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An Empire of Ice

Scott, Shackleton, and the Heroic Age of Antarctic Science

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About this listen

Published to coincide with the centenary of the first expeditions to reach the South Pole, An Empire of Ice presents a fascinating new take on Antarctic exploration. Retold with added information, it's the first book to place the famed voyages of Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen, his British rivals Robert Scott and Ernest Shackleton, and others in a larger scientific, social, and geopolitical context. Efficient, well prepared, and focused solely on the goal of getting to his destination and back, Amundsen has earned his place in history as the first to reach the South Pole. Scott, meanwhile, has been reduced in the public mind to a dashing incompetent who stands for little more than relentless perseverance in the face of inevitable defeat.

An Empire of Ice offers a new perspective on the Antarctic expeditions of the early 20th century by looking at the British efforts for what they actually were: massive scientific enterprises in which reaching the South Pole was but a spectacular sideshow. By focusing on the larger purpose, Edward Larson deepens our appreciation of the explorers' achievements, shares little-known stories, and shows what the Heroic Age of Antarctic discovery was really about.

©2011 Edward J. Larson (P)2011 Tantor Adventure Travel Adventurers, Explorers & Survival Arctic & Antarctica Earth Sciences Expeditions & Discoveries Science World Polar Region Explorer Adventure Natural History

Critic reviews

"Larson succeeds in [his] approach to the popular subject of polar exploration by wrapping the science in plenty of dangerous drama to keep readers engaged." ( Booklist)
All stars
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detailed and well researched telling of the great polar expeditions. Scott is particually well covered and his partys demise rounds of a good listen.
slight irritation was the upper class English voices were a tad over dramtuc at times but overall the narration was very good

Well documented timeline

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The entire premise of the book is a shameless and petulant continuation of the British response to having been beaten to the Pole. Although the book includes a lot of interesting information about the Heroic Age, it is written in a tone that comes off as a bitter excuse for defeat in the race for the Pole. Science was clearly a red herring to reach the Pole, but this book aims to gloss over that. It seems Amundsen was right when he said the British are a race of sore losers.

A laughable take on the british defeat in the race for the pole

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