Letter 1-Letter 2

Chapters 7-8

Chapters 17-18

Letter 3-Letter 4

Chapters 9-10

Chapters 19-20

Chapters 1-2

Chapters 11-12

Chapters 21-22

Chapters 3-4

Chapters 13-14

Chapters 23-24

Chapters 5-6

Chapters 15-16

Letter 1: The beginning to the book is really an extended prologue told from the perspective of a man writing letters to his sister.  Apparently the man is about to embark on a journey to the Arctic Circle via a ship of some kind.  He explains to his sister, Mrs. Margaret Saville, that it has been a life-long dream of his to travel to the North Pole and explore the uninhabited regions of the Arctic.  He plans to rent a vessel and hire some sailors, and then to finally shove off in June.  The letter concludes with his signature: R. Walton.

Letter 2: In his second letter, dated a few months later, Walton explains that he's found a ship and the sailors for it, but doesn't have anyone as a friend-someone to share his joy and passion for life.  He complains a bit about other such matters for a while, then signs the letter: Robert Walton.