Arctic Circles and Imperial Knowledge: The Franklin Family, Indigenous Intermediaries, and the Politics of Truth

In 1845, an expedition led by Sir John Franklin vanished in the Canadian Arctic. This book explores how the Franklins and other explorer families engaged in science, exploration, and the exchange of information in the early to mid-19th century, revealing a deep entanglement of polar expedition with British imperialism. It shows how families negotiated their authority over knowledge to engage with the politics of truth and question the credibility and trustworthiness of those they sought to silence.

Format: Hardback
Length: 296 pages
Publication date: 25 January 2024
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

In 1845, an expedition led by Sir John Franklin mysteriously disappeared in the Canadian Arctic, sparking an enduring fascination with the Franklin mystery. This fascination, particularly with Inuit information about the expedition's fate, is partly due to the ways in which information circulated in these imperial spaces. This book delves into the scientific, exploratory, and information exchange practices of explorer families during the early to mid-19th century, focusing on the Franklins' journey from the Arctic to Van Diemens Land. It explores how the Franklins collaborated with intermediaries, imperial humanitarians, and scientists, utilizing these experiences to assert their moral right to information.

Arctic Circles and Imperial Knowledge sheds light on the indispensable and inconvenient roles of indigenous peoples, translators, fur traders, whalers, convicts, and sailors who provided information to the explorer families. It reveals a profound entanglement of polar expeditions with British imperialism, showcasing how geographical knowledge intertwined with convict policy, humanitarianism, genocide, and authority. Within these imperial contexts, families like the Franklins navigated their fragile authority over knowledge to engage with the politics of truth and challenge the credibility and trustworthiness of those they sought to silence.

The book also examines the broader implications of the Franklin expedition and its legacy. It explores how the search for the missing expedition became a symbol of British imperial ambitions and a means of asserting control over the Arctic region. It also considers the impact of the expedition on the Inuit people, who bore the brunt of the consequences of the expedition's failure.

Overall, Arctic Circles and Imperial Knowledge provides a comprehensive and nuanced analysis of the Franklins' expedition, its historical context, and its enduring significance. It sheds light on the complex relationships between exploration, imperialism, knowledge, and power, and offers valuable insights into the complexities of the 19th-century world.

Weight: 594g
Dimension: 241 x 164 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350292949