In this special episode of the Orkneyology Podcast, Tom Muir and Rhonda are joined by Canadian historian, journalist and author Ken McGoogan, marking the 25th anniversary of his acclaimed book Fatal Passage and returning to the remarkable story of Orcadian Arctic explorer Dr John Rae.
For anyone interested in John Rae, Orkney history, Arctic exploration, the Franklin expedition, the Northwest Passage, or the history behind Ken McGoogan's Fatal Passage, this is a conversation full of stories, personal memories and a very strong sense of place.
Ken first came to Orkney in 1998 while researching Rae's story and was struck by something he found at the Orkney Museum: Orcadians already knew what he was beginning to discover—that John Rae had played a crucial role in the discovery of the Northwest Passage.
The conversation explores Rae's extraordinary achievements, including his discovery of the final link in the first navigable Northwest Passage and his investigation into the fate of the lost Franklin expedition of 1845. It also looks at why Rae's findings were so fiercely resisted in Victorian Britain, and how Lady Franklin's campaign helped shape the way his story was remembered.
Ken and Tom discuss the importance of Inuit knowledge to Arctic exploration, the difference between visiting the places where history happened and simply reading about them, and the changing historical understanding of Rae, Franklin and the Northwest Passage. They also talk about the documentary Passage, based on Fatal Passage, in which Ken and Tom both took part.
After Ken has to leave, Tom and Rhonda continue the story with a look at John Rae in Orkney: his grave at St Magnus Cathedral, the memorial inside the cathedral, his birthplace and the remarkable collection of Rae artefacts at Stromness Museum. They also remember Rae's extraordinary physical endurance and his modest character.
The episode ends with a personal conversation about the RNLI and Orkney's seafaring heritage, including the Longhope lifeboat tragedy of 1969.
Buy Fatal Passage and all of Ken McGoogan’s books: https://kenmcgoogan.com/
Donate to the brave volunteers at the RNLI: https://rnli.org/support-us/give-money/donate
More about John Rae: https://www.orkneyology.com/john-rae.html
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