Antarctica Books - Recent Releases


Shackleton biography by Roland HuntfordEric Marshall - Shackleton's Critic
Angie Butler and Beau Riffenburgh

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Eric Stewart Marshall was part of Shackleton's Nimrod expedition 1907-1909 and one of the 4 man team including Shackleton who came within 97 miles of the South Pole before turning back, a new farthest south at the time. A month and a half later on the way back, his individual heroics saved his three companions who would otherwise have perished. Two years later he was the first westerner to explore the interior of New Guinea. Marshall received neither fame nor fortune from these achievements and became ever more embittered. As time passed, much of Marshall's spleen was directed at Shackleton.

This only biography of Marshall was difficult to research though Antarctic authors and scholars Angie Butler and Beau Riffenburgh succeeded following the discovery of a diary written by Marshall not held by any institution and so not subject to copyright.

Paul - webmaster


When Your Life Depends on ItWhen Your Life Depends on It
Extreme decision making lessons from the Antarctic
Brad Borkan and David Hirzel

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An interesting and unique book that takes six expeditions from the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration. Scott, 1901-1904 and 1910-1913, Amundsen 1910-1912, Shackleton 1907-1909 and 1914-1917and Mawson 1911-1914, and considers them sometimes alone and sometimes in comparison.

The basic premise is that the book will look at the decisions faced and made by the protagonists, whether they be the leaders and planners of the expeditions or by the participants finding themselves in possibly unexpected, but certainly unwanted and difficult situations where they have to make a decision often with life or death consequences for themselves alone or for their whole party.

As such the book tells a number of boys-own-adventure type stories (all historically factual) and presents questions of a "would you do it?", "would you do A or B?" manner.

I really like the fact that the book presents vignettes of incidents on the expeditions that can be passed by without sufficient emphasis when reading the usual literature about the subject, focusing on pivotal events and considering the motivations and emotions of the men involved. This was at a time when survival techniques in Antarctica were being learned the hardest way, men went out and did things they thought best, sometimes had a thoroughly miserable, occasionally near-fatal time of it and then learned never to do it quite that way again. It gives a good introduction to the explorers and expeditions it covers, if readers are not familiar with the full stories, they will be encouraged to further reading.

What I'm not so keen on is the eye on the "self help" market whereby people selling maintenance contracts for photocopiers (for instance) see themselves heroically going out there and able to take something from such writings. "Here I am in a car park in Milton Keynes, it's raining and I've lost my catalogue, I need to rescue this contract, what lesson can I learn from Mawson looking forwards to a dead husky's paw in his hoosh that evening?". One is fish and the other is fowl.

It's an interesting take on stories that stands alone or will be a welcome doorway to step through to another world for you to explore, I just don't need to keep being asked things by teacher looking over my shoulder.

Paul - webmaster


Polar Mariner
Beyond the Limits in Antarctica
Captain Tom Woodfield

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A story of 20 years at sea in Antarctica initially with The Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey which later became the British Antarctic Survey. An era that started with under powered ships that were not really suited for the job they were asked to do and ended with purpose built ships for the job in hand.

For ex-FIDs like me this is a fascinating description of the "other side" of Antarctic research and logistical support that we encountered usually only briefly on our way to or from our Southern posting. It is remarkably detailed and full of things you will recognise with plenty of tales to keep you turning the pages. The author clearly has a great experience of and and enthusiasm for Antarctica. For anyone who has been to Antarctica or enjoys tales of adventure that are usually hidden behind the "Continent for Science" official record of what happens, drop hints at birthday or Christmas time, or treat yourself.

Excerpts:

"When not laboriously collecting blocks of ice from the pack ice, we sunbathed, shirts off in temperatures well below zero. As usual we had run short of water, and boiling ice down on the deck over diesel oil fires provided some, it mostly composed of fresh water, though the resultant water tasted of diesel and was distinctly brackish."

"... a 60 -plus professor of cartography, on a summer visit to oversee the groundwork for the aerial survey of the Dependencies. Having been ashore, he was returning in the motorboat and against all the rules, he stood on the foredeck holding on only to the painter, leaning back as he did so, as the boat weaved between comparatively small ice floes, when it hit some ice and stooped abruptly. He shot over the bow and disappeared under a floe. Despite immediate efforts by those in the boat, it took a full 20 minutes before he could be retrieved and brought aboard, and he was thought to be dead."
- he did survive!

Paul - webmaster


When the Sun Shines on Antarctica
And Other Poems about the Frozen Continent
Irene Latham, illustrated by Anna Wadham
Ages 8-12

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This poetry collection takes readers to the bottom of the world to experience summer as they've never seen it before.

Each double page spread has a poem, a fact box and stunning illustrations.

I meant to list this book here much earlier, but when it arrived my wife borrowed it to take with her when she looks after a neighbour's daughter for a while until her mum gets home from work. It turned out it was one of her favourite books to look at while she was being read to, so it was only after a few weeks that I remembered I hadn't seen it for a while that it came back and it got listed. Highly recommended by Catherine to read to Chloe, highly recommended by Chloe to have read to her. A lovely sharing book or for children to enjoy on their own.

Paul - webmaster


Byrd & Igloo: A Polar Adventure
Samantha Seiple
Ages 8 - 12

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BYRD & IGLOO is the first narrative nonfiction book to tell the daring adventures of legendary polar explorer and aviator Richard Byrd and his lovable dog explorer, Igloo. Byrd is known for being the first to fly a plane over the North and South Poles, while Igloo is famous for being the only dog to explore both the North and South Poles. The adventures of Byrd and Igloo opened the door for science and research in the Antarctic. Featuring direct quotes from letters, diaries and interviews, newspaper clippings, expedition records, maps, charts, as well as never-before-seen photos, it will give the complete story of the explorers' journey. Though rooted in history with evidence from many museums and research centers, Byrd & Igloo will be exciting in tone, making it accessible and interesting for young readers.


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