Hampton sidess in the kingdom of ice the grand and terrible polar voyage of the uss jeannette which recounts the astonishing tribulations of a group of seafarers determined to be the first men to reach and reconnoiter the north pole is a splendid book in every way it would be malicious to ruin the suspense about the fate of the jeannettes crew. In the kingdom of ice the grand and terrible polar voyage of the uss jeannette 2014 is a nonfiction book written by the author and historian hampton sides the book tells the true story of the 1879 1881 arctic voyage of the uss jeannette and the crews struggle to survive after having to abandon their ship in the polar ice. In the kingdom of ice the grand and terrible polar voyage of the uss jeannette amazonin sides hampton books. In the kingdom of ice the grand and terrible polar voyage of the uss jeannette by hampton sides 423 rating details 18661 ratings 2406 reviews on july 8 1879 captain george washington de long and his team of thirty two men set sail from san francisco on the uss jeanette. On july 8 1879 the uss jeannette set sail from san francisco to cheering crowds in the grip of arctic fever the ship sailed into uncharted seas but soon was trapped in pack ice two years into the harrowing voyage the hull was breached amid the rush of water and the shrieks of breaking wooden boards the crew abandoned the ship