William Parker Snow (1817–1895) was a sailor, explorer and writer. In 1850 he wrote to Lady Franklin volunteering his services to lead a land expedition to recover her husband, Arctic explorer Sir John Franklin (1786–1847) who had not returned from his 1845 Arctic expedition. Lady Franklin declined his offer, but appointed him as second in command to Charles Forsyth on her first sponsored rescue expedition in 1850 to recover her husband. First published in 1851, this volume contains Snow's account of this rescue expedition. Taken from Snow's personal diary written during the expedition, he describes the hazardous conditions the expedition faced during the brief Arctic summer. The daily life of Snow and the crew, the methods used to ensure safe passage through ice floes and the dramatic Arctic landscapes are described in vivid detail, providing valuable information about nineteenth century Arctic expeditions.
