The Cruelest Miles

When a deadly diphtheria epidemic swept through Nome, Alaska, in 1925, the local doctor knew that without a fresh batch of antitoxin, his patients would die. The lifesaving serum was a thousand miles away, the port was icebound, and planes couldn't fly in blizzard conditions—only the dogs could make it. The heroic dash of dog teams across the Alaskan wilderness to Nome inspired the annual Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race and immortalized Balto, the lead dog of the last team whose bronze statue still stands in New York City's Central Park. This is the greatest dog story, never fully told until now.

“"This a moving story, superbly researched and deftly told."”

"Quite literally a cliff hanger." -- Emily Carter - Minneapolis Star Tribune "Stirring passages detailing the rigors of dogsledding, the bond between man and beast, and the importance of a good lead dog make for irresistible Jack London kind of stuff." -- David Stress - Seattle Weekly "Sequence by sequence the Salisburys have written not only about a race but also about our Alaskan history and the hardy people who first came, both Native and non-Native, to make our history so rich." -- Velma Wallis, author of Two Old Women "A scrupulously researched, cleanly written account that makes for a rollicking good adventure." -- Alice King - Entertainment Weekly -- Sebastian Junger, author of The Perfect Storm

Gay Salisbury is the former associate publisher of Basic Books. She splits her time between Fairbanks, Alaska, and New York City. Laney Salisbury, a Columbia Journalism School graduate, has reported from Africa, the Middle East, and New York. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.