Battle of the Arctic
- Author Hugh Sebag-Montefiore
- Narrator Alfred McNish
- Publisher HarperCollins Publishers
- Publish Date 6 November 2025
- Run Time 24 hours and 42 minutes
- Format Audio
- Genre European history, Second World War.
Click to open directly in the xigxag app.
Standard price shown. Sign in for personalised pricing.
Send as a gift Get in the xigxag appFlexible Pricing & Rewards For Listening
At xigxag, the more you read, the less you pay* on select audiobook and x-book® titles, as in the table below. Pricing updates automatically in the app and resets one year after your first purchase. And you can always find a selection of brilliant titles available for only £3.99.
Titles Purchased
- 1-5
- 6-10
- 11-15
- 16-20
- Over 20
Price per title
- £7.99
- £6.99
- £5.99
- £4.99
- £3.99
*Only the full price titles you buy count toward your personal pricing tier. Full price titles don’t include Listen for Less or other books bought with a voucher or discount code.
Listen to a sample
What to expect
No campaign during World War Two contained more spinetingling drama, outstanding courage and heartbreaking tragedy than the Arctic convoys. Yet they – and the multifaceted Battle of the Arctic that had to be fought to get them through to Russia – remain one of the war’s most undercelebrated feats.
As this book’s title implies, Battle of the Arctic tells a unique story. For much of the conflict was complicated by terrific storms, snow, ice, fog, whales and Arctic mirages, so that what is chronicled at times sounds like a cross between the nightmarish torment experienced by both Shackleton in his ship Endurance and Scott of the Antarctic, and an Arctic version of Robinson Crusoe.
The action unfolded as Allied naval and merchant seamen, airmen, submariners, soldiers and intelligence officers delivered on their countries’ promise to take arms to Russia notwithstanding the German attempts to hunt them in their aircraft, U-boats and surface fleet spearheaded by Tirpitz and Scharnhorst. When ships were attacked, and went down in seas so cold that a man could die after five minutes of immersion, it triggered events reminiscent of the do-or-die moments during the sinking of the Titanic. Men perished one by one in lifeboats, and as castaways on deserted Arctic islands where they were stalked by polar bears. Frostbitten and wounded survivors ended up in primitive Russian hospitals where amputations were carried out without anesthetics. Others, while stranded for months in the communist state they were aiding, experienced the murky worlds of the NKVD, and the gulag, as well as famine and prostitution.
Using new material unearthed in American, British, Russian and German archives, as well as Polish, Norwegian, French and Dutch sources, and a remarkable collection of vivid witness accounts brought together at the passing of the last survivors, Hugh Sebag-Montefiore can at last shine a revealing light on this extraordinary tale that oscillates between the sailors’ eye view on the front line, and the controversies that infuriated world leaders.
Critics Review
n A Waterstones Best Military History Book of 2025n
n'A giant and comprehensive history … meticulously drawn from a range of archival sources'
nn n Daily Telegraphn n
n'In Battle of the Arctic, Hugh Sebag-Montefiore reveals the extraordinary bravery of the seamen who risked their lives on the convoy to feed Russia… Sebag-Montefiore, formerly a barrister, now an accomplished military historian, clearly loves his topic. He has read all the ship’s logs, all the memoirs, all the official reports. He’s interviewed surviving crew members'
nn n The Timesn n
n'As thrillingly told as any movie'
nn n Daily Expressn n
n‘An excellent addition to the literature surrounding the Arctic Convoys. The book is written in an engaging and accessible style, with plenty to offer the general reader, for whom it would be an excellent introduction to the subject. For the specialist, it contains a great deal of new research that adds significantly to our understanding of the subject, and is highly recommended'
nn n Military History Mattersn n
nHugh Sebag-Montefiore’s excellent Battle of the Arctic uses diaries, interviews and newly available archives from Russia to focus on the seamen condemned to carry on steaming their merchant ships slowly through the icy waters to and from Russia even though they knew that at any moment they might be sunk in waters so cold that men could freeze to death in 5 minutes'
nn n Wall Street Journaln n
n'Hugh Sebag-Montefiore reveals the extraordinary bravery of the seamen who risked their lives on the convoys to feed Russia. An impressive accomplishment'
nn n The Timesn n
n'Sebag-Montefiore’s brilliantly researched book uncovers unheard testimonies that tell a harrowing tale of incredible endurance and heroism'
nn n Daily Mail n n
n'A well recommended and necessary salute to the fates of Allied sailors during the Arctic campaign'
nn n Naval Reviewn n
nAbout xigxag
Experience the best audiobooks with xigxag, an innovative and user-friendly audiobook platform designed for seamless discovery, purchase, and enjoyment of your favorite titles. Our flexible pricing model offers bestselling audiobooks for less, providing affordable prices and the best audiobook deals without requiring a subscription. Perfect for gifting, xigxag also features convenient audiobook gift cards and in-app audiobook gifting options.
Beyond the listening experience, xigxag stands as an exciting alternative to big tech, embodying a strong commitment to sustainability and ethical practices. As the only B Corp certified UK audiobook service, we ensure a guilt-free listening experience from a leader in audiobook innovation.
Effortlessly search audiobooks, access honest audiobook reviews that evaluate both the content and narration, and easily discover hidden gems. Whether you prefer to download or stream top audiobook titles, xigxag provides the best possible listening experience anytime, anywhere, on the UK’s best independent audiobook app. Discover the future of audiobooks today.