![]() ![]() ![]() As the sailors – including Gerlache – sickened, two of the crew took charge. Gerlache sailed the ship into the pack ice and – it seems intentionally – trapped the Belgica for the long, dark winter in a move that contradicted previous plans to spend the coldest months in Australia.įaced with 24 hour darkness, the ship’s crew begin to deteriorate in physical and mental health – hence the ‘Madhouse’ of the title. However, it is once the Belgica reaches Antarctica that this book really becomes utterly compelling. It was far from an easy road to launch as he struggled to secure funding and a crew prepared to take on the epic and dangerous journey – all of which is covered in the first sections of the book. With scientific exploration in mind, Belgian Adrian de Gerlache de Gomery purchased a whaling ship and prepared to head for Antarctica. At this point in history, the Arctic had been explored to some extent but the southern pole was still very much a mystery – it wasn’t even known if it was land or just ice. This is the story of the Belgica, a ship that set sail from Belgium in 1897 with the aim of discovering Antarctica. ![]() The book’s subtitle – ‘The Belgica’s Journey into the Dark Antarctic Night’ sold it to me instantly! I’m quite obsessed with Antarctica and love historical non-fiction, so this was an obvious choice for me. ![]()
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