Lost Franklin expedition ship found in the Arctic
There was book in my school library about the Franklin expedition. There was something haunting and fascinating about the old drawings/paintings of one of the ships locked in the ice, pictures of the incredibly well-preserved sailors, and the failed trek across the ice which ended in cannibalism. It is probably a relatively unknown story (at least in the US - this article suggests that resonates with Canadians), but there's something that draws you to it. Actually, the polar expeditions produced a lot of incredible stories. You've got Shackleton's legendary return to civilization, and what I think is one of the more heroic and tragic pieces of writing, Robert Falcon Scott's Message to the Public:<p>"We took risks, we knew we took them; things have come out against us, and therefore we have no cause for complaint, but bow to the will of Providence, determined still to do our best to the last.<p>...<p>Had we lived, I should have had a tale to tell of the hardihood, endurance, and courage of my companions which would have stirred the heart of every Englishman. These rough notes and our dead bodies must tell the tale, but surely, surely, a great rich country like ours will see that those who are dependent on us are properly provided for."<p>It's rather strange that such a desolate environment could produce such interesting stories.