Rating: 
Summary: A tale of artic survival from 1912-1914
Review: Albanov was a Russian navigator. In 1912 he set sail as second in command of the Saint Anna in the hopes of reaching Vladivostok across the Northeast Passage. His ship was locked in the pack ice in the Kara Sea and drifting northward. After 18 months locked in the ice, with supplies incapable of supporting everyone another winter, he asked for permission to build a kayak and sled to seek land to the south. Others decided to join him, encouraged by the Captain, who with the small remainder of the crew, hope to be spit out of the ice in the Atlantic many months later. They were never found.Thirteen started the perilous journey and two survived. The remainder on the Saint Anna are perhaps still locked in an icy death above the artic circle. The book was written in Russian and later translated to French. Only recently was in translated into English after a copy was found in the Harvard library, unread for 68 years. Albanov's diary, the basis for this later book, describes the ordeal, the wildlife encountered, the snow blindness, and the fatigue that lead to the deaths of many of the men. I found the book to be a quick read. I was unable to put it down until I finished it. Strongly recommended. Conrad B Senior
Rating:
Summary: In the Land of White Death kept me awake reading it!
Review: Albanov's account of being icebound while still on the Santa Anna, as well as the many difficulties he faced trying to find land was so fascinating that I was awake all night long reading it! I simply could not stop. I have never read other books on the same subject matter, so have nothing to compare it to, however, Albanov's story is a must-read in my opinion!
Rating:
Summary: The Introduction and Maps Give the Ending Away!
Review: I don't know about you but I hate it when the killer is revealed near the front of a good detective story. To avoid spoiling this story, you may wish to not read all of these Amazon reader reviews, some of which will foretell the final outcome. David Roberts was very involved in getting this English edition published, but unfortunately his 'Introduction' tells way to much in advance. And indeed the book's next section, the maps, will show you exactly where the escape party winds up their journey, and many stops along the way. I would suggest opening the book and start with Jon Krakauer's 'Preface', skip over Roberts' 'Introduction' and the maps, and go directly to the story. Albanov's first chapter 'Why I Left the Saint Ana' will set the stage nicely. Don't forget that other reviewers have pointed out that only the 'expanded' edition will have Robert's interesting additional section at the back of the book. There he details a place where Albanov may have been guilty of editing his story a bit for politeness sake :). ........* * * * *
Rating:
Summary: Exciting true life adventure
Review: I've always been fascinated about Arctic & Antartic exploration, and try to read any books about it that I can find. This first-person work by a Russian officer on an ill-fated Arctic journey from 1912 to 1914 is certainly a very exciting one, even though the author tends to be laconic at times about his exploits. He tells the story of his ship becoming icelocked, and then of his trek, with several other companions, across the trackless wastes of the Arctic to look for a safe haven on distant land. It's quite compelling, and makes for very gripping reading. The paperback edition of this work contains additional material gleaned from the diary of one of the author's companions on this treacherous journey, and it sheds some additional light on what happened, and especially on the mysterious two men who abandoned the party during the trip, and left them in a very precarious position. It's a book well worth reading for anyone interested in the Arctic, or indeed for anyone who can admire the lengths to which the human spirit and body will push itself in order to survive under the most exteme of conditions.
Rating: 
Summary: Very Good Quick Read
Review: Instead of repeating the subject of the book, which other reviewers have already done, I'll just add that this is a fantasic saga of a story of survival of incrediable odds in unimaginable circumstances. I read the entire book in one night because I couldn't put it down. This is a great find of early 19th century polar experience. In one section, when the ice flow the author is sleeping on splits in two during the middle of the night, telling of being like unwanted kittens placed in a rut sack cruley thrown into the cold ocean to quickly meet a deathly fate, you'll feel your own bones shiver.
Rating:
Summary: A book that defines vividly the words - courage and tenacity
Review: Ninety years after the daring hostile and torrid trek of desperation, this `tour de force' of arctic literature was found hidden away in the library of a major university. Now, made available in English for the first time, this is a gripping story of Russian navigator Valerian Albanov. A man among men who establishes, or at least reinforces, the definition for the words: courageous, tenacious and dedicated. Albanov's story does not read like the personal diary that it is; rather `Land of White Death' is the gripping compelling writing of a journey through a world that so foreign and hostile that it vaporizes hope of the most valiant men replacing hope with the despairing darkness of the frigid arctic nights. He and a group of ill prepared and poorly equipped men left the warmth and perceived safety of their stranded ship to journey without a map into the frozen arctic. Only two emerged 3 months later. This is their tale. Strongly Recommended
Rating:
Summary: A true account of survival in the Siberian Arctic
Review: The Russian exploration vessel, the Saint Anna, set sail in 1912 to search for hunting grounds in the North Polar region. Within a few months, the crew of 33 had become icebound and spent the next year and a half trapped in the ice, drifting farther and farther North. In 1914, the navigator, Valerian Albanov, decided to risk a trek across the ice with the hope of reaching Franz Josef Land. 13 crewmen set off across the ice, with the remaining 20 choosing to stay on board the ship. Of the 13 crewmen, only two survived. "In the Land of White Death" is the true account of the trek, as written by Valerian Albanov. Starting with the few days before leaving, he writes a remarkable story of survival in severely cold conditions, with supplies diminishing and morale quickly ebbing. It is very detailed with its discriptions not only of the terrain, but of the crew and their physical and mental states throughout the journey. Translator David Roberts also includes in his epilogue some of the text from the other survivor of the journey, crewman Alexander Konrad. His take on certain events sheds a whole new lights on certain aspects of their voyage across the ice. This is a remarkable book, both for its story of survival and its glimpse into human nature. One of the best non-fiction books that I've read.
Rating:
Summary: A true account of survival in the Siberian Arctic
Review: The Russian exploration vessel, the Saint Anna, set sail in 1912 to search for hunting grounds in the North Polar region. Within a few months, the crew of 33 had become icebound and spent the next year and a half trapped in the ice, drifting farther and farther North. In 1914, the navigator, Valerian Albanov, decided to risk a trek across the ice with the hope of reaching Franz Josef Land. 13 crewmen set off across the ice, with the remaining 20 choosing to stay on board the ship. Of the 13 crewmen, only two survived. "In the Land of White Death" is the true account of the trek, as written by Valerian Albanov. Starting with the few days before leaving, he writes a remarkable story of survival in severely cold conditions, with supplies diminishing and morale quickly ebbing. It is very detailed with its discriptions not only of the terrain, but of the crew and their physical and mental states throughout the journey. Translator David Roberts also includes in his epilogue some of the text from the other survivor of the journey, crewman Alexander Konrad. His take on certain events sheds a whole new lights on certain aspects of their voyage across the ice. This is a remarkable book, both for its story of survival and its glimpse into human nature. One of the best non-fiction books that I've read.
Rating:
Summary: Experience the ultimate test of survival
Review: This book does what every adventure tale should, it lets you experience the adventure, not just read about it. It is very well written. As a bonus, the afterword provides a surprise alternate opinion on some crucial events. It's creepy to think that the St Anna is still up there, trapped in the ice! Wow, this stuff is great. I also recommend "The Brendan Voyage", part of the same library. Krakauer knows how to pick em.
Rating:
Summary: great companion to lansing's 'endurance'
Review: this is a fast and enjoyable read in the historic polar adventure genre, perhaps most impressive is how the 19th century journal writing remains crisp, clear, and compelling today. a few other comments:
-it is a very interesting companion and comparison to lansing's "endurance", though 'endurance' is probably a bit better written, more interesting, and a superior place for most readers to start than here.
-the maps in the beginning are a bit poor in detail and sadly do not include many of the names that the text refers to.
-as others have noted, i would tend to recommend skipping the introduction and reading it at the end, as it doesn't add much and sort of colors one's impressions of the book.
enjoy!!
| 
