Antarctica

This stunning and powerfully relevant book narrates the history of Antarctica through 100 varied and fascinating objects sourced from collections around the world. Published to coincide with the 250th anniversary of James Cook's first crossing into the Antarctic Circle aboard Resolution on 17th January 1773, this beautiful and absorbing book presents a richly visual history of Antarctica. It traces the continent's journey from Terra Incognita to the legendary expeditions of Shackleton and Scott, and to its current role on the frontline of climate change. Antarctica, one of the wildest and most beautiful places on Earth, has no indigenous population or proprietor. Its awe-inspiring landscapes-unknown until just two centuries ago-have served as the backdrop to feats of human endurance and tragedy, scientific discovery, and environmental research. The objects that tell the story of this remarkable continent, sourced from polar institutions and collections worldwide, range from the iconic to the exotic, and from the refreshingly mundane to the indispensable: Snow goggles adopted from Inuit technology by Amundsen The lifeboat used by Shackleton and his crew A bust of Lenin installed by the 3rd Soviet Antarctic Expedition The Polar Star aircraft used in the first trans-Antarctic flight A sealing club made from the penis bone of an elephant seal The frozen beard as a symbol of Antarctic heroism and masculinity Ice cores containing up to 800,000 years of climate history This captivating book is not only endlessly fascinating but also a powerful testament to the extent to which Antarctic history intertwines with human history-and our shared future.