"I was impressed with the way Ross leads us into the life of the Penny family, the whaling industry, the Inuit culture. His commentary on each entry by Margaret Penny is in fact a self-contained essay on some dimension of the voyage. Although, as a woman, Margaret Penny lacked an authoritative voice, Ross gives her that voice, turning a set of restrained observations into an engaging document." Ronald Rompkey, Department of English, Memorial University
"An exceptionally fine book. While the journal is quite important on its own, the book's greatest value is as a vehicle providing Ross an opportunity to share his own vast and detailed knowledge of arctic whaling in general and William Penny specifically. Ross's knowledge of arctic whaling is exceptional and seemingly inexhaustible. His style is engaging, reflective, humane, and appropriately humorous. This is truly the work of a mature scholar at his peak." Richard C. Davis, Department of English, University of Calgary

"I was impressed with the way Ross leads us into the life of the Penny family, the whaling industry, the Inuit culture. His commentary on each entry by Margaret Penny is in fact a self-contained essay on some dimension of the voyage. Although, as a woman, Margaret Penny lacked an authoritative voice, Ross gives her that voice, turning a set of restrained observations into an engaging document." Ronald Rompkey, Department of English, Memorial University "An exceptionally fine book. While the journal is quite important on its own, the book's greatest value is as a vehicle providing Ross an opportunity to share his own vast and detailed knowledge of arctic whaling in general and William Penny specifically. Ross's knowledge of arctic whaling is exceptional and seemingly inexhaustible. His style is engaging, reflective, humane, and appropriately humorous. This is truly the work of a mature scholar at his peak." Richard C. Davis, Department of English, University of Calgary