This book is a fantastic tale of the Belgica's expedition to Antarctica in the late 1890s. Never before told in English, which is a criminal oversight, it's full of fascinating information, gory goings on and survivial against the worst odds on the planet. Wonderfully researched with lots of Author's Notes to pad out the story and add to the overall fascination I felt when reading this. With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review an e-ARC of this title.

I'm always enthralled by reading about a real life adventure - and this doesn't disappoint.

The journey of The Belgica to Antarctica in the closing years of the 19th century, was meant to give great fame to its crew and to the Belgian nation - the first scientific expedition to attain the South Pole.

It didn't happen - the ship becomes trapped in the ice, the crew is forced to over winter, they battle disease, death and hunger, and the polar dark. Julian Sancton takes us carefully through the history of the expedition drawing on a number of first hand sources. It's fascinating not only to discover what happened and how they recovered, but also to learn about the different characters - the ambitious yet not very commanding commander de Gerlache, the first mate Roald Amundsen, and the expedition doctor, Cook. All very different characters, and part of a motley crew of individuals who are bound together in often the most awful of circumstances, and who must endure and cope with the situation.

Absolutely fascinating.

Everywhere I look at the minute there seems to be accounts of polar explorations. Whether it's the excellent but superstitious BBC drama The Terror or the equally enigmatic Palin account of the fateful Terror/Erebus voyages. I love it all. This book has everything I need when it comes to the intrepid world of narrating theses adventures. First hand accounts from crew members, sailing traditions and initiations and I even enjoy hearing the bare facts of the supplies and scientific discoveries. This book opens a whole new world for an armchair explorer like myself. The descent into physical and mental illness is well charted and handled compassionately but balanced with stark facts. I particularly enjoyed reading about Amundsen and Cook's ongoing friendship. I feel like I've travelled the globe with them, minus scurvy.
Thank you @netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review. Madhouse at the End of the Earth is released on May 27th 2021.

We all know the incredible story of Erebus and Franklin, and how the Arctic ice took the lives of the entire crew. But how many of us have heard of The Belgica and its equally incredible journey into the cruel ice of Antarctica?
It is 1897 when De Gerlache sets sail from Ghent in this tiny ship, with 19 crew, determined to discover the South Pole. The crew is a mix of Poles, Belgians, Norwegians and an American - many of whom are minimally skilled in their assigned roles. The cook is not a cook, the engineer [The Belgica is coal-powered sailing vessel ] has previously only had experience as a stoker and knows little of engines, the scientists are pretty much virgins to their role and the ship's doctor lacks experience of illnesses suffered at sea. There is however one crew member, a certain Roald Amundsen, who goes on to earn himself a unique place in exploration history. It is therefore all the more amazing to read of how they cope with having to discover ways to survive when they are faced with 18 months trapped in the ice - many months of which are spent in perpetual darkness. Their inventiveness in solving life and death problems, their immense efforts to break the ship free from the ice and their utter determination to survive makes for real life drama of the highest order.
Sancton's research took him many years. He is to be commended for compiling this true story of "The Belgica" and her extraordinary crew into such an engaging and riveting book. I should add that the author's notes are virtually a book in themselves and give many additional insights into the future lives of the crew members who made it home. Definitely 5 stars and definitely a book that merits a wide readership.

PUBLISHER’S DESCRIPTION:
The harrowing, survival story of an early polar expedition that went terribly wrong, with the ship frozen in ice and the crew trapped inside for the entire sunless, Antarctic winter

The Belgica set sail from Europe on a sunny day in August 1897, intent upon becoming the first scientific expedition ever to reach the South Pole. But after setbacks slowed its progress, ice closed in and ensnared the ship. Temperatures plummeted, winds howled, perpetual darkness fell.

The crew were to make history for a different reason: they were to be the first adventurers to face the brutal Antarctic winter, completely cut off from the world. What began as an audacious scientific mission morphed into an epic struggle for survival.

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.

Could they devise a plan to break free of the ice and guide the ship back to open sea, against all odds?

NO SPOILERS – not really an issue with non-fiction.

I have 30 plus books on polar exploration and expeditions so was very pleased to receive an advance copy of this for review. I like to read the journals and letters of those who “were there” but have also read books which gather, collate and paraphrase information and accounts from many sources to produce one chronological account; this book is such.

Alas, I was disappointed. I am familiar with the history of The Belgica though not the personal accounts of the crew, and I knew I would be interested but this book is so dull. It is neither detailed nor brief and reads like a long Sunday magazine article. (If I’m not familiar with a writer, after reading, I look them up and sure enough, Sancton is a feature writer and editor.)

Some will love this book but it is just not for me, although I did really enjoy the final chapter which gives brief accounts of how the crew fared after The Belgica and I am sure many people will enjoy the whole book. Perhaps I am too familiar with the logistics and pitfalls of the Arctic and Antarctic for such a basic re-telling to hold my interest.

I would prefer to read the original sources and as Sancton lists these, I shall probably do so; after all, Scott’s unedited journal of his last expedition is far more interesting than his Voyage of the Discovery.


Thank you to NetGalley and Ebury/Random House UK for the complimentary copy of the book, which I have voluntarily reviewed.

I’m usually more of a fiction reader, but this book absolutely captivated me. It was phenomenal at narrating the facts whilst also providing insight into the atmosphere, personal relationships and struggles of life on board the ship. I found myself feeling quite sad when the book, and adventure, ended. I really appreciated how much the book focussed on the people and made them ‘real’ rather than just names and dates. A really interesting read.

I was very excited to see this book as I love any stories set in the artic/antarctic. I absolutely loved this book and I'm not exaggerating when I say I couldn't put it down. It's an incredible story, and Sancton's writing is vivid and compelling. The diary extracts from the members of the expedition are woven in seamlessly too. I will definitely be recommending this book.

I have started reading this story and I am about one third of the way through. So far I have found the book to be well researched, well written and enlightening. To me this is an historical account of a polar expedition which is new and untold. A book I will enjoy over a period of time rather than reading in one go.

A gripping account of the de Gerlache Antarctic expedition of 1897-1899, in which the ship became frozen in the ice for the entire winter. It’s also the story of the friendship between the ship's doctor, Dr Frederick Albert Cook, and Roald Amundsen, who was at the beginning of his career as an explorer.

I loved this book. It has all the makings of a disaster story, and I spent the majority of it waiting for calamity to strike. Somehow, despite numerous crises, there would always be some breakthrough, only for something else to happen almost instantly. I never saw a more ill-assorted group of people: everyone seemed to have their own agenda, and some of the officers, including de Gerlache, made some very questionable decisions in order to achieve their aims. The author uses a lot of primary sources such as diaries, something I really liked because it let me get a bit into the minds of the men. Their characters were fascinating, especially Amundsen's, and it was great reading about his early adventures and his approach to polar exploration. Cook sounds like a very complex man, and I enjoyed reading about him too.

Ever since I read Buddy Levy’s Labyrinth of Ice last year I’ve been wanting to read something about Antarctic exploration, so I was especially excited to find this book. It delivered exactly what I was hoping for: an exciting, informative account that was almost impossible to put down. I really enjoyed it and definitely recommend it.

I’d like to thank the publisher and Netgalley for kindly providing me with an advance review copy. All opinions are my own.

Madhouse at the end of the Earth is a historical non fiction account of the Belgica expedition to Antactica. The backstory is slow, so push through what is a boring first few chapters to get to the actual expedition. Don't skip it, as the backstory does actually set the groundwork for the personalities and their decisions that happen later.

Once the expedition gets to Antarctica the account becomes gripping and harrowing, as they get trapped on the ice and have to survive a winter in situ together - with excruciating hardship and unimaginable decisions to be made.

The men's stories are taken from journals, diaries and historical documents and really shows us an array of different personalities - their strengths and their flaws. It's full of detail, which coupled with the personal story manages to both educate and entertain.

It is written in a very engaging, vivid and immersive manner, but with meticulous research giving it an authentic historical backing. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in historical expeditions.

A historical event brought to life again.

Towards the end of 1800's the polar regions still had much to discover specially the Antarctic, Belgium was still in its infancy as a country hence Aidrien De Gerlache struggled to get a full Belgium crew for his ship and exploration trip to the Antarctic. Hence they eventually left Antwerp with a crew of only 50% Belgiums and the rest from other countries mainly Norwegians including Admundsen as well as one American who was called Cook the crews doctor.

It took a while to get a full team and the whole experience was full of trials and first experiences but new discoveries always come at a cost. This is an account of the expedition written with a feel of the time but in modern English which I'm sure takes something doing a credit to Julian Sancton.

I really enjoyed this book, felt the tensions and loved the honesty which must of took some research as peoples faults were often hidden or covered up part of the sailors code as I'm told. A whaler was transformed into a polar ready ship called the Belgica and the fun and despair begin.

It's a five star read for me and hope you feel the same its also a historical account of true events which is well researched as said before. If you are a lover of history or have a interest in the Polar regions this is a must 📚 read and I hope you but only enjoy but learn a I did.

August 1897 and the Belgica sets sail to try and reach the South Pole. Brilliant book that reflects the people onboard and their strengths to undergo such a voyage.
Trapped in the ice they struggle to survive. So well written I could not put it down. We get a glimpse into the lives of many now famous explorers, enjoy.

Fascinating fictional account of what went wrong on The Belgica ,the ship and crew who sailed to the Antarctica in 1897. We learn of what it was like on board, the conditions, the fear, the sense of remoteness and hopelessness and then what happens when the crew turns in on itself. It's a locked room mystery and a study in human emotions and is as raw as it is fascinating. Very well researched and carefully constructed into a tale of human endurance and survival. recommended.

A sensational account of the fated Belgian Antarctic Expedition.

Early chapters establish the socio-political context and the leading actors: the cool-headed, charismatic daredevil, Dr Frederick Cook; pre-South Pole conqueror, Roald Amundsen; and Commandant Adrien de Gerlache, a resourceful, glory-seeking seafarer, but no leader of men. The story really gets going once the Belgica sets sail from Antwerp in 1897. From the off, everything that could go wrong does go wrong. Ultimately, when the feisty barque is imprisoned in ice, her scurvy-ridden crew unravels with madness.

Sancton has a journalist’s eye for a good story. His meticulously researched, compelling writing engages with a combination of the human angle plus fascinating details of the inhospitable Antarctic. We hear the moans, cracks and grating of the ice, we see the dynamics of icebergs, and we meet the southernmost flowering plant in the world, Deschampsia antarctica.

A truly gripping, hair-raising adventure.

My thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK for the ARC.

Madhouse at the end of the World is the story of the 1897-1899 Belgian expedition to the Antarctic region, featuring De Gerlach the Belgian responsible for conceiving the idea and obtaining funding for his voyage. We also have Fredrick Cook as ships doctor and Roald Amundson when a very young man, these two explorers would later be responsible for the conquests of the North Pole.
Although a history book this book reads like a thriller and as one reviewer has written a’ripping yarn’ which it certainly is.
As the trip begins all manner of things occur not least an almost mutiny and then when they eventually arrive in Antarctica they become trapped in the winter ice. For 24hours over the solar winter day turns to night, leading to deprivation and suffering not only physical with the effects of scurvy but also psychological where behaviour changes for the worse with the continuing darkness.
A fascinating and exciting story of endurance, with a flowing narrative and characters well described and full of depth.
If history could be taught like this in schools it would excite and engage like none other.
A brilliant read, throughly enjoyable, a complete page turner.
My thanks to net galley and publishers for the opportunity to review this book honestly.

The blurb of this book grabbed my attention and, even though it is not a book I would generally read, I decided I wanted to try and good thing I have.

Gripping from the first page, the amount of research and detail Julian Sancton was able to include in this book but still managing to make it incredibly interesting and a page turner is unbelievably perfect.

The book includes really captivating arguments around three main characters:  Dr. Frederick Cook, Adrien de Gerlache and Roald Admundsen. This includes some background information prior to the journey to the Antarctic and following their trajectory in the expedition.

This book is simply superb and  I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves non-fiction or loves anything related to the Antarctic.

I wasn’t sure if I was going to enjoy this book when I first picked it up but I was pulled in by the description. I am glad that I went ahead and read it as I do enjoy an account of a true story told like a novel and so this really delivered for me. It is extremely atmospheric and I felt at times quite lost in that world.

I was expecting Dan Simmons “The Terror”. What I got was something a little bit different.

That was fact-based fiction. So is this, but there’s much more detail, no supernatural horror, and a lot of human spirit, trial and tribulation. “Madhouse at the End of the Earth” is a fictionalised account of an actual Belgian expedition to the Antarctic, in the final years of the 19th century, and is based on a multitude of journals and reports.

I’m not a huge fan of non-fiction, but in this case, the NetGalley blurb caught my attention, as I really had enjoyed “The Terror” and I realised this was a fact-based novel. It seems the story of the Belgica has been poorly served by history, as most of it has never been translated into English, even though it’s one of the best documented, with many journals, reports and essays in existence. And it’s these that author Julian Sancton has meticulously taken apart and re-told in this thrilling tale.

The Belgica set sail from Europe in August 1897, the aim being to become the first scientific expedition ever to reach the South Pole. But as might be expected, numerous setbacks slowed its progress, the ice closed in and trapped the ship. Temperatures plummeted, and the south polar night fell.

So far, readers of “The Terror” will be up-to-speed. The crew face severe weather, hunger, depression, disease, and struggle to over-winter, trapped in the cruel cold. Several characters appear, to save the day - surgeon Dr Frederik Cook, first mate Roald Amundsen and the leader of the expedition Adrian De Gerlache. Flawed humans, every one, but incredibly well fleshed out by the author. The story fascinates, annoys, astounds and shocks all at the same time.

In the final Authors Note (fascinating in its own right) Sancton talks of Dr Cook’s hypotheses about the effects of isolation (the original magazine article that drew the authors attention to the expedition was about isolation likely to affect astronauts to Mars) and the lack of sunlight on the crew. Cook saved the crew from scurvy by using knowledge he gained from Inuits in the Northern Polar regions.

Thanks to the rich source material, this is a deeply detailed and complex story. It will obviously appeal to fans of polar exploration and early voyages of discovery, but also will grab thriller fans too. Thoroughly recommended. I enjoyed the ARC so much, I’ll probably rush out and buy the print copy.

An oddly enthralling account of a Belgium exploration of the Antarctic in early part of the 20th century.
Told like a novel, the adventure, planning, setbacks and outcomes grasp you from the onset.
Thanks to NetGallery, I was able to read an early copy and I enjoyed it thoroughly. A subject matter which wouldn’t necessarily appeal to me, this cleverly written account is a highly recommended read.

This book was incredible! Julian Sancton manages to include meticulous research and authentic scientific and maritime details while making the book read like a ‘ripping yarn’. I am so glad that this story has finally been told in English as it wasn’t an expedition I was familiar with. Having read fairly widely about John Franklin and Erabus and Shackleton it was breathtaking to read of a ship that survived a polar winter. Despite knowing the outcome of the expedition I was still on the edge of my seat, reading feverishly to find out if they would manage to free Belgica from the ice.
De Gerlache was a tricky ‘hero’ for me, clearly an incredible seaman but so driven by pride that almost every decision he made was the wrong one. Amundsen and Cook were my heroes but it was sad to see that neither lived up to their early promise. That said, both were leagues ahead of De Gerlache and the rest of the crew in terms of their ability to innovate and adapt to the conditions they encountered. I will forever wonder what would have happened had they gone ahead with their plan to find the pole before returning to Belgium in 1900. It was fascinating to read Cook’s hypotheses about the affects of lack of sunlight on the crew and how he single handedly saved the crew from scurvy by using knowledge gained from Inuits in the Northern Polar regions.
A must read book for anyone interested in polar exploration and geographic discovery.