This volume charts the 18th-century's perilous and often fatal attempts to discover a passage through the Arctic to the Pacific. It is set in the 18th-century exploration fever and charts the perilous expeditions undertaken to find the "maritime philosopher's stone" from amongst Hudson Bay.

This volume charts the 18th-century's perilous and often fatal attempts to discover a passage through the Arctic to the Pacific. It is set in the heat of the 18th-century exploration fever and charts the many perilous expeditions undertaken to find the "maritime philosopher's stone" from amongst the ice and Eskimos of Hudson Bay. Fuelled by the promise of fame and riches from revitalized British trade and the dominance of the North American continent, the search for this illusory passage even captivated Cook - the most pragmatic of explorers. The author examines successive expeditions from James Knight to George Vancouver. The secretive Hudson's Bay Company plays a supporting role throughout, as does Sir Arthur Dobbs whose political ambition - and obsessive pursuit of the illusory passage - relied heavily on exploitative cunning, personal greed and putting others' lives at risk. The book is based on extensive archival research and archaeological excavations which fuel the content of the book, rich in political and personal intrigue.