"In all of the free peoples' imagination the Northwest Passage is a shortcut to reputation, riches and romance -- a hidden road to Golconda and the Secretive East. Everywhere around us there are people who continually are on an exploring expedition after their personal Northwest Passage, and all to often they sacrifice their health, power and life itself to find it. And who can say that they are not happier in their vain but hopeful search than wiser, duller people who sit at home without the courage to do anything at all, and with sour laughter make a mockery of the searchers of this mythical passage -- this universal cure against a monotonous world's sorrows."

Kenneth Roberts