by Tom McCarthy
First published 2023
This collection presents twelve accounts of polar exploration during the early twentieth century. McCarthy focuses on the men who answered calls like Shackleton's 1914 advertisement seeking volunteers for a "hazardous journey" across Antarctica with "safe return doubtful." The book covers expeditions by Peary, Scott, Amundsen, Shackleton, Franklin, Cherry-Garrard, Kane, and Cook, among others. These explorers knew that success would bring national glory and personal fame, but they also understood the slim odds of survival. The frozen landscapes killed many who attempted these journeys. Nations watched breathlessly as each expedition unfolded during what became known as the Heroic Age of Exploration. McCarthy examines the bravery and determination required to traverse these frozen territories when the North and South Poles remained the last unconquered points on Earth. The book explores the limits of human endurance in conditions of bitter cold, complete darkness, and extreme isolation.
Genres: history, travel, 20th-century, adventure, non-fiction
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, thought-provoking
Tropes: adventure, exploration, survival
Setting: Antarctica, North Pole, South Pole
Period: Early 20th Century, Heroic Age of Exploration
268 pages · Paperback · Lyons Press