Random House presents the audiobook edition of Erebus, written and read by Michael Palin.

AVAILABLE THESE DAYS: Michael Palin’s North Korea Journal

In the early years of Queen Victoria’s reign, HMS Erebus undertook two of the very most ambitious naval expeditions of all time.

For the first, she ventured further south than any human had ever been. On the second, she vanished with her 129-strong staff in the wastes from the Canadian Arctic.

Her fate remained a mystery for over 160 years.

After that, in 2014, she was about Erebus: The Story of a Dispatch found.

This is her story.

BBC RADIO 4 Reserve OF THE WEEK

‘Beyond great . I didn’t want to buy to end.’ Expenses Bryson

‘Lighted by flashes of mild wit . . . It’s a remarkable tale that [Palin] brings full-bloodedly alive.’ Guardian

‘This is an incredible book . . . The Erebus story is the Arctic epic we’ve all been waiting for.’ Nicholas Crane

‘Thoroughly absorbs the reader. . . Cautiously investigated and well-crafted, it brings the story of the ship vividly to life.’ Sunday Moments

‘A great tale . . . Told in a very relaxed and sometimes – as you might expect – extremely funny Palin design.’ David Baddiel, Daily Email

‘Magisterial . . . Brings energy, wit and humanity to a story that has under no circumstances ceased to tantalise people because the 1840s.’ The Times