Let Heroes Speak: Antarctic Explorers, 1772-1922

From Library Journal
James Cook was the first to explore the Antarctic in 1722. In the 228 years between Cook and the British Imperial Expedition of 1920-22, there had been numerous other explorations. Rosove, a clinical professor of medicine at UCLA and an Antarctic explorer himself, chronicles some 25 of those expeditions. Weaving the explorers' narratives with his own interpretation in a very entertaining and interesting way, Rosove tackles the following issues: What lured these explorers? What was their motivationDand their reward? How inspiring was the natural environment? How harsh was the wind, temperature, ice, and snow? Based on some 200 primary and secondary sources, this book took 20 years to write, and Rosove's admirable scholarship is thoroughly exhibited in the "Notes and Bibliography" sections. He gives the reader a feeling for the explorers' motivations and the hardships they had to face often by using their own wordsDthe words of pioneers who were truly heroes. Highly recommended for large public and academic libraries. (Maps not seen.)DThomas K. Fry, Univ. of Denver Lib. Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.


Antarctic, Volume 18, No. 3 & 4, 2001
"The best book on Antarctic history to surface for many years. . . The author must be congratulated for achieving such a fine balance."


Polar Record, April 2000
". . .a model of excellence in historical writing. . . a book that both the beginner and the serious polar buff will want to read and own."


Book Description
Ernest Shackleton and Robert Scott are names familiar to most of us but few know the compelling details of their Antarctic explorations and those of other early explorers who opened the forbidding region to future discovery. In this single volume the author tells their story, voyage by voyage, in language that's as accessible to the general reader as it is to scholars and polar buffs. Taking a refreshingly different approach from other writers, Michael Rosove skillfully weaves together the explorers' own insightful and inspiring comments with a narrative that puts readers in the midst of events. From Captain James Cook's expedition in 1772 to Shackleton's final expedition in 1922, he describes these small parties of intrepid men. Heroes to many, the pioneers discovered the continent, explored its perilous coasts, penetrated its interior, and reached the South Pole, making the technically sophisticated expeditions of later years possible. With their words, Rosove helps readers appreciate their struggles against almost inconceivable hardships, the challenges to their leadership, their awe at the magnificent natural wonders they beheld, and the profound spiritual effects of their polar experiences. The book is based on some two hundred primary and secondary sources and provides more than thirty photographs and maps that draw readers even further into the story. For those who need a convenient reference, this book's organization and comprehensive index make it easy to find information about a particular voyage or expedition.


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James Cook was the first to explore the Antarctic in 1722. In the 228 years between Cook and the British Imperial Expedition of 1920-22, there had been numerous other explorations. Rosove, a clinical professor of medicine at UCLA and an Antarctic explorer himself, chronicles some 25 of those expeditions. Weaving the explorers' narratives with his own interpretation in a very entertaining and interesting way, Rosove tackles the following issues: What lured these explorers? What was their motivation--and their reward? How inspiring was the natural environment? How harsh was the wind, temperature, ice, and snow? Based on some 200 primary and secondary sources, this book took 20 years to write, and Rosove's admirable scholarship is thoroughly exhibited in the "Notes and Bibliography" sections. He gives the reader a feeling for the explorers' motivations and the hardships they had to face often by using their own words--the words of pioneers who were truly heroes. Highly recommended for large public and academic libraries. (Maps not seen.)--Thomas K. Fry, Univ. of Denver Lib. Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.\


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