Northwest passage, water routes through the arctic archipelago, n canada, and along the northern coast of alaska between the pacific and atlantic oceans. While roberts published his first novel in 1930 arundel, he did not gain notoriety. After numerous failures, many involving disaster and great loss of life, the northwest passage finally was successfully navigated in 19036 by the norwegian explorer roald amundsen 18721928. Original gilt and blindpictorial cloth, map endpapers, nonpriceclipped dust jacket. How the discovery of two lost ships solved an arctic mystery. This classic novel follows the career of major rogers, whose incredible exploits during the french and indian wars are told through langdon towne, an artist. Take the case of kenneth roberts, who wrote northwest passage and became. Publication date 1938 topics rogers, robert, 17311795 publisher. Books by kenneth roberts author of northwest passage. Winner of the governor generals literary award for childrens illustration. So popular was the novel that it made the silver screen starring spencer tracey. Matt james, illustrator, creates a unique vision to the lyrics of northwest passage, written by stan rogers, which tells of sir john franklins disastrous expedition 18451847 to discover a shorter route from the atlantic to the pacific and asia. Youll be asked about topics such as jacques cartier and sir john franklin.
Kenneth roberts has 79 books on goodreads with 195 ratings. Northwest passage by kenneth roberts, paperback barnes. Towne are captured by a french patrol and thrown into a prison stockade. Northwest passage trade route, north america britannica.
Northwest passage was the second book by roberts i read and this as well as all other works in roberts chronicles of arundel series sold me on the us. In february 2020, the film was shown at the 70th berlin international film festival, as part of a retrospective dedicated to king vidors career. Northwest passage is the story of revenge within the framework of the french and indian war, a fantastic account of courage, endurance and heroism. John davis also explored 158587 this area, and in 1610 henry hudson sailed north and visited hudson bay while seeking a short route to asia. It was the basis for the 1940 movie northwest passage, starring spencer tracy. Told through the eyes of primary character langdon towne, much of the novel. In 2016, the acclaimed memoirist brian castner retraced mackenzies route by canoe in a grueling journey and discovered the passage he could not find.
The northwest passage nwp is the sea route to the pacific ocean through the arctic ocean, along the northern coast of north america via waterways through the canadian arctic archipelago. List of books and articles about northwest passage. Being the narrative of an expedition from the atlantic to the pacific, undertaken with the view of exploring a route across the continent to british columbia through british territory, by one of the northern passes in the rocky mountains. Discover the northwest passage with this illustrated book inspired by the song northwest passage by canadian folk musician stan rogers. Northwest passage book by kenneth roberts thriftbooks. Northwest passage by kenneth roberts, first edition. Here is a fine blend of natural history, of human history, and of political history. Kenneth roberts did a spectacular job of fleshing out the characters in the intriguing historical novel, northwest passage. Northwest passage is a picture book that brings a folk song to life with paintings for a vibrant history lesson.
Buy a cheap copy of northwest passage book by kenneth roberts. Samuel stephens and other new material roberts, kenneth lewis published by doubleday, doran 1936. It turned out he was an indian aficionado, too, with the french and indian war 17541763 being one of his specialties. Rowing the northwest passage gave me a greater appreciation of the arctic wildernessjust not as a place of brutal beauty, but also. The movie starring spencer tracey was based on this adventure novel. It consists of a series of deep channels through canadas arctic archipelago, extending about 900 miles 1,450 km from east to west, from north of baffin island to. His writing was descriptive and he possessed a knack for even making the scenery come alive. Signed on the title page, with all the good wishes of kenneth roberts x. The northwest passage by kenneth roberts fantastic fiction. Northwest passage containing the courtmartial of major robert rogers, the courtmartial of lt. Northwest passage by kenneth roberts, first edition, signed.
The discovery of a british shipwreck in the canadian arctic has solved a 169yearold maritime mystery that led to the opening of the northwest. Northwest passage kenneth roberts the unofficial site. Attempts to find the northwest passagea water route from europe to asia through the arctic archipelago north of the canadian mainlandbegan as far back as the late15th century. This classic novel follows the career of major rogers, whose incredible exploits. Now comes northwest passage, dealing with the time of the frenchindian wars, the terrible uncertainty of the english relations with the indians, with their own colonists on distant frontiers.
Northwest passage is an historical novel by kenneth roberts, published in 1937. Complete summary of kenneth roberts northwest passage. The following quiz and worksheet combo will find your understanding of the northwest passage. The second half of the book follows major rogers further career in england and on the northwest.
Northwest passage by roberts, kenneth lewis, 18851957. Beautifully illustrated, and paired with the words from the song, this book also includes a timeline of northern exploration, a minibiography of important explorers, and the music and verses for the song northwest passage. Currently, the northwest passage is only accessible by ships that have been strengthened against ice and only during the warmest time of the year. Told through the eyes of primary character langdon towne, much of the novel follows the exploits and character of robert rogers, the leader of rogers rangers, who were a colonial force fighting with the british during the french and indian war structurally, northwest passage is divided into halves. Explore audibles collection of free sleep and relaxation audio experiences. They have the quality of recapturing a period, incidents, with a sense of eye witness. Spend time above the arctic circle exploring qausuittuq, simirlik and auyuittuq national parks, with activities like snorkeling, visiting the graves of the fated franklin expedition, and witnessing the impressive icefjord. Told through the eyes of primary character langdon towne, much of this novel centers around the exploits and character of robert rogers, the leader of rogers rangers, who were a colonial force fighting with the british during the french and indian war. Set in colonial america during the french and indian war, historical novelist kenneth roberts northwest passage is an epic work about the largerthanlife major rogers and the artist langdon towne who joins rogers rangers. This classic novel follows the career of major rogers, whose.
The main thing about the northwest passage in history is that it didnt actually exist, because of the pack ice near the poles. Samuel stephens and other new material by roberts, kenneth lewis and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The route is located 500 miles 800 km north of the arctic circle and less than 1,200 miles 1,930 km from the north pole. Northwest passage was one of my favorites as a teen, but i hadnt give it a thought in more than twoscore. This first half of the book is easily the most interesting, rich in fairly accurate detail about rogers leadership and the audacious heroism of his rangers. It was a speculation and shown on some maps that there was open sea across the northern coast of the north american c. Freckling to prelims and owners name on dedication page. Another interesting and well written book in this mountain man series from david thompson david l. The eastern route along the arctic coasts of norway and siberia is accordingly called the northeast passage nep the various islands of the archipelago are separated from one another and from the canadian. In 1789, alexander mackenzie traveled 1200 miles on the immense river in canada that now bears his name, in search of the fabled northwest passage that had eluded mariners for hundreds of years. Cameron dueck, author of the new northwest passage a compelling pageturner of an adventure story. Awardwinning artist matt james takes the iconic song northwest passage by legendary canadian songwriter and singer stan rogers and tells the dramatic story of the search for the elusive route through the arctic ocean to the pacific, which for hundreds of years and once again today, nations. The quest for the passage was one of the worlds severest maritime challenges.
Embark on the ocean endeavour for a 17day voyage to the northwest passage. The second half of the book follows major rogers further career in england and on the northwest frontier. One of the joys of studying kenneth roberts works is coming across what. In our ongoing weekly escape series, we aim to transport you from your desk to an incredible place in two minutes or less.
Paul watsons book details lost northwest passage expedition a mystery solved 150 years later originally published march 19, 2017 at 7. Northwest passage by kenneth roberts, first edition abebooks. Told through the eyes of primary character langdon towne, much o. Terror, disappeared with all their crew while searching for the northwest passage. Structurally, northwest passage is divided into halves. The picture is based on a novel by kenneth roberts titled northwest passage 1937. In this book he rescued from the comparative oblivion of.
Told through the eyes of primary character langdon towne, much of the novel follows the exploits and character of robert rogers, the leader of rogers rangers, who were a colonial force fighting with the british during. A thrilling adventure tale in which each hard mile not only reveals the strength of the human spirit but also hammers home the hard truths of climate change. The arundel series entitles roberts to a distinctive place among historical novelists. A reassessment introduction throughout much of this century canada has sought to establish conclusively its sovereignty over the islands and waters which lie immediately north of continental canada. The search for a passage sir martin frobisher, the english explorer, was the first european to explore 157678 the eastern approaches of the passage. While roberts published his first novel in 1930 arundel, he did not gain notoriety until after the publication of northwest passage 1937. Kenneth robertss most popular book is northwest passage. Northwest passage is a 1940 technicolor film, starring spencer tracy, robert young, walter brennan, ruth hussey, and others. For me, its always been rabble in arms, followed by northwest passage and oliver wiswell tied for second. There they are subject to inhuman conditions and brutal torture by the sadistic french commander, maj. Awardwinning artist matt james takes the iconic song northwest passage by legendary canadian songwriter and singer stan rogers and tells the dramatic story of the search for the elusive route through the arctic ocean to the pacific, which for hundreds of years and once again today, nations, explorers and commercial. Additionally, oliver wiswell is an outstanding exploration of the loyalist cause and why.