Passage
by Angus Wardlaw

‘PASSAGE’ is the shocking account of the tragic John Franklin Expedition, brilliantly told in a new novel by Angus Wardlaw, descendant of Captain Francis Crozier who commanded the HMS Terror, sister ship to the HMS Erebus.

Wardlaw dramatically unveils the spine-tingling true story of this ambitious but ultimately fated expedition, that ended in death and cannibalism.

Meticulously researched, drawing on all that is known about the fate of this ambitious expedition, ‘PASSAGE’ relates the history, horror and extreme challenges to human fortitude faced by the crews of the two ships; familiar to many from ‘The Terror’ – the chilling Ridley Scott produced TV series.On 19th May 1845 the Royal Navy launches its most technologically advanced Arctic expedition ever in the hope of finding the fabled Northwest Passage: a direct trade route to the Far East that could bring untold wealth to the British Empire.But, just as the expedition is on the brink of astonishing success, nature cruelly threatens to crush the ships and stretch the crews of Erebus and Terror to the limits of human endurance.

With the temperature plummeting, the body count rising and little hope of rescue, their troubled leader has no option but to abandon ships with his freezing, sick and starving men and begin a brutal 500-mile death march across the High Arctic.

This is the true, epic story of the brotherhood and heroism of 129 souls who must pass through the very darkest of places in their struggle to survive as told by the great-great-great-great nephew of Francis Crozier, captain of HMS Terror.

5 out of 5 fairies

Wow. This was a fascinating story, based on true events. It’s clear Wardlaw has done a lot of research, and does an excellent job of bringing history to life on the page. Although this is a novelized accounting of the journey, it really brings the events and setting to life. The imagery is vivid, from those sitting around a table drinking, making decisions that would change so many lives, to the icy expedition that ended in so much tragedy. I have to admit, I didn’t know a lot about the expedition before (only a passing mention in a history book years ago), but it’s definitely piqued my interest in the history of arctic exploration. 

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Angus Wardlaw comes from a naval family and as a descendant of Francis Crozier has long been fascinated by his naval forebear and the fate of the expedition. Following a career in the military where he specialised in intelligence and reconnaissance, Angus became an award-winning advertising creative director in London and New York. He is now an author and lives on a boat in London.