if this story of espionage survival were a novel readers might dismiss the shackletonlike exploits of its hero as too fantastic to be taken seriously but respected historian david a howarth confirmed the details of jan baalsruds riveting tale it begins in the spring of 43 with norway occupied by the nazis the allies desperate to open the northern sea lanes to russia baalsrud three compatriots plan to smuggle themselves into their homeland by boat spend the summer recruiting training resistance fighters launch a surprise attack on a german airbase but hes betrayed shortly after landfall a quick fight leaves baalsrud alone trapped on a freezing island above the arctic circle hes poorly clothed one foot entirely bare has a headstart of only a few hundred yards on his nazi pursuers leaves a trail of blood as he crosses the snow how he avoids capture ultimately escapesrevealing that much spoils nothing in this whiteknuckle narrativeis astonishing stuff baalsruds feats make the travails in jon krakauers mt everest classic into thin air look like childs play this amazing book will disappoint no onejohn j miller edited