Description
Book SynopsisTrade Review"Evocative and vivid."
---Steven Carroll, Sydney Morning Herald"Gripping and informative to the last page."
---Nick Smith, The Explorers Journal"Like Antarctica itself: dynamic and unexpected, but always fascinating."
---Gemma Tarlach, Discover Magazine"Cold begone! Here be wonders. . . . [Wood] approaches Antarctica with refreshing breeziness."
---Fergus Fleming, Literary Review"Three nations sent expeditions to the Antarctic in the late 1830s and early 1840s. This fascinating account describes their members’ heroism and often disastrous experiences without ignoring the significant discoveries that followed. . . . Outstanding history accompanied by outstanding popular science." * Kirkus, starred review *
"Wood’s approach links exploration and scientific study, showing how researchers have followed in the footsteps—sometimes literally—of trailblazing Antarctic adventurers. Moreover, the vulnerability of those early explorers, with their wooden ships and primitive equipment, reminds Wood of our collective vulnerability today to planetary systems shifting under the pressure of climate change."
---Marissa Grunes, Boston Review"A masterful means of emplacing Antarctica – and the history of science – in deep time: an urgent concern in our moment of climate crisis."
---Alexis Rider, Polar Journal"In a book that is both science and adventure story,
Land of Wondrous Cold weaves together the human and natural history of the Antarctic by connecting early Victorian explorers and their discoveries with ancient and modern geological findings."
---Midge Raymond, EcoLit Books"[A] superb account."
---Nick Smith, Engineering & Technology"Gripping and informative to the last page."
---Dr Alyson Hitch, Bay Magazine"The book recounts the stories of . . . rival expeditions in relation to each other in vivid detail, bringing out the various personalities involved." * Paradigm Explorer *
"Land of Wondrous Cold blew me away with its clever twin narrative. Readers interested in polar exploration, science history, earth sciences, or deep-time history should all take note. This book is far more interesting and satisfying than a casual glance might suggest."
---Leon Vlieger, The Inquisitive Biologist"This is a well written book that remains clear even whilst juggling three different expeditions. It could easily have been three times the length, but this would rather have spoilt the whole package, which is digestible and easy to read."
---Dave Munday, Ocean Challenge
