Voyages in Search of the North-West Passage book cover
Alternative History · English

Voyages in Search of the North-West Passage

by Richard Hakluyt

About this book

A survey of attempts to find a navigable route through the northern seas, bringing together voyages, obstacles, and discoveries along the North-West Passage.

From the opening pages: “it was a Phantom Ship that made some voyages to different parts of the world which were recorded in early numbers of Charles Dickens's "Household Words." As preface to Richard Hakluyt's records of the first endeavour of our bold Elizabethan mariners to find North-West Passage to the East, let me repeat here that old voyage of mine from No. 55 of "Household Words," dated the 12th of April, 1851: The _Phantom_ is fitted out for Arctic exploration, with instructions to find her way, by the north-west, to Behring Straits, and take the South Pole on her passage home. Just now we steer due north, and yonder is the coast of Norway. From that coast parted Hugh Willoughby, three hundred years ago; the first of our countrymen who wrought an ice-bound highway to Cathay. Two years afterwards his ships were found, in the haven of Arzina, in Lapland, by some Russian fishermen; near and about them…”

Author
Richard Hakluyt
Category
Alternative History
Language
English

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