Description
Douglas Mawson is a national hero and Antarctic explorer, famous for one of the most extraordinary feats of endurance in the history of polar exploration. His amazing story is brought vividly to life in compelling narrative non-fiction by the acclaimed author of Into the White: Scott's Antarctic Odyssey, Amundsen's Way and Shackleton's Endurance.
Antarctica. Winter 1912.
Hunkering down in the windiest place on earth, eighteen young Australians eagerly await a chance to prove themselves as polar explorers and scientists. The spring sledging season will bring adventure, danger, and the discovery of new lands under the command of Douglas Mawson. But tragedy also lies in wait.
Douglas Mawson's tale is legendary, an epic struggle between one man's self-belief and the worst conditions the hostile polar environment can throw at him. His journey represents not only a feat of physical endurance but also a triumph of the human spirit's ability to conjure hope when luck has all but run out.
Review
This is a brilliant depiction of an incredible journey undertaken by Douglas Mawson to map and learn about the unexplored regions of the South pole - and maybe even be the first to reach the Pole.
It shows us the terribly harsh conditions that these men, mostly Australian, had to endure on their journey - first just to survive, but also in the name of science and discovery.
The expedition was supposed to last twelve months but a sledding mishap saw one of Mawson’s men fall to his death, and his remaining companion later pass away due to the harsh climate and lack of food. This left Mawson alone, and way behind schedule in meeting the others at their destination for their departure back to Australia.
Although Mawson eventually made it back to camp it was too late - the ship had already departed. Fortunately, they left a small group behind in case Mawson and his team did return, or to recover their bodies if they didn’t. The group had to remain in Antarctica for a further year, awaiting the ship’s return.
With little food, extreme cold and constant winds up to 320 kilometres an hour, this is truly a remarkable story. Based on historical records, this is a thrilling non-fiction book that will be best enjoyed by readers aged 12 to 15.
