Preface describes 3 generations of explorers from 1773 to 1873: 1) Cook and Phipps; 2) Ross, Parry, Franklin, Back; 3) Franklin searches. 4th would begin with the Nares expedition of 1875. The book is a biographical list showing voyage, ship, role in winter activities of all officers (e.g. Henry Kellett on Resolute where he was on the Committee of Management of the “Royal Arctic Theatre” 1852-54, before Belcher ordered abandonment of Resolute). Useful reference—there is a 1992 facsimile.