Buried in the Arctic Ice: One Irishman's Role in 19th Century Polar Exploration by Cyril Dunne
This is the story of brave Arctic explorers who died in their attempts to seek the North-West Passage and North Pole during the years 1845-1877. Among them was Jim Hand from Bray, Co Wicklow. Although low in rank, Jim was unique for two reasons. Firstly, in the year 1876, he and a small band of shipmates stood closer to the North Pole than any previous explorers had ever done. Secondly, his name is stamped in history for evermore, as Hand Bay, located in on the most north-westerly point of Greenland, was named in his memory. In Buried in the Arctic Ice, Cyril Dunne combines Jim Hand's personal journey with an intricately researched account of life in the Arctic, that is in turns terrifying and inspiring.