The book highlights the 16th-century English-Atlantic connections based on the world division defined by two fundamental documents of the late 15th century: namely, the papal bull Inter Caetera, and the Portuguese-Spanish Treaty of Tordesillas. Despite this, an imaginary Northwest Passage to the wealth and markets of the Far East captured the attention of Elizabethan merchants and navigators searching for an alternative sea route to Asia to challenge the Portuguese and Spanish commerce monopoly. The core of the book is Sir Martin Frobisher’s three Arctic voyages of 1576–78, intended to connect the Protestant focus on wealth acquisition with the territorial expansion. Although Frobisher’s venture lacked opportunities for advancement, he marked his place in history by creating a fascination for the mythical Northwest Passage and an interest in North America. The book is based on the eyewitness accounts of the expeditions’ captains, and will appeal to a large audience, from teachers and students in the general humanities to those specifically interested in language, literature, and trans-Atlantic and Renaissance studies.

These essays trace the history of the British search for the Northwest Passage – the Arctic sea route connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans – from the early modern era to the start of the nineteenth century.

Studies the history of the search for the Northwest Passage including voyages by Ross, Buchan, Parry, Franklin, McClure and Amundsen.

Chronicles the successes and failures of legendary explorers, including Martin Frobisher, John Davis, William Edward Parry and John Franklin. Includes maps, archival prints and photographs, and colour photographs giving a contemporary view of the region's wildlife, landscape and people.

Accounts of attempts to cross the Northwest Passage from the Atlantic Ocean through the Bering Strait to the Pacific Ocean and of the successful voyage by Roald Amundsen in the ship Gj'p2(Ba 1903-1906.