Fields of Ice tells the dramatic story of Franklins third and final expedition to the North-West Passage through the eyes of the ships cook, Canot. The Erebus and the Terror set sail from Greenhithe on 19 May 1845. On board were Sir John Franklin, a crew of a hundred and twenty-nine men, and three years provisions. Franklins plan was to find the North-West Passage, a northern sea route to Asia that had eluded European explorers for hundreds of years. He was never heard from again.

When Franklin failed to report back, his wife started a major campaign to try to find her missing husband. Alongside Sir John Franklins journey, Fields of Ice tells the story of Jane, Lady Franklin, a strong, redoubtable woman, who spent years trying to raise money and support to send out expeditions to find her husband and his men.