Available from Vision Forum and Amazon
***
Although the adventure, wit and Christian emphasis in this book are just as satisfactory as many of Ballantyne's other books, this has been my least favorite so far. For one thing it's not quite factual, exploring the discovery of the North Pole before it actually happened. It's very interesting, but that's interesting conjecture. Also there is plenty of the kindly condescension toward Eskimos and the black "wooly" cook. The Eskimo hero is considered, however, to be unusually noble and intelligent. He warmly embraces the Gospel, which is clearly expounded to him. I realize, also, that this condescension is a Christian attitude of Ballantyne's time. Other than these objections I enjoyed this Arctic adventure.
