Letters from The Barren Lands

Book excerpt: For decades hidden in an archive in England: Critchell Bullock’s own account of his odyssey with John Hornby in 1924/25. In 2015 the archivist of Sherborne School (Dorset) disclosed the possession of Bullock's diary from his journey with John Hornby. An authentic and often very personal account, based on letters to a dear friend in England. A narrative about a winter spent in a self-dug cave on the edge of the Canadian Barren Lands, with intimate insights of hope and despair. About their ensuing journey on foot overland and by canoe down the Hanbury and Thelon Rivers, via Baker Lake and Chesterfield Inlet to Hudson Bay. Compiled from letters archived in the USA, Canada and England. Supplemented with content from Bullock's son's personal archive. Featuring unpublished photos, new insights into their journey and previously unknown details about John Hornby. Completed with Guy Houghton Blanchet's narration of a particular incident, never before published in full. “I can’t get over regretting that you did not yourself take the place of Waldron in writing the story of the Hornby-Bullock adventure.” Vilhjalmur Stefansson (May 1931) ​ “Why did not you write up your trip with Hornby yourself? And I might ask further – Why, since you have such a gift of fluent writing you don’t do something in that line?” Guy Houghton Blanchet (August 1950)