Battle of Ink and Ice

A Sensational Story of News Barons, North Pole Explorers, and the Making of Modern Media

By: Darrell Hartman

Narrated by: Mack Sanderson

New York Times Book Review’s "100 Notable Books of 2023"

"Absolutely gripping… a perfectly splendid read—I highly, highly recommend it” -- Douglas Preston, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller The Lost City of the Monkey God

A sixty-year saga of frostbite and fake news that follows the no-holds-barred battle between two legendary explorers to reach the North Pole, and the newspapers which stopped at nothing to get–and sell–the story.

In the fall of 1909, a pair of bitter contests captured the world’s attention. The American explorers Robert Peary and Frederick Cook both claimed to have discovered the North Pole, sparking a vicious feud that was unprecedented in international scientific and geographic circles. At the same time, the rivalry between two powerful New York City newspapers—the storied Herald and the ascendant Times—fanned the flames of the so-called polar controversy, as each paper financially and reputationally committed itself to an opposing explorer and fought desperately to defend him.

The Herald was owned and edited by James Gordon Bennett, Jr., an eccentric playboy whose nose for news was matched only by his appetite for debauchery and champagne. The Times was published by Adolph Ochs, son of Jewish immigrants, who’d improbably rescued the paper from extinction and turned it into an emerging powerhouse. The battle between Cook and Peary would have enormous consequences for both newspapers, and help to determine the future of corporate media.

BATTLE OF INK AND ICE presents a frank portrayal of Arctic explorers, brave men who both inspired and deceived the public. It also sketches a vivid portrait of the newspapers that funded, promoted, narrated, and often distorted their exploits. It recounts a sixty-year saga of frostbite and fake news, one that culminates with an unjustly overlooked chapter in the origin story of the modern New York Times.

By turns tragic and absurd, BATTLE OF INK AND ICE brims with contemporary relevance, touching as it does on themes of class, celebrity, the ever-quickening news cycle, and the benefits and pitfalls of an increasingly interconnected world. Above all, perhaps, its cast of characters testifies—colorfully and compellingly—to the ongoing role of personality and publicity in American cultural life as the Gilded Age gave way to the twentieth century—the American century.

A Little More Ink than Ice But a Fine Book

A nicely written and engaging book. The author’s primary interest leans toward the newspaper side of the story. He does discuss the details of Arctic exploration but not to the granular extent he does the competitive world of NYC newspapers.
There are some larger than life characters here and the book brings to life the Gilded Age and Age of Exploration really well.
The narrator is excellent making it an enjoyable listen.

Incredible research

Thorough deep dive into early newspaper media and how exploring being profitable content, Great book!

Very intriguing

I love how the author wove the history of two different stories so seamlessly into one. He turned Arctic exploring and the beginning of the newspaper industry into something that resembled a novel, yet is fact filled history. Very well done!

Fascinating weaving of journalism and exploration history

The tale started a bit slowly, but I was increasingly invested in the developments and personalities of the two interwoven histories. It’s a relevant and well-researched history well worth the listen.

Entangled History

The book amazingly weaves the history of the press and the history of arctic exploration into one cohesive and fascinating narrative.