Madhouse at the End of the Earth: The Belgica’s Journey into the Dark Antarctic Night by Julian Sancton is a wonderful non-fiction account of the ill-fated 1897 expedition – the first ever to winter in the Antarctic region – which chronicles approximately two years in which the crew of the Norwegian-built Belgica faced a bleak prospect after becoming trapped in the ice. Insanity, death, cabin fever and a fear of starvation blighted the expedition, with several men succumbing to the symptoms of scurvy. The events are so well described by Sancton that one can’t fail to be impressed by such hardships these men had to endure, and we gain an admiration for their powerful survival instincts and resourcefulness.

Among its members were Roald Amundsen and Frederick Cook, explorers who would later attempt their own conquests of the North and South Poles.

The description of the events are gathered from first-hand accounts – this was an expedition where a large amount of the crew kept detailed journals, as well as exclusive access to the ship’s logbook – and it tells a compelling story. I have read several books on the subject of polar voyages or shipping disasters in extreme areas of the world – The HMS Terror and Erebus are examples of similar doomed expeditions - but this book is the most detailed and the one that really offers a clear understanding of the fear and hardships these men were forced to harbour and endure.

What is conveyed most strongly in the book is the personalities of those involved – Amundsen and Cook and the commander, Adrien de Gerlache – and we get a wonderful insight into these men’s characters and get to understand what drove them. Frederick Cook, in particular, ended up with the most tarnished reputation after accusations of him falsifying his later exploration achievements and his involvement in a fraud case relating to the start-up of some oil companies and his subsequent imprisonment.

It reads almost as a thriller. The early section of the book draws all the characters together and shows us their backstories and motivations. It paints a strong picture of what life was like at that time. Then, as the expedition progresses, events take on a sinister turn when the captain makes the fateful decision to sail on, into the ice pack, in an effort to chase glory and fame, but also risking the lives of the crew at the same time. And the vessel did indeed get stuck in the ice. With winter drawing in, during a time where sunlight would not appear for many months, the men were forced to endure such a torrid time that even today, NASA's experts planning far-long space exploration flights, use the studies gathered from this voyage as evidence of what extreme isolation can do to the human mind and body. It's simultaneously terrifying and fascinating.

This really is a terrific book, one that will appeal to historians as well as those who enjoy thrillers. The writing is accessible and the nautical terminology easy to understand, and it's rare for non-fiction to be such a page-turner, but Madhouse at the End of the Earth manages to satisfy on every level. Highly recommended.

This book can only really be described as a masterpiece. Drawing from the firsthand accounts of the people on board the author transports right onto the ship. I knew nothing of The Belgica, and yet this book managed to transport me on board to share with the crew in their excited expectancy of the expedition ahead. Then in their misery, despair, and fear when it all went spectacularly wrong. Even if you have never read a non-fiction book I implore you to pick this up.

A big thank-you to Julian Sancton, Random House UK, and Netgalley for arc in exchange for my honest review.*
Fascinating non-fiction that offers analysis of a little known voyage undertaken by The Belgica at the end of the 19th century to do research of then still unchartered Antarctica. A powerful tale of stamina, determination, endurance and weaknesses. A definite must for readers interested in polar exploration.

It's quite incredible that this book has remained untold for so long; it is thrilling and history worth knowing. The author eloquently and impressively paints a picture of the humans behind the devastation which reigned in a fascinating expedition. A book well worth reading.

Brilliant!! I knew nothing of The Belgica but this book transports you on board to share the crew in their excited expectancy of the expedition ahead, followed by the misery, despair and fear of when it all went spectacularly wrong and they all feared for their lives.

In 1897, a crew was put together by Adrien de Gerlache to explore the Antarctica - he wanted to be first to find the magnetic South Pole. But from the beginning they were plagued with disaster and you sensed even then that maybe this expedition was cursed. But his determination to achieve the impossible kept it all on track, alongside the mix of characters he employed to join him.

And the characters we are introduced to are brilliantly profiled by the author. We get to hear of their individual stories, their childhoods, their pasts and what drives a certain kind of person to want to put themselves in a position to explore unchartered territory.

This book draws on the diaries and journals of those on board, and the levels of detail really make you think you're on the ship with them. Even when all around them is going wrong, you get the sense that they wouldn't be defeated, although that is partly down to the single mindedness of de Gerlache who often put them all in danger just to make his dreams come true.

From the sickness, to the madness brought on by being stranded in the ice for months with no sign of rescue or hope, this is an amazing look at the lengths humans are driven to in the pursuit of personal achievement.

What made this even more amazing for me was the use of photos, taken by the Doctor, Cook, who really helped on so many levels with the crew in keeping them from suffering too much, while keeping his own mental health in check. The isolation and months of darkness really took their toll on many of the staff and he was quick to pick up on changes needed in their food and stimulation needed to keep minds focussed.

Their desperate plans to try and free themselves from the ice made for some harrowing reading and the fact that their lives were reliant on 'nature' was the ultimate test of strength both mentally and physically for them and I just couldn't believe the courage/stupidity/braveness of those on board!!

An epic read about an epic exploration that went badly wrong!!

The year is 1897 and Belgica set sail from sunny Europe with the aim to become the first scientific expedition to reach the South Pole. But when the ship became stuck in the ice the crew were forced to overwinter in Antarctica.
In the perpetual dark, howling winds and plummeting temperatures and cut off from the rest of the World, the crew began a pure fight for survival plagued by illness, starvation and monotony it meant many mentally as well as physically deteriorated to the point of insanity, murder and suicide.
Onboard the ships first mate Roald Amundsen & Dr Frederick Cook plotted a course of action trusted by the Captain which went on to be proved pivotal in the survival.
The use of crew diaries and journals, as well as the ship's logbook made this a fascinating, well researched book that consumed me.
My thanks go to the publisher, author and Netgalley in providing this arc in return for a honest review.

The Madhouse at the End of the World is the story of the 1897-1899 Belgian expedition to the Antarctic region, Although based on a real historical event, it reads at times like the most engaging and exciting of novels. It is a real testimony to human aspiration and endurance. fascinating and gripping even if you don't normally read this sort of book.. Highly recommended. Thank you to the publishers and to NetGalley for an ARC

Astounding, vivid and harrowing. ‘Madhouse at the End of the Earth’ reads like a novel, taking you aboard the ‘Belgica’, befriending the crew and enduring their incredible voyage; evoking the sights, smells and toils of survival.
Having recently watched ‘The Terror’, this book piqued my interest, offering a unique account of a piece of history from the days of raw exploration. Fabulous research documentation culminating in the current stark reality of climate change.

A compelling account of the Belgica expedition, rich with detail with a fascinating cast of characters. I listened to this on audiobook and I found myself transported to the wintery Antarctic with a ship full of people stuck in a terrible situation. I did find the beginning a little slow as I wasn't too interested in the background information of the commandant, Adrien de Gerlache. I was also not keen on the number of animal deaths in the book, which I suppose that's part and parcel of scientific discoveries. But the scenes taking place in the Antarctic is harrowing and painful to read. What these men went through is astonishing and it took the efforts of the ship's doctor, Frederick Cook, to prevent more harm to the crew.

What's notable about this book is that it's about the expedition as much as the aftermath. We find out what happened to the officers and crew, and the legacy of their scientific findings. I actually thought this part is as dramatic as the expedition! The author has done extensive research into this book - reading the crew's logs and diaries, meeting with the men's descendants, visiting the Antarctic himself. All this is reflected in the storytelling, but I did find the writing to be too academic at times and despite the title, I didn't feel as if I was reading about a "madhouse". But I really enjoyed this book, and highly recommend it for fans of survival stories and polar expeditions.

3.5 stars. For an explorer lit lover like myself, this was a wonderful read. My one niggle was how much backstory there was before the adenvture got off the ground, and that it took a whole until the book figured out where it was heading. Still, fascinating stuff! Perfect for lovers of travel nonfiction, adventures, history and polar exploration.

True story in novel form, which I really enjoyed, this is the story of a Belgian expedition to the Arctic, very very well written and fascinating story.

A really interesting factual read. i admittedly dont know much about artic exploration but found this a really interesting take and a good mix between fact and well written narrative.

A great book. Sancton really brings the events to life. Having been brought up on Scott's failed expedition, it's really interesting discovering more about Amundson. It is so well written that you can feel the cold as you read it.

"As the men battled blizzards, hunger, depression, rats and scurvy, some became inconsolable, some mad, while others were consumed by infections that turned them into living corpses. It was down to the strongest characters to step up: namely the wild surgeon Dr Frederik Cook and the first mate, a young Norwegian adventurer by the name of Roald Amundsen."

Madhouse at the End of the Earth is a harrowing account of the fated Belgian Antarctic Expedition, told in full for the first time in the English language. Julian Sancton has provided an impressive amount of detail to create something that is educational and thrilling, and this will surely grip anyone who is interested in the harsh realities of early polar exploration.

This book was fascinating & I took this one slowly as it's information & material are weighty. The history student in me loved how throughly well @jsancton has researched the book, the book lover enjoyed how it was written as it flowed more so than a staid historical account making for a much more engaging read.

Madhouse at the End of the Earth is the true story of the voyage of the Belgica on an Antarctic exploration. An undertaking which met issues at every turn &, although much was achieved & many names were made on this expedition, it was one of loss &, as the title suggests, madness. The voyage was undermanned & although run by an excellent sailor he wasn't a good leader. There were mutinies before they'd even reached the polar region where the real hardship began. The crew of the Belgica became the first to, unwillingly, over winter in the Antarctic & theirs is the tale of a fight for survival against the elements & their own minds.

Brutal, heartbreaking in parts & very interesting, but not for everyone. If you have interests in these areas this is a brilliant account of the lives of those on board the Belgica & what happened to those who made it back.

A true story depicted as a novel with scientific language and brilliant description and detail. A fascinating tale which I really enjoyed. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me review this book.

An interesting enough account of the Belgian Antarctic Expedition of 1897–99, albeit one that struggles to generate the claustrophobia, paranoia and dread its title promises. It might be that the two things are working against each other, for while the level of detail meant I learnt a lot about the expedition, the challenges it faced, and its place in both the history of antarctic exploration and indeed the world, it works against any deeper emotional feelings. A good history, but a less striking story.

However, the book paints an impressive picture of different individuals from different cultures, some of whom agreed to carry out a mission with very different motives. There's not much psychology at play other than what Sancton lets the reader puzzle together, nor is this a bone-dry recant of events. The closest comparison I can make from this book is probably Arthur Conan Doyle's books about Sherlock Holmes. Not that this is a detective story! Most of that work is done for us by Sancton, who has pieced together a detailed picture from many different sources, not all of which are believable, which makes this story even more interesting.

What an absolutely brilliant account of the story of The Belgica. Rich, evocative, meticulously researched, this was non-fiction that read like a great novel.

Led by Gerlache, this was an ambitious plan to reach the South Magnetic Pole with a partly inexperienced crew, and with tensions amongst them from the start. Setting sail from Antwerp on Aug 16th 1897, The Belgica was to prove herself an abolute war horse in the battle against the elements. But on March 5 1898, she was to be defeated by the elements, and the ship became entombed in ice. As weeks, then months went by, crew would die, become physically ill and mentally broken. With every setback, hope began to die.

For anyone who doesn't know the story, I'm not going to spoil anything. But I cannot recommend this book enough. The true meaning of heroism is displayed amongst Cook, Amundsen and ultimately Gerlache. Absolutely fascinating to read in depth about the thoughts and feelings of these brave men, from diaries and logs kept at the time. The detail is exquisite, the writing sublime and I was absolutely transported from this world to another throughout.

I really enjoyed this book right from the start. Almost hard to believe it is a true story and the book captured the enormity of having to break out of the ice and the challenges faced by the crew. Very well written and I can highly recommend it.

Madhouse at the End of the Earth

Imagine, if by a force of nature, you were not able to leave your home for months on end; deprived of family, social interaction and even natural sunlight at times, you have to stay in or risk serious illness or even death from an invisible danger. The challenge to keeping calm, patient, physically active and avoiding a slide into poor mental health and potential madness.

In these days unprecedented in our lifetime, we may empathise even more strongly with the courageous crew of The Belgica, a ship sailing into one of the last unexplored wildernesses, Antarctica in the 1890s. It is not a virus that attacks their bodies and spirits but the unseen, unforgiving cold of this continent. Their vessel becomes trapped in a frozen sea for months on end. This is not a tale of despair but a true story of resilience, resourcefulness, a will to overcome any obstacle, but ultimately survival.

The author has done a fantastic job of combining meticulous research, drawing the reader into the atmosphere and colours of the landscape, and a captivating adventure.

A feature that makes us human, is the drive to discover new worlds, even when the risk verges on foolhardiness; to say “ I was first,I did it and I survived!”

Perhaps the biggest accolade is that, after finishing the book, you just can’t help wanting to know more about the expedition, the times in which it took place and it’s legacy for future exploration.