John Franklin: Traveller on Undiscovered Seas

Ian A. Andrews is editor of the New Brunswick Teachers’ Association’s Focus and co-author of Becoming a Teacher.

By most standards, the death of John Franklin and his crew in 1847,
while exploring the Canadian North, is tragic. That the bodies were not
found for over a century has fueled speculation, promoted
investigations, and prompted explanations of mythical proportion about
their disappearance and ultimate fate. John Wilson provides an
interesting look at the personality of an oft-overlooked and
underappreciated explorer.

The paternalism and “cultural arrogance” of 19th-century England
shines through in the narrative of Franklin’s naval career. A
participant in sea battles at Copenhagen, Trafalgar, and New Orleans,
Franklin achieved status as governor of Van Diemen’s Land (Tasmania)
before embarking on his treacherous Arctic treks. According to Wilson,
the unfortunate demise of Franklin’s third Arctic expedition helped to
open up the Canadian North.

Although some illustrations and a thorough chronology assist the
reader, the lack of maps, especially with such geographically related
subject matter, is unexpected, and especially disappointing for
young-adult readers who are visual learners. Cumbersome metric
measurements are used throughout instead of the imperial measurements
calculated by Franklin and his crews. A historical atlas of the Canadian
North is required to achieve the maximum benefit of this biography.
Recommended.