the lesser-known tales of polar survival, a Russian voyage in search of whales, bears, seals, and the Northeast passage goes spectacularly wrong, and after two winters drifting north in the grip of the pack ice, ten of the 23 on board decide to trek south with sledges and kayaks in the hope of reaching Franz Josef Land. Only two of them live to tell the tale.
There’s all the usual stuff you expect from the genre: frostbite, scurvy, raw birds and polar bear liver for breakfast, and frequent dunkings in frigid brine. But what makes this one especially interesting compared to the likes of Nansen, Shackleton, Cherry, Mawson etc. is that none of these guys signed up for an arctic death-march. The crew of the Sant Anna, a mix of ordinary sailors, hunters, general adventurers, and, extraordinarily, a woman (who, however, stays behind on the ship) has almost no polar experience and is unprepared even for the planned itinerary. They have hardly any maps or geographical knowledge, not enough fuel, one sleeping bag between them, they have to improvise their sledges and kayaks out of stuff lying around the ship. The author and ship’s navigator, Albanov, shows some leadership ability by his own account, but the men in general are resigned, indolent, querulous bordering on mutinous, and habitually uncooperative � just as you’d expect ordinary people, rather than intrepid British/Norwegian arctic hands, to be. Where Scott and Shackleton and their men have nightly revues and singalongs to keep their spirits and stiff upper lips up, this lot always look on the gloomy side of life. In a way, it’s as miraculous that 10% of them made it out alive as it is that 100% of Shackleton’s did. In a dark and somehow very Russian twist of fate, the author only lived a few more years � blown up in a freak munitions train explosion.
Don’t skip the afterword, which contains a fascinating revelation about Albanov’s fellow survivor.
There’s all the usual stuff you expect from the genre: frostbite, scurvy, raw birds and polar bear liver for breakfast, and frequent dunkings in frigid brine. But what makes this one especially interesting compared to the likes of Nansen, Shackleton, Cherry, Mawson etc. is that none of these guys signed up for an arctic death-march. The crew of the Sant Anna, a mix of ordinary sailors, hunters, general adventurers, and, extraordinarily, a woman (who, however, stays behind on the ship) has almost no polar experience and is unprepared even for the planned itinerary. They have hardly any maps or geographical knowledge, not enough fuel, one sleeping bag between them, they have to improvise their sledges and kayaks out of stuff lying around the ship. The author and ship’s navigator, Albanov, shows some leadership ability by his own account, but the men in general are resigned, indolent, querulous bordering on mutinous, and habitually uncooperative � just as you’d expect ordinary people, rather than intrepid British/Norwegian arctic hands, to be. Where Scott and Shackleton and their men have nightly revues and singalongs to keep their spirits and stiff upper lips up, this lot always look on the gloomy side of life. In a way, it’s as miraculous that 10% of them made it out alive as it is that 100% of Shackleton’s did. In a dark and somehow very Russian twist of fate, the author only lived a few more years � blown up in a freak munitions train explosion.
Don’t skip the afterword, which contains a fascinating revelation about Albanov’s fellow survivor.
February 3, 2025
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.
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.
January 8, 2024
Have been waiting for a cold and snowy day to read this. Started it yesterday but all the snow melted! Anyway once I started I couldn’t stop. Very good polar memoir, obviously Albanov believes mental toughness is more important than physical stamina. The epilogue was just as interesting as the memoir itself—Konrad’s account is fascinating and gives a good insight into Albanov and the rest of the crew. Clearly no one had an idea what they were doing except Albanov and it’s one of the tragedies of this account that so many of the hardships were so avoidable.
December 26, 2018
It is a diary written in 1912 over a 2 yr period as an expedition was trying to find a route to the North Pole. 28-30 men and 1 woman set out on a Ship but became lodged in ice. 10 men set out with kayaks and “sledges� to head south to get help. It is a true story of survival and a very interesting read. Only 2 men came home. The rest perished on the trek for help as well as those who stayed with the ship. If you like survival stories this was a good short read.
March 23, 2019
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.
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.
May 10, 2023
Given the situation the Albanov was pretty calm and handled the whole thing pretty well tbh. If I were in the situation I would definitely not have made it out!
January 11, 2019
Exceptional! From the introductions to the original works and journal entries of the survivors, this is a living, breathing work that deserves notice and applause. How these men made it through this ordeal is astounding, oftentimes shocking, and always gripping. A must read.
June 8, 2019
Great way to beat the summer heat! The epilogue to the Modern Library edition is definitely worth reading, as it changes your understanding of the book completely and makes you want to go back and start it all over with fresh eyes. In addition to being a great adventure story, it's another testament to the lost art of the travel diary.
February 27, 2019
The ingenuity, resourcefulness, and resolve presented in this first-hand account are admirable, and a testament of Albanov's expertise as a sailor. This was an intriguing glimpse of unintended adventure and willpower being pushed to the limit.
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June 24, 2012"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.
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.
March 24, 2024
A couple years ago, I read "Endurance: Shackelton's Incredible Voyage" by Alfred Lansing, which chronicles Ernest Shackleton's Antarctic expedition in 1914 that led to a harrowing experience being stuck on the ice in extremely cold conditions for over a year. It was an exciting book, and I assumed that "In the Land of the White Death" would be a quite similar read. However, to my surprise, I discovered this book is written by a member of the expedition party himself, the navigator Valerian Albanov. At first, I expected the quality of the writing to be inferior to Lansing's, coming from a sailor instead of a distinguished author and historian. On the contrary, Albanov proves to be a wonderful writer, to the extent that I felt I was right next to him on the ice in the frigid Siberian Arctic Ocean. This book was not just the "polar" opposite of "Endurance", but also a completely different narrative with alternate circumstances, parties involved, human emotions, tensions, desires, losses, and triumphs.
Without giving away the ending, it is remarkable what Albanov had to overcome to survive in the extreme circumstances he found himself and his companions in. He had to make life-or-death decisions and proved to be an effective leader. I felt great empathy and sadness for all the ordeals he and his men had to endure, ordeals which pushed their humanity to its limits. I highly recommend this book, and have found a personal hero of sorts in Valerian Albanov!
Without giving away the ending, it is remarkable what Albanov had to overcome to survive in the extreme circumstances he found himself and his companions in. He had to make life-or-death decisions and proved to be an effective leader. I felt great empathy and sadness for all the ordeals he and his men had to endure, ordeals which pushed their humanity to its limits. I highly recommend this book, and have found a personal hero of sorts in Valerian Albanov!
August 17, 2009
An engrossing first-hand account of a trek across the Arctic wilderness in a quest for survival. In this translation of Albanov's journal kept throughout his ordeal, Albanov describes, in great detail, the trials he and his followers faced while trekking towards safety. Despite knowing the ending before opening the book, it was easy to be held captive by his writing, waiting to see what happens next. While Albanov comes off as a smidge arrogant, it's hard to find fault with that--he managed to get himself and one other man to safety after countless near-death experiences...I think he earned that arrogance.
I did find myself speed reading through small sections here and there. You can only read so much about walking on ice and shooting seals and polar bears before it becomes a bit monotonous.
The publishers do a fantastic job of adding historical context to the journal in the prologue and epilogue, particularly in including excerpts of the journal of Albanov's fellow survivor. It definitely helps to round out the tale. The one thing I would have liked to have seen was more about what the two did after finding safety. There was a bit in the epilogue, but I longed for more.
The only other thing to say about this book is that I am certainly not cut out for polar expedition. Shocking revelation, I know!
I did find myself speed reading through small sections here and there. You can only read so much about walking on ice and shooting seals and polar bears before it becomes a bit monotonous.
The publishers do a fantastic job of adding historical context to the journal in the prologue and epilogue, particularly in including excerpts of the journal of Albanov's fellow survivor. It definitely helps to round out the tale. The one thing I would have liked to have seen was more about what the two did after finding safety. There was a bit in the epilogue, but I longed for more.
The only other thing to say about this book is that I am certainly not cut out for polar expedition. Shocking revelation, I know!
August 28, 2023
The sad thing about reading true stories from the past is knowing, invariably, that our writer and protagonist died long ago and you can only hope they died well. It's sad to see that after such a treacherous journey, in a landscape where the only other living organisms are polar bears (who want to kill you), Albanov's death is something of a mystery. Whether from a fever or an accident, his death later in life is not a spoiler for the story, as it's title suggests, it is a story of survival. Albanov's frankness describing his bleak situation and quality of his fellows has this mixture of being both very modern and old-world gentlemanly (for lack of a better word) that is really captivating. As an example of what I mean, check out this quote that describes his ship's situation once they've run out of fuel for the engines:
What a totally different time! Who would think it necessary to bring a piano on an arctic expedition, and in a life or death situation, think it an affront to willingly destroy a musical instrument over the very beams their standing on. This is a generation of people that think it vitally important to have a clean change of clothes prepared (manufactured from polar bear fur, of course) lest your would-be saviors see you dirty and unwashed. Despite these aristocratic conventions, Albanov speaks to the reader like a fellow accomplice, he hates his captain, he dislikes his crew, and thinks there's a good chance he'll die. When it comes to the reality of the situation, Albanov doesn't mince words, and this pragmatism is what makes him palatable to modern readers.
Another element of Albanov that I find charming is his romanticism. Despite being an educated man and navigator for his ship, he always keeps an image of Saint Nicholas the M|racle worker in his pocket for good luck. Dreams play an important role in Albanov's story, as their premonitions of safety keep hope alive among the team of survivors. Moreover, a turn of good luck always merits thanks to the Greek gods, with Albanov thanking Diana for the gift of a good hunt and Aeolus for the favor of a good wind. I don't know much about the culture of sailors, but I feel like this overt superstition is what makes their stories and beliefs so fascinating to laypeople.
There's a third character in this work that bears mentioning and that is of the very arctic itself, specifically of this time period, the late 1800s and early 1900s. Some parts of this book remind me alot of the setting of the modern science fiction novel Metro 2033, which takes place in the post-apocalyptic Moscow underground. One section of this dead world is a complete mystery to those living just next door, with unknown dangers as well as hidden treasures, the major stumbling block for everyone involved being a lack of information. The world of the far north is, as Albanov describes it, similar to being post apocalyptic. It is mostly dead and everything wants to kill you. Human life is only possible through the extreme effort of explorers and seamen, hauling thousands of pounds of supplies into the middle of nowhere. Albanov himself only survives by sheer accident (or fate) finding the previous supplies of failed expeditions he has no knowledge about, the forgotten remains of a rich industrialists vision of glory or a government funded scientific expedition. In a world where information travels slowly and usually only written down, Albanov has no knowledge of who was where or even what the shape of the arctic landmasses are, only a dotted line on a hand-drawn map will suffice. This sort of mystery about what's really out there, and the occasional bursts of beauty as nature finds a way to take root in the few islands of the far north, is what makes the tundra so alluring a setting for people to learn about and makes the idea of an arctic expedition seem reasonable.
Overall, I think this book has become one of my new favorite reads and is highly recommended.
Some quotes I liked:
I have often tried, but always in vain, to fathom their thoughts; all I know is that it is extremely aggravating to be involved with characters of this nature in such dangerous circumstances. They are always there, I can see them, but that is all. Often it would be better not to see them, for they are of no help whatsoever; they are, in fact, more of a burden than anything else, and they have ambitions that are totally unwarranted. During the most critical moments I was always essentially alone, and it was then that I understood the profound truth of the precept: "It is when you are alone that you are free. If you want to live, fight for as long as you have strength and determination. You may have no one to help you with your struggle, but you will at least have no one dragging you under. When you are alone, it is always easier to stay afloat." (Pg.115)
This was not hostility toward Shpakovsky, who had never done anyone any harm, and the driftwood itself was unimportant. A healthier person was simply rebelling against the illness that had marked a comrade for its target. Those words were simply meant to kindle some energy and bring back the will to survive at any price. The mind must command the limbs and convert itself into a force that controls the body; even if part of that body refuses to obey. Those who let themselves go in these circumstances quickly fall prey to death. There is no way out, other than remaining master of one's body, down to the last muscle. Every temptation must be repressed. When exhaustion tempts one to rest, the legs give up. It is vital not to give in. One must continually urge the mind to victory in its overwhelming struggle against the body. The seductions of lethargy gradually creep in, ready to take over, and that is where the danger lies. (Pg.135)
"At this very moment the ship belowdecks is being ransacked: bulkheads, auxiliary beams, anything that is not a vital structural part of the ship is being mercilessly sacrificed to the ax. Not a single cabin was spared, and we will all have to spend the night on deck. Mr. Vize has even suggested feeding the piano to the flames. For the time being we cannot yet bring ourselves to do that, and hope to avoid such an act of vandalism. I have even heard that the jib boom and topmast will be next to be fed to the boiler. (pg.179)
What a totally different time! Who would think it necessary to bring a piano on an arctic expedition, and in a life or death situation, think it an affront to willingly destroy a musical instrument over the very beams their standing on. This is a generation of people that think it vitally important to have a clean change of clothes prepared (manufactured from polar bear fur, of course) lest your would-be saviors see you dirty and unwashed. Despite these aristocratic conventions, Albanov speaks to the reader like a fellow accomplice, he hates his captain, he dislikes his crew, and thinks there's a good chance he'll die. When it comes to the reality of the situation, Albanov doesn't mince words, and this pragmatism is what makes him palatable to modern readers.
Another element of Albanov that I find charming is his romanticism. Despite being an educated man and navigator for his ship, he always keeps an image of Saint Nicholas the M|racle worker in his pocket for good luck. Dreams play an important role in Albanov's story, as their premonitions of safety keep hope alive among the team of survivors. Moreover, a turn of good luck always merits thanks to the Greek gods, with Albanov thanking Diana for the gift of a good hunt and Aeolus for the favor of a good wind. I don't know much about the culture of sailors, but I feel like this overt superstition is what makes their stories and beliefs so fascinating to laypeople.
There's a third character in this work that bears mentioning and that is of the very arctic itself, specifically of this time period, the late 1800s and early 1900s. Some parts of this book remind me alot of the setting of the modern science fiction novel Metro 2033, which takes place in the post-apocalyptic Moscow underground. One section of this dead world is a complete mystery to those living just next door, with unknown dangers as well as hidden treasures, the major stumbling block for everyone involved being a lack of information. The world of the far north is, as Albanov describes it, similar to being post apocalyptic. It is mostly dead and everything wants to kill you. Human life is only possible through the extreme effort of explorers and seamen, hauling thousands of pounds of supplies into the middle of nowhere. Albanov himself only survives by sheer accident (or fate) finding the previous supplies of failed expeditions he has no knowledge about, the forgotten remains of a rich industrialists vision of glory or a government funded scientific expedition. In a world where information travels slowly and usually only written down, Albanov has no knowledge of who was where or even what the shape of the arctic landmasses are, only a dotted line on a hand-drawn map will suffice. This sort of mystery about what's really out there, and the occasional bursts of beauty as nature finds a way to take root in the few islands of the far north, is what makes the tundra so alluring a setting for people to learn about and makes the idea of an arctic expedition seem reasonable.
Overall, I think this book has become one of my new favorite reads and is highly recommended.
Some quotes I liked:
I have often tried, but always in vain, to fathom their thoughts; all I know is that it is extremely aggravating to be involved with characters of this nature in such dangerous circumstances. They are always there, I can see them, but that is all. Often it would be better not to see them, for they are of no help whatsoever; they are, in fact, more of a burden than anything else, and they have ambitions that are totally unwarranted. During the most critical moments I was always essentially alone, and it was then that I understood the profound truth of the precept: "It is when you are alone that you are free. If you want to live, fight for as long as you have strength and determination. You may have no one to help you with your struggle, but you will at least have no one dragging you under. When you are alone, it is always easier to stay afloat." (Pg.115)
This was not hostility toward Shpakovsky, who had never done anyone any harm, and the driftwood itself was unimportant. A healthier person was simply rebelling against the illness that had marked a comrade for its target. Those words were simply meant to kindle some energy and bring back the will to survive at any price. The mind must command the limbs and convert itself into a force that controls the body; even if part of that body refuses to obey. Those who let themselves go in these circumstances quickly fall prey to death. There is no way out, other than remaining master of one's body, down to the last muscle. Every temptation must be repressed. When exhaustion tempts one to rest, the legs give up. It is vital not to give in. One must continually urge the mind to victory in its overwhelming struggle against the body. The seductions of lethargy gradually creep in, ready to take over, and that is where the danger lies. (Pg.135)
September 16, 2018
Albanov's story is a breathtaking, astounding read, and reasonably well translated. I finished this relatively quickly as, every time I put it down, I wondered how the men were going to get out of the mess that seemed to get worse at every stage. How anyone survived at all is a miracle.
I found the Introduction by David Roberts compelling, but stopped reading after a page or two because it was clear he was giving the story away. I returned to it after finishing Albanov's text. The Epilogue, also by Roberts, was excellent and added important depth and context to Albanov's tale, as it revealed additional details (including one bombshell) from Konrad's journal that Albanov omitted. The Epilogue also explained what Albanov did following his return to the mainland, and how he died.
Very much recommended for any fans of Arctic exploration, Russian history, or survival literature in general.
I found the Introduction by David Roberts compelling, but stopped reading after a page or two because it was clear he was giving the story away. I returned to it after finishing Albanov's text. The Epilogue, also by Roberts, was excellent and added important depth and context to Albanov's tale, as it revealed additional details (including one bombshell) from Konrad's journal that Albanov omitted. The Epilogue also explained what Albanov did following his return to the mainland, and how he died.
Very much recommended for any fans of Arctic exploration, Russian history, or survival literature in general.
March 14, 2021
This was a good read, and at times I had to remind myself it was not a novel. (And then I felt bad, because this book is full of terrible hardships!) I enjoyed Albanov's angry asides about the others, because honestly who hasn't felt that way about someone you're forced to work with at one point or another, but in such an extreme situation, I guess I kind of expect people to be... you know, more on the ball? Anyway, I liked that; I also enjoyed the epilogue which reads like a weird cross between low stakes true crime, high stakes survival drama, and hearing your friend explain their fanfic idea about how their favorite minor canon character was actually key to everything! (I'm not saying this to make fun of the conclusion that because that's pretty believable; just, I've written and read that kind of fanfic and I'm amused to see a similar thought process from a historian about a real person.
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