The Arctic historian offers a surprising new explanation regarding the mysterious death of late-19th-century explorer Sir John Franklin.

Registration for this event has sold out. A limited number of standby tickets may be available on the day of the event.

Two of Arctic explorer Sir John Franklin’s expeditions were monumental failures—the last led to over a hundred deaths, including his own. Somehow he remains to many a heroic figure who sacrificed himself to discover the Northwest Passage. In his new book, Searching for Franklin, Ken McGoogan dispels the myths about Franklin by interweaving two narratives about the expeditions and misadventures that led to the catastrophe of Franklin’s final expedition. Relying on the latest research and new discoveries, McGoogan teases out many intriguing aspects of Franklin’s expeditions, including Franklin’s lethal hubris.

Presented in conjunction with the Library's upcoming exhibition, The Awe of the Arctic: A Visual History.

To join | Please register for an In-Person Ticket. Doors will open around 1:30 PM. For free events, we generally overbook to ensure a full house. Priority will be given to those who have registered in advance, but registration does not guarantee admission. All registered seats are released shortly before start time, and seats may become available at that time. A standby line will form 30 minutes before the program.

VISIT THE EXHIBITION

The Awe of the Arctic: A Visual History
Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
March 15–July 13, 2024

Discover extraordinary artwork, photographs, prints, and historic materials—drawn almost exclusively from the rich collections of The New York Public Library—that tell the story of how the Arctic has been visually depicted, defined, and imagined over the past 500 years. The presentation ranges from 16th-century explorers who attempted to capture the perceived strangeness of a remote region to contemporary artists whose work conveys the human impact on its changing climate and vulnerable landscape. Learn more.

To join | Please register for an In-Person Ticket. Doors will open around 1:30 PM. For free events, we generally overbook to ensure a full house. Priority will be given to those who have registered in advance, but registration does not guarantee admission. All registered seats are released shortly before start time, and seats may become available at that time. A standby line will form 30 minutes before the program.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Ken McGoogan is a globe-trotting, history-hunting storyteller who chased Lady Franklin around Tasmania and placed a John Rae memorial plaque in the High Arctic. Ken’s latest book, Searching for Franklin: New Answers to the Great Arctic Mystery, is his sixth about Arctic exploration. The others, which include Fatal Passage, Lady Franklin’s Revenge, and Dead Reckoning, have won numerous awards in Canada and the U.S. Ken is a fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society and the Explorers Club. He lives outside Toronto, teaches writing in Halifax, and sails in the Northwest Passage with Adventure Canada as a resource historian.

READ THE BOOK:

• Borrow: NYPL Catalog


• E-Book app: SimplyE, available on iOS and Android

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ACCESSIBILITY

In-Person | You can request a free ASL (American Sign Language) interpretation or CART (Communication Access Real-Time Translation) captioning service by emailing your request at least two weeks in advance of the event: email accessibility@nypl.org or use this Gmail template. This venue is fully accessible to wheelchairs.

CONNECT

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Courtesy Ken McGoogan