Chasing the Sun

An overworked Liverpool businessman plans a holiday with an unusual goal: to see the sun circle the sky without setting. Fred Temple invites two friends and recruits Bob Bowie, a retired seaman now working in his office, for a voyage to Norway. Their schooner, the Snowflake, carries them toward northern waters, with salmon fishing and scenery among the promised attractions. Ballantyne shapes the expedition as an adventure novel for young readers, using lively exchanges between Fred and his puzzled steward.

Stormy seas give way to a calm coast crowded with islands, seabirds and steep mountains. Beyond the Arctic Circle, prolonged daylight unsettles ordinary habits, while distances over the water prove difficult to judge. Christian reflections accompany the descriptions of nature. Readers interested in sailing and northern landscapes can find a story built around friendship, practical observation and the comic complications of an ambitious holiday.