At the end of the 16th century, several expeditions had undertaken to establish a north-east passage, but bad conditions consistently frustrated them. The Dutch sailing-master William Barents made many attempts to establish the passage. This book covers the glory and failure of his third voyage.

Around the end of the 16th century, several expeditions had undertaken to establish a north-east passage, but sea-fogs, pack-ice and the confusing geography of the coast of Russia consistently frustrated them. No-one pursued the idea of a north-east passage with such tenacious skill as the Dutch sailing-master William Barents. The glory and failure of his third voyage, with which this book is concerned, was the last major attempt to open up such a route until, nearly 300 years later, success came in the age of steam.