Fatal North

Murder and Survival on the First North Pole Expedition

By: Bruce Henderson

Narrated by: John Pruden

Length: 9 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

It began as President Ulysses S. Grant's bid for international glory after the Civil War - America's first attempt to reach the North Pole. It ended with Captain Charles Hall's death under suspicious circumstances, dissension among sailors, scientists, and explorers, and the ship's evacuation and eventual sinking. Then came a brutal struggle for survival by 33 men, women, and children stranded on the polar ice. When news of the disastrous expedition and accusations of murder reached Washington, D.C., it led to a nationwide scandal, an official investigation, and a government cover-up.

The mystery of the captain's death remained unsolved for nearly 100 years. But when Charles Hall's frozen grave in northern Greenland was opened, forensic scientists were finally able to reach a shocking conclusion.

Now, telling the complete story for the first time, best-selling author Bruce Henderson has researched original transcripts of the US Navy inquests, personal papers of Captain Hall, autopsy and forensic reports relating to the century-old crime, the ship's original log, and personal journals kept by crewmen to bring to life one of the most mysterious tragedies of American exploration.

©2011 Bruce Henderson (P)2016 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Fans of adventure writing will appreciate this fine book." ( Publishers Weekly)

An average reader says 10

I'm an average senior reader and I enjoyed this book tremendously. The reasons being that it is a work of non-fiction, it is well written and it is a story about 19 men, women and children that overcame unheard of odds to survive.

This type of story comes in very handy whenever young people complain about how hard their lives are today. Telling them what other children have survived gives them a reference point for their own lives.

The reader was exceptional for the fact that he didn't try to act every part. I have suffered through audible books where I cannot understand what is being said because of accents or pronouncements of foreign words that are unintelligible. This book was a joy to listen to.

Loved it

My favorite book second only to Alone on the Ice. Phenomenons story that for some reason we never learned about in school.

Excellent. Highly recommended.

Excellent book and narration. I cannot recommend this enough. Hard to believe it's a true story, but it is. The first-hand journals make a big difference. Absolutely fascinating how they survived, and shocking how bad the "bad bits" are.

Gripping Grueling Story

Great story to listen to, especially when it was 6 degrees today, in New England. A story of survival, but with the exception of the Eskimos and George Tyson, and Hall, the humans - all men I might add - were driven by hubris and greed. Sadly, nothing’s changed and this, itself was educational, but served to increase my cynicism and low opinion of the human species. I rooted mostly for the polar bears and seals. And now we’ve melted the North Pole and the Earth will soon be history along with we, who destroyed it. Great narrator for this story and writing, too, in the style at times of a seaman’s journal.

A tale of hardships and overcoming adversity

a wonderfully detailed story about great men and some not so great men. I would recommend to anyone.

buen libro

buen libro te lleva directo al frio artico y te deja pensando en todo lo q tenwmos

excellent

excellent story and thrilling adventure. the ridiculous shoe horning of the note on climate change could have been left out. since this book was written these anthropogenic climate change charlatans and bs biased computer modelers have had nothing to say of the growing ice from greenland north. its a shame that political skullduggery with pseudo science will leave its mark on the story of true explorers.

Astounding Degree of US Govt Corruption

Like the Greeley Expedition of 1881-83, exposed here is yet another level of cowardice and criminal negligence by the US Government. As a former Army officer I can attest that we must never trust federal government officials to commit to what is honorable, responsible, and definitely not courageous.

gripping

I really enjoyed this tale of adventure and intrigue with a sting in the tail too. highly recommended