Overview

In 1989, Irish doctor Geraldine Osborne, her artist husband Danny, and their three young children—ages five, two, and one—embarked on an extraordinary adventure: to spend a year living in one of the most isolated parts of the world, the tiny Inuit settlement of Grise Fiord, over a thousand kilometres above the Arctic Circle. Danny wasn't a stranger to Arctic extremes. In 1981, he took part in the first Irish Arctic Expedition. But his urge to reconnect with the Arctic never left—and in 1989, he convinced Geraldine to pack up their young family to spend the dark winter at temperatures below -40 °C living in this northernmost community of Canada while training their dog team and preparing for a perilous dog-sledge journey across the frozen sea to retrace the route of the last Inuit migration to Greenland in the following spring. Written with warmth, humour, and unflinching honesty, Somewhere Cold explores their remarkable year in the High Arctic as Geraldine balances maternal instincts to protect her children from hazards with the desire to embrace this once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Along the way, they form deep connections with the local Inuit community, who share their traditional knowledge, country food, and exceptional resilience.  A compelling blend of travel narrative, family memoir and cultural observation, richly illustrated with photographs, Somewhere Cold is about pushing boundaries, embracing the unknown and discovering that sometimes the most valuable lessons come from unexpected places. Insights into contemporary Nunavut life have recently hit the headlines via the Netflix Show North of North, and Somewhere Cold portrays an equally engaging period when Inuit life was still in transition.

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9781781178775

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Reviews

'Here is a work of rare honesty and subtlety — a meditation on solitude, survival, and the wild grace of remote places. Geraldine Osborne's words are anchored in lived experience, yet they reach far beyond the specifics of her own story to speak of the universal human need for connection with the land. Somewhere Cold is at once tender and unflinching; it reminds us how vast, complex and precious our world is. Her writing carries the quiet strength of someone who has learned to live in tune with the seasons. This is a book about courage, belonging, and the fierce clarity that comes from being shaped by place. A beautifully wrought evocation of place and spirit, where each page glimmers with honesty and quiet power. Osborne helps us tune more deeply into weather, into land, into the quiet shifts of the human spirit — so that every page feels rooted in truth. Her story reveals the resilience, beauty and deep solace that can be found in extreme landscapes.' - Manchán Magan

Author Information

Geraldine Osborne is a medical doctor with experience in General Practice and Public Health. Alongside her artist husband Danny, she has explored remote regions including the Arctic, South America, and the Himalayas. She co-created an award-winning film on exploration, as well as documentaries for RTE radio, and travel articles for the Sunday Tribune Newspaper. Working for over ten years as the Medical Officer of Health in Iqaluit for the Government of Nunavut, deepened her appreciation for the Inuit people, their culture, and their environment. Geraldine lives in West Cork, Ireland, yet regularly returns to the Canadian Arctic for trips with Danny.

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