«Julian Sancton's impressive research and incisive writing style ensures that this lockdown story grips like the pack ice»

Yachting Monthly

«One of the most enthralling-and harrowing-adventure stories in years... An unforgettable tale brilliantly told»

Scott Anderson, bestselling author of LAWRENCE IN ARABIA

«Has it all: Idealism, ingenuity, ambition, explosives, flimflammery, a colourful cast, a blank map, a three-month-long night, penguins (and medicinal penguin meat). A riveting tale, splendidly told»

Stacy Schiff, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of THE WITCHES and CLEOPATRA

«A mesmerizing, unputdownable read... an epic of Antarctic exploration»

Nathaniel Philbrick, author of IN THE HEART OF THE SEA and VALIANT AMBITION

«[A] riveting history... A rousing, suspenseful adventure tale»

Kirkus Reviews

«Artfully constructed, written with evenly-paced poise and with a kind of dread-filled assurance, it grips from first sentence to last»

Lawrence Osborne, international bestselling author of THE FORGIVEN

«The savage beauty of the antarctic landscape grips. The writing is exacting, compelling and compassionate.»

The Literary Review

«The energy of the narrative never flags... Mr. Sancton has produced a thriller, and a welcome addition to the polar shelves»

Sara Wheeler, Wall Street Journal

«A riveting account...well-researched and enthralling»

Publishers Weekly

«'A splendid, beautifully written book'»

Owen Matthews, The Spectator

«This is an epic of exploration, a brilliantly vivid piece of writing told by a natural storyteller»

Daily Mail

«The story of the Belgica has been told before, but never so brilliantly. Madhouse at the End of the Earth belongs at the heights of polar literature»

The Times

«Considering that much of Madhouse at the End of the Earth is about moribundity, Sancton does well to make each page exciting - "murder, suicide, starvation, insanity, icy death and all the acts of the devil"»

Roger Lewis, Telegraph *****

«A riveting true-life horror story ... an obscure but important history transformed by deep research and note-perfect storytelling into a classic thriller»

Walter Isaacson, bestselling author of STEVE JOBS and LEONARDO DA VINCI

«A "grade-A classic" that's feverishly compelling ... this story has everything»

Sunday Times

«Exquisitely researched and deeply engrossing»

New York Times

«Utterly enthralling»

Geoff Dyer, Guardian

«An epic of survival. A mixture of chaos and great courage; part Monty Python sketch, part real-life heroics»

Michael Palin

«The next great contribution to polar literature. A wild tale, so well told and immersively researched»

Hampton Sides, New York Times bestselling author of IN THE KINGDOM OF ICE