Chapter 1 ‘Good God! Margaret, if you had seen the man.’

Chapter 1

‘Good God! Margaret, if you had seen the man.’

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Robert Walton tells his sister he will be away for a long time, but if he fails, he will either be back in England soon or he will never return.

First to explore the Arctic was Giovanni Cabotto (known as John Cabot) who sailed from Bristol in 1497.

In the late 1780s, the British started hunting whales in large numbers – for whale oil (taken from the heads of some whales), to light homes and streets, and to clean sheep’s wool before it was made into clothes.

Letter 1 To Mrs Saville, England

St Petersburgh*, December 11th, 17–I am already far north of London, and as I walk in the streets of Petersburgh*, I feel a cold northern breeze on my cheeks, which fills me with delight. Do you understand this feeling? This breeze gives me a taste of the icy North Pole* where I am going. I am so curious to see a part of the world never before visited, and walk in a land where no man has set foot.

Six years have passed since I decided to go on this adventure. At that time, I went with the whale-fishers to the North Sea, I experienced cold and lack of food, I worked hard, all to get ready for this.

I do not sail until June; and when shall I return? Ah, dear sister, how can I answer this question? If I succeed, many months, perhaps years, will pass before we meet. If I fail, you will see me again soon, or never. Your affectionate* brother, R. Walton

16 Petersburgh (St Petersburg) Russian port town on the Baltic Sea North Pole most northern part of our planet affectionate full of love and warmth

Letter II To Mrs Saville, England

Archangel, March 28th, 17–How slowly the time passes here, surrounded by frost and snow! I have hired* a ship and sailors but, I have no friend, Margaret; I have no one who is gentle but brave, with an educated and clever mind, whose tastes are like mine, who can help me make my plans.

I cannot describe to you my feelings now that my adventure is about to start. It is impossible to tell to you even an idea of the trembling sensation, half pleasant and half nervous, with which I am preparing to depart. I am going to unexplored places, to ‘the land of mist and snow’.

Continue to write to me when you can: I may receive your letters when I need them most to support me when I am feeling sad. I love you very much. Remember me with affection, if you never hear from me again.

Your affectionate brother, Robert Walton

Letter III To Mrs Saville, England

July 7th, 17–

My dear Sister, I write to say that I am safe – and well on in my voyage. This letter will reach England by a ship now on its way

Archangel (Russian – Arkhangelsk) was the sea port of St Petersburg at this time.

Walton is lonely and wants to discuss his plans with a friend – ideas about loneliness are a big part of this novel.

’The land of mist and snow’ is a line from the long poem ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’ (1798) by Romantic poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge. The poem tells the story of an old sailor (mariner) who has returned from a long and terrible journey at sea.

hired rented, paid money to have something for a period of time

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Walton's ship is surrounded by ice.

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Sledges (US English sled) are a way to travel quickly over ice and snow. The word comes from old Dutch, and means ‘to slide’.

Walton and the sailors are not expecting to see a man on the ice. This person looks very strange, possibly not even human.

The first known telescope – used to see long distances – was made in 1608 by Hans Lippershey from the Netherlands. In 1609, Galileo Galilei improved the design and used it to explore the surface of the moon.

home from Archangel; those men are lucky, I may not see my homeland for many years.

Goodbye, my dear Margaret. Be assured that I will not put myself in unnecessary danger. I will be cool, persevering*, and careful. R.W.

Letter IV To Mrs Saville, England

August 5th, 17–Such a strange thing has happened to us. Last Monday (July 31st) we were surrounded by ice and in thick fog.

About two o'clock the mist cleared and a strange sight attracted our attention – a sledge* drawn by dogs. Something which had the shape of a man, but as big as a giant, sat in the sledge and guided the dogs. We watched the rapid* progress of the traveller with our telescopes until he was lost in the distant ice. We were astonished to see anyone – we were hundreds of miles from any town – but shut in by ice, we could not follow.

In the morning, I found the sailors talking to someone on a sledge, like the one we had seen before but only one dog remained alive. The man was not, as the other traveller seemed to be, a wild inhabitant of some undiscovered island, but a European.

The stranger spoke in English, although with a foreign

18 persevering not giving up, continuing sledge you can travel on this over ice and snow pulled by dogs rapid fast