Starvation Cove (Novel)

Like the author of Starvation Cove, I've long been fascinated by accounts of the ill-fated Franklin expedition in search of the Northwest Passage. Ben Galeski's novel suggests what the last days of a handful of survivors of the the crew's trek in search of rescue may have been like. The story is told through the narration of one Joseph Andrews, a mid-rank officer of one of the expedition's ships abandoned in the polar ice. Covering a relatively short period of time with a small cast of charaters, it is difficult to say much about what actually happens without giving away what makes this story so intriguing. Suffice to say the author is very skillful at taking the reader through the harrowing end of the expedition's days and the lives of the last of its crew members. Clearly Ben Galeski has carefully researched his subject matter and he leaves few stones unturned in his depiction of the circumstances described in the book. His deft use of flashbacks and historical commentary to provide backdrop for the characters and the story is commendable. The characters are treated with respect and compassion as their number dwindles to the surprise ending. The author's prose style is literary, but without pretension, and is very reader friendly. The language is crisp and carefully crafted to suit the time and place of the story's setting. His deep personal faith and Catholic convictions are evident without undue proselytization. Overall I recommend Starvation Cove to all readers who enjoy compelling historical fiction.