A lively and entertaining narrative about the many attempts by early explorers to discover the fabled Northwest Passage to the silk and spices of the East. Each chapter looks at the adventures, obstacles, route, and outcome of a particular explorer's expedition. Fast-paced and dramatic, it appeals to readers of all ages and interests, and includes accounts of such famous polar explorers as Sir John Franklin, Roald Amundsen, Martin Frobisher, and Henry Hudson.