Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Book Review of Unknown Shore: The Lost History of England's Arctic Colony

Unknown Shore: The Lost History of England's Arctic Colony
reviewed on + 63 more book reviews


A very interesting account of the explorations of Martin Frobisher into the Canadian Arctic in the 1500's. He made several trips, captured several Inuit people, brought back black rock which he was sure to be a gold mine adventure. It tells of the involvement of Queen Elizabeth and the investors which financed the trips and of the multiple hardships, trials, and arrogance of Frobisher's self-serving attitude that resulted in loss of life in these trips. A colony was meant to be established there in this land close to Greenland, but due to foul weather, many supplies were lost and it did not materialize. Nineteenth century Hall made his own exploration of this same place, hearing the oral history from the Inuits that unlocked the mysteries surrounding Frobisher. It was a story I was unfamiliar with. Worth the read.