Trial by Ice: The True Story of Murder and Survival on the 1871 Polaris Expedition

By Richard Parry

“An extraordinary real-life adventure of men battling the elements and themselves, told with ice-cold precision.”
–Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

In the dark years following the Civil War, America’s foremost Arctic explorer, Charles Francis Hall, became a figure of national pride when he embarked on a harrowing, landmark expedition. With financial backing from Congress and the personal support of President Grant, Captain Hall and his crew boarded the Polaris, a steam schooner carefully refitted for its rigorous journey, and began their quest to be the first men to reach the North Pole. Neither the ship nor its captain would ever return.

What transpired was a tragic death and whispers of murder, as well as a horrifying ordeal through the heart of an Arctic winter, when men fought starvation, madness, and each other upon the ever-shifting ice. Trial by Ice is an incredible adventure that pits men against the natural elements and their own fragile human nature. In this powerful true story of death and survival, courage and intrigue aboard a doomed ship, Richard Parry chronicles one of the most astonishing, little known tragedies at sea in American history.

“ABSORBING . . . Suspense builds as Parry describes the events leading up to Hall’s ‘murder,’ then climaxes in horrifying detail.”
–Publishers Weekly

“RIVETING.”
–Library Journal

• Language: English
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Release date: Jan 21, 2009
• ISBN: 9780307492128

Reviews for Trial by Ice

[pondlife_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This tells the story of the American Polaris expedition to the north pole in 1871.The expedition was a total failure, and it was really doomed from the start because of poorly defined responsibilities, and rivalry between the crew members.The most gripping part is the story of the voyage home after they had given up on reaching the pole. In particular, the survival of Tyson's group on the ice floe is both harrowing and remarkable. If it wasn't for the Inuit with them on the ice, they would surely have died.When you read the list of disasters caused by bad decisions, stupidity and bad luck, it's surprising that only one person died.No one comes out of this looking good. There's no glory and no heroes.

[markberonte · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Trial by Ice is an incredible adventure that pits men against the natural elements and their own fragile human nature. Beyond this, it is also an authentic murder mystery that, in its time, led to accusations of foul play and a dramatic, unresolved investigation. Now, more than a century after the crime was committed, the author draws on recent evidence to recount the amazing story of the killer who boarded the Polaris–and got away with murder.