Barrow's Boys

by Fergus Fleming

Book Overview

A mix of tragedy and farce, this tale tells the story of John Barrow, Second Secretary to the Admiralty. Between 1816 and 1845 his teams of naval officers partook in an ambitious programme of... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0871138042
• ISBN13: 9780871138040
• Release Date: January 2000
• Publisher: Atlantic Monthly Press
• Length: 489 Pages
• Weight: 1.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.5" x 6.4" x 9.4"

Customer Reviews

An excellent read

Barrow's Boys is an account of the British exploring efforts of the known (and unknown) world of the first half of the 19th Century. Spearheaded by Sir John Barrow, Second Secretary of the Admiralty, the British Navy sent out a number of ships to diverse areas of the globe. Notably Fleming does not focus solely on the Arctic explorative efforts for which Barrow is most well known. Fleming argues that Barrow could well be considered the father of Global exploration. British explorers penetrated the frozen wastes of the Arctic, and Antarctic, as well as the African interior, all in the name of Science and Knowledge. Fergus Fleming is a particular favorite of mine, since I picked up his book "90 degrees North" a couple of years ago. He has a particular knack for drawing fine textual character sketches of the individuals whose tales he tells. Barrow's Boys is no exception. Fleming relates with ease the characters and adventures (and tragedies) of John and James Ross, of Parry, Back, Richardson, and the doomed Sir John Franklin. Lesser known names in the annals of British exploration are not neglected: Lyon and Ritchie's mission to find the source of the Congo via the Sahara is discussed, as is James Tuckey, on which the book first begins it's exploration narrative after having introduced Sir John Barrow in the first chapter. The stubborness and arrogance often found in Victorian Englishmen that often rendered them inflexible to changes in their environment- for example the wearing a heavy woollen navy uniform in the suffocating heat of Africa- is well portrayed by Fleming. Barrow's Boys covers the period between 1816 (Tuckey sails to the Congo) to 1859 (the efforts to locate the missing Franklin exidition). A neat touch is the epilogue, in which Fleming relates briefly the lives of the British explorers after they had their moment in the sun. Barrow's Boys is authorative, but by no means academic, as it is a very easy read. Recommended for those with an interest in exploration, particularly from the viewpoint of the British.

One of the best books of its kind

Simply put it's a great book. "Barrow's Boys" is filled with amazing stories of exploration and consequent adventure in the first half of the 19th century. The title figure of Barrow is himself a rather uninteresting and, at least to me, disagreeable chap who takes a rightful place in the far background of this book. Barrow's importance is as the man who green-lighted the numerous British explorations detailed in Fleming's book.Most were in search of the elusive Northwest Passage, which took many a ship into the harrowing Arctic environs. This provides many of "Barrow's Boys" most captivating stories as ships, captains and crews battle the elements. The effect of extreme cold, severe Arctic storms and seemingly endless dark winters are hard to imagine. Fleming, to his credit, helps nudge the reader's imagination. One of his primary tools, and indeed a key to the success of the book, are the copious logs left behind by ship captains. What a treasure chest of primary documents that Fleming takes full advantage of.In addition to fighting the bitter cold, explorers challenged opposite elements in Africa in search of rivers and cities. Besides having to negotiate extreme dessert or jungle heat, explorers had to ward off myriad diseases and pass though the lands of hostile natives, often while seeking their help.It's all compelling stuff and Fleming has a writing style that never imposes itself on the stories but helps highlight elements of them.One of the highest praises of a history book is that it inspires the reader to want to read and know more. Well, through "Barrow's Boys" Fergus Fleming has done precisely that.

From Biblio To Bio

The Author explains that this book originated as the name of JohnBarrow is to be found in the Bibliographies on English Expeditions ofDiscovery, for a good portion of the first half of the 19thCentury. Those that lead or were notable participants in theseventures have books written by them, and about them, many timesover. Evidently this is the first time the man who was a driving forcebehind these events has been profiled alongside the voyages. Just someof these events include the search for The Northwest Passage, the trekfor The North Pole, documenting the North and South Magnetic Poles,and exploring Antarctica. And when you have frozen through these epictravels, the writer takes you to Australia, and the overland marchesin search of Timbuktu, the beginning and end of The Niger River, andmany other historical firsts. Along with the details of the trips andthe men that participated, the Author also explains the constructionof the ships, how these wooden vessels were able to break through iceinstead of their being broken. There are remarkable details noted,such as there was a black member of the group that first crossed theNorthwest passage from West to East, and also a man of color when theNorth Pole was attacked. The tales range from remarkable folly whenofficers were to wear dress uniforms when crossing the desserts ofAfrica to maintain the pride of Britain, to other men who adopted notonly the dress of The Muslims, but also learned to speak theirlanguage! In his position at The Admiralty and other distinguishedposts, Barrow not only could direct what expeditions took place, butalso those that were to lead them. With this power he made ordestroyed the reputations of many brave men whose only failure wasthat they did not succeed according to Barrow. Most of his beliefsabout The Northwest Passage, The North Pole, and the rivers and citiesof Africa were wrong. Despite this, his persistence and those thatshouldered these journeys filled in the voids on the worlds map thathad until then been blank. But while alive he was a bitter taskmasterwho would brutally discredit the same men he had sent to destinationsnever before seen by a European, if he did not gain the informationand confirmation of the beliefs he held to be true. Different readerswill select those actions they find to be the most remarkable, for meit was those trips that in futility sought The Northwest Passage byship. These ships and crew would at times be gone for 2, 3, or even 4years depending on the whims of the ice. During one such voyage aftersurviving another brutal winter a vessel again made its way towardhome. When once again locked in the ice for yet another winter theship had traveled a distance that a man could easily walk in 2 hours!These winters, which occupied most of the calendar, were filled withactivities to literally keep all members healthy and sane. Seamen whocould not read or write came home literate, and the majority of thetime scurvy was kept at bay by Captains tha

RIDE THE GLOBE!

This was a well written book on the many Polar and African interior explorations that were sponsored by the British in the first half of the 19th centry. From trying to find the North-West Passage above North America to searching for the legendary "city of gold" called Timbucto in Africa this book kept me interested throughout. Never before or for that matter since has such a group of explorers been assembled. The man responsible for these quests was John Barrow, a man who had a dream of mapping uncharted areas of the world. He set into motion the largest and most expensive series of explorations in the history of mankind. This is a story of courage and determination like no other that I have read before. This book recounts the stories of men who spent years stuck in the freezing cold in their dreams of being the first to find a passage across North America. The book also details the adventures that other men had in their quest to map the interior of Africa. Other stories of different areas in the world that were explored are also included. John Barrow might not have been as successful as he would have liked but his dream inspired later explorers and set a benchmark that carried on into the 20th century.

Ice Capades!

I hope that Fergus Fleming has a long, healthy, happy life and writes a lot more books! I really enjoyed "Barrow's Boys". A cynic might say that this is a story that sells itself. But that would be unfair and untrue. After all, we are talking about a book that is mostly about trip after trip to arctic waters, in search of that other Holy Grail, the Northwest Passage. In the hands of a less skilled author this could become tedious. How many ways are there to describe wind, cold, stormy seas and icebergs? But Mr. Fleming really delves into the personalities of the explorers and when each trip is over he goes back to England and takes you inside the walls of the Admiralty and the Royal Geographical Society to show you the jealousy and backbiting and political shenanigans that went on between voyages. He ladles up a generous amount of quotations from Barrow and "his boys", who were thoughtful enough to provide us with extensive written records in the form of government memoranda and journal entries. Mr. Ferguson describes life aboard ship, wintering in the long, dark arctic night. How did the men pass the time? Well, they ate and exercised and many of them took reading lessons so that they could become literate. They also rigged up a stage aboard ship and put on shows, some of the men getting themselves "rigged up" as women by performing in drag! Another thing that prevents this book from ever becoming boring is that, especially in the middle section, Mr. Fleming alternates between telling us about the arctic explorations and the men who were sent to Africa to find the source of the Niger and to find Timbuctoo. The sections on Africa provide a nice contrast, sort of like a tangy sorbet in between the appetizer and the entree! One of the interesting explorers that went to Africa was Gordon Laing, who was an absolute fanatic about going through the Sahara to find Timbuctoo, despite warnings that he was going smack dab through bandit country. Before he set off on his journey he fell in love with a young English lady and wanted to marry her. Her father was none too happy about his daughter marrying someone who was quite possibly deranged. The father couldn't stop the marriage, but he got the newlyweds to agree not to consummate the marriage until Laing got back from his great adventure. Needless to say, Mr. and Mrs. Laing never got to enjoy conjugal bliss. After barely surviving one bandit attack, Laing was not so lucky the second time around. He was strangled and then decapitated. Mr. Ferguson closes the book with a twenty page section telling us about what happened to the explorers in their later years (those lucky enough to make it back, that is!). You get interesting and amusing insights into their lives. Let me finish this review by quoting a paragraph concerning Richard McCormick, who sailed with an 1852-3 arctic expedition: "McCormick retired to Hecla House in Wimbledon, where he spent his last years with a me