Mawson: And the Ice Men of the Heroic Age: Scott, Shackelton and Amundsen

by Peter Fitzsimons
3 stars 2 comments

The story of Australia’s most famous polar explorer and the giants from the heroic age of polar exploration: Scott, Amundsen and Shackleton

Available Formats

Synopsis

Sir Douglas Mawson, born in 1882 and knighted in 1914, remains Australia's greatest Antarctic explorer. On 2 December 1911, his Australasian Antarctic Expedition left Hobart to explore the virgin frozen coastline below Australia, 2000 miles of which had never felt the tread of a human foot. He was on his way to fulfil a national dream he had first conceived three years earlier, while on his first trip to the frozen continent on the Nimrod expedition under the leadership of the charismatic Anglo-Irishman Sir Ernest Shackleton. Even as Mawson and his men were approaching Antarctica, two other famous Antarctic explorers were already engaged in nothing less than a race to become the first men to reach the South Pole. While Roald Amundsen of Norway, with his small team, was racing with dogs along one route, England's legendary Scott of the Antarctic, with his far larger team, was relying primarily on ponies and 'man-hauling' to get there along another. As Mawson and his men make their home on the windiest place on earth and prepare for their own record-breaking treks, with devastating drama to be their constant companion, the stories of Amundsen and Scott similarly play out. With his trademark in-depth research, FitzSimons provides a compelling portrait of these great Antarctic explorers. For the first time, he weaves together their legendary feats into one thrilling account, bringing the jaw-dropping events of this bygone era dazzlingly back to life.

News & Blog

More News & Blog
Nov 5

Wind.

by Peter FitzSimons on 5 November 2009

Wind. 0 comments

Two guys have just met at a rooftop bar in New York and both of them are a bit tipsy. ‘You know,’ the ?rst guy says, ‘all these huge buildings create their own wind currents and pressures. If I jumped off the rooftop here, I wouldn’t be killed. I’d just fall part way and then the wind would bring me back up here.’ ‘Baloney!’ says the second guy. ‘No, I’ll show you,’ says the ?rst guy – with...

Nov 5

The Truck Driver.

by Peter FitzSimons on 5 November 2009

The Truck Driver. 0 comments

A mother takes her ?ve-year-old son with her to the bank on a busy lunchtime. They get behind a very generously proportioned, blue-singleted truck driver, who has a pager attached to the top of his stubby shorts to keep him in touch with the depot. As they wait patiently in line, the little boy says loudly to his mother, ‘Gee, he’s fat.’ The mother, furious, bends down and whispers in the little...

Editorial Reviews

"[FitzSimons] knows how to make words race like eager sled dogs on their homeward run." - Greg Ray, Newcastle Herald

"FitzSimons presents a meticulously researched, highly moving and very personal account of the harrowing situations faced by Antarctic explorers.
Masterfully interweaving the stories of the other giants from the heroic age of polar exploration, FitzSimons brings the jaw-dropping events of this bygone era dazzlingly back to life." - Unknown, Maitland Mercury

"With his trademark in-depth research, FitzSimons provides a compelling portrait of these great Antarctic explorers. For the first time, he weaves together their legendary feats into one thrilling account, bringing the jaw dropping events of this bygone era dazzlingly back to life." - Unknown, Mildura Midweek

"Reading like a boys' own adventure, but more engaging because its true, Mawson is a good entry point for history buffs wishing to find out more about the early exploration of the South Pole..." - Jan Fisher, Northern Weekly

Click to rate 0 stars

Your Reviews

  1. Rod de'Hoedt5 stars

    21 January 2012 at 7:41pm

    Report

    Dear Peter Fitzsimons, Just wanted to pass on my appreciation for such a great read. The ability to make history compelling, whilst sticking to the facts, educating the reader, transporting them to the experience, is a rare talent indeed. I hope that our education system embraces such books, as a way to teach our young people about our history. As a Baby Boomer with a little more time to read these days, I say well done! Rod de'Hoedt

Comment

Comments as a guest, or become a member - Log in or Register

Peter Fitzsimons Books

More

Others Also Viewed