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The late 19th century to the early 20th century was the heyday of great voyages. All countries were eager to try polar exploration. Such ambitions were not limited to developed countries such as the United Kingdom, Norway, and the United States. Even Belgium, which has a weak maritime tradition, also wanted to enhance its national confidence through geographical discoveries. In August 1897, the Belgian baron and explorer De Gerlache boarded the "Belgium" with a dream of glory and set sail from the port of Antwerp to the unknown end of the earth: the icy Antarctic continent. De Gerlache's plans would soon go awry. After experiencing a near-mutiny, a near-shipwreck, and a real death, the "Belgium" recklessly sailed deep into the ice floes as winter approached, falling into a cage of ice and snow. As the sun sets for the final time over the stunning Antarctic landscape, nearly all activity comes to a standstill and survival becomes the team's full-time job. And between the bland canned food and the same life, madness also hangs over the ship like a ghost, looking for the weakest victims... This book focuses on three protagonists - in addition to De Gerlache, who has a national and family mission, and the first mate of the "Belgium" Roald Amundsen, a Norwegian who will become a legend, and Frederic Cook, a team doctor and photographer who is half genius, half liar - tells a little-known but extremely important history of polar expeditions.