BATTLE OF INK AND ICE A Sensational Story of News Barons, North Pole Explorers, and the Making of Modern Media

Mack Sanderson's voice provides a luxurious soundscape. This is not typical for a historical nonfiction audiobook, but listeners will find it enjoyable. Hartman's account of the turn-of-the-century proliferation of print media is a fascinating framing of the world's interest in "firsts," as explorers seek to reach the North Pole. The big media outlets of the day contend with either giving the public drama they want or sticking more closely to the facts. The limited information flow of the period exacerbates these choices; why wait for accurate information when people want to read updates now? Sanderson's rich, enveloping timbre and confident gravitas are undeniably engaging as he unwinds these dual narratives of media and exploration. S.P.C. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2023]