The Rifles by William T. Vollmann

"The Rifles" is a historical novel that intertwines two tales of exploration in the Arctic. One story follows a 19th-century British naval officer, Sir John Franklin, on his ill-fated expedition to find the Northwest Passage, which ultimately results in his crew's death from starvation, cold, and cannibalism. The other narrative is about a late 20th-century man who becomes obsessed with Franklin's story and travels to the Arctic himself, experiencing the harsh realities of life in the far North. The book explores themes of obsession, colonialism, and the harshness of Arctic life.

The 6508th greatest book of all time

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Total Points: 77

Since this book was first published in 1994, there is a penalty of 32.0%. The age adjusted score is 52.36.

This is to prevent newer books from reaching super high on the ranked list of the greatest books of all time. The greatest books should also stand the test of time.