I don't have any background in this topic (other than reading Mr. Popper's Penguins as a child, and I don't think that counts). Therefore, I can't compare this book to others of its kind or accuracy or anything like that.

However, as an uninitiated reader of this world, I enjoyed reading this book. I didn't love the format of diaries, but I was still interested in the stories and learned a lot about polar exploration. I felt like it was a nice introduction to these stories that I'd never heard before.

Most of the Greatest Polar Explorations is told through the diaries of those polar explorations. This can make it very slow to read at points. The entries were still fascinating to read, but I went in expecting something very different, and that made it a tough read for me. I was hoping to have learned more about the polar regions throughout the book but it was still fascinating, especially if this is more your speed.
Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a free ARC copy through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much to the publisher and net galley for sending me a copy of this book. I was super excited to read this book but I was thoroughly disappointed in the stories chosen to tell.

This book was a wonderful way to dive into the history of polar expeditions. Much of the book is from the diaries of the explorers and helps to give a good timeline of what an expedition may have been like. Some parts of the book are a bit slow, but so we’re the expeditions, so while it was a hit harder to get through those parts, it is still historically accurate.

My only quibble is that there are no old photos included. This nonfiction, intricately researched collection of narratives tells the arduous tales of those who braved the cold and privations of the polar regions. North of Svalbard and south of the tip of Africa or South America's Cape Horn, the poles mark the coldest places on earth and a major challenge to researchers for centuries. Excellent read and resource!
I requested and received an EARC from Rowman & Littlefield/Lyons Press via NetGalley. Thank you!

As someone who is not by any means an except, I adored this book. It was a welcomed source for me to dive head-first into the history of adventurous and voyages into the Arctic and has left me with enough intrigue and knowledge to want to pursue more about this area in the future. The format of this book was incredibly intriguing and engaging and I enjoyed every moment of reading it.

From the British captain Davis to the American Perry adventurous have been going on expeditions and as each generation came around they went further and further, but the race to the 50th parallel in the North American Arctic was a race mini tribe to win. Although there were expeditions that failed to make it the trip was worth it in other ways whether scientific or geographic findings that would help adventurous in the future most people however who are familiar with adventurous know the story of the Aries in horror into doomed fate but most don’t know about the sled trip by McIntoch hen the searchers who went in search of him when he didn’t return. This book is chock-full of interesting stories that any history lover or lover of adventures and see stories will definitely want to have in the library. when I first read the summary I couldn’t wait to read the book and was almost sad when it ended. What a totally great read and a definite five-star piece of entertainment. I highly recommend this book. I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

This book is a collection of stories about some of the most courageous polar explorers. The stories are well-researched and provide insight into what it must have been like on these expeditions. It also includes some interesting facts and figures about the various expeditions, which makes it a good introductory book if you don't know much about the topic.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

A well done and informative novel regarding various expeditions to the north and south poles. The book provides great first hand accounts of the hardships and determination of the parties to reach their goals. What these men endured in their pursuit is truly inspiring. A great read for history fans.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Where all winds are from the south and a day lasts a year…..

Book Information

The Greatest Polar Exploration Stories Ever Told was edited by Tom McCarthy. The book will be published on March 1st, 2023, and is 272 pages. Tom McCarthy has been an award-winning writer and editor for more than twenty-five years. Thanks to Rowman & Littlefield for providing me with an advance reader copy for review prior to publishing.

Summary

The Greatest Polar Exploration Stories Ever Told is a collection of twelve stories detailing the amazing and often unbelievable (not in a doubting the truth but rather in an "oh my god!" kind of way) voyages to the unforgiving, frozen land/seascape that are the North or South Pole. These trips happened well over a hundred years ago when sheer determination and grit were perhaps more important than the technologies of today that would make such accomplishments more obtainable. Every story seems to set new limits of strength, endurance, and will of the men who chose to make the trips.

My Thoughts

I have read several books on the topic of polar exploration and enjoyed each of them. This one was written in a different style. Much of it reads like a diary or logbook from the lead explorer of each given trip. For some, that may be an exciting or engaging way to present the information. Unfortunately for me, it wasn’t. I greatly appreciate the stories themselves. I certainly respect the explorers that risked (and often lost) their lives. But the storytelling method just didn’t click for me. I also had a good base knowledge of many of the stories so without new information being presented, perhaps the book read more redundantly than it would for someone not as familiar. I wanted to enjoy the book---but it became one that I had to force myself to read vs being excited each day to read a bit more. Again, I think it was just the narrative style didn’t agree with me.

There were some interesting facts that I had never thought of---for example, standing at the north pole, all winds are from the south. Or, walking in a straight line across the north pole, you walk due north and then due south without any adjustment in course.

I do like that so many stories are all in one place. That does make it easier for readers new to the topic to learn about a variety of explorers and then to dig deeper into specific trips of interest.

Recommendation

If this is your introduction to polar exploration and you like the idea of reading a day-by-day captain's log detailing the limits of human determination and endurance---this book is an excellent primer into a fascinating and dangerous world.

Rating

2 Frozen Stars

Pole exploration is not something I'm drawn to, but these are good stories full of drama, action, and emotion. While this may not be a big seller, those that pick it up will probably enjoy it.

I really appreciate the free ARC for review!!

My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Rowman & Littlefield for an advanced copy of this collection on polar explorers and their biggest, and sometimes worst adventures.

As the world has grown smaller and those mysterious lands that were once so remote have become tourist adventure expeditions, the idea of exploration has turned more to the inner world than the outer world. What drove people to leave home, hearth and comfort for life on the ice, shared body warmth, if lucky, and a possible lonely, painful, extended death. How could men write eloquently about their last moments on Earth, even cold earth, giving praise to other members of their troupe, family, even God, while not even coming close to their goals, or even if their frozen corpse would be found. These stories still resound in a century where modern exploration is done with drones and LiDAR from a distance, usually looking for oil, rather than lost places. These stories feature people at their limits, finding inner strength to go one, or accepting the end, and pulling back from the brink to try again another day. Writer Tom McCarthy in The Greatest Polar Exploration Stories Ever Told, has compiled and edited a collection of true stories about the frozen poles, the men who tried to lay to claim to them, and many who were lost in the quest.

The book is a collection drafted from 12 different works, detailing the exploration of the North and South Poles, the Northwest Passage, and other polar tails. The book begins with an introduction that tries to explain the draw that exploration had. An ad for a trip by Ernest Shakelton asks for volunteers to join a party of explorers to the Southern Pole, a hazardous journey in which no safe return is promised, buy honor and recognition are sure to be had. Hundreds applied for a space. As the twentieth century dawned the world seemed to be smaller and more familiar, the poles with their extreme temperatures, many myths, and even more mysteries seemed like a siren's call, leading people both North and South, to a bit of glory, and possibly doom. From there we get into the stories, many from journals and books written by the explorers, when the explorer could. Some of the stories cover a who's who of adventurers, some famous, some lost, but all men who wanted to no more, and prove themselves equal to a world that was running out of mysteries.

A good collection, more for the novice reader of polar tales, as most of these are very familiar and very well covered accounts. This does not take anything away from them, as they are still powerful, inspiring and depressing in some spots. The hardships are difficult to imagine. Finding food covered in fuel, rendering it inedible. The slow grinding noise of hulls being crushed by ice, taking away hope from people trapped on ice. The writing is sometimes removed as many of these explorers were taciturn in many ways, and that is reflected in the writing. Also the amount of animal deaths, sled dogs, mules, from the expedition can be troubling, but that is the reality of exploration. And a there is a lot of sadness, friends dying, animals dying, loss of limbs, the boredom leading to madness, the madness leading to death. Sometimes the death is heroic, sometimes inane, but still worthy of reading. A very good collection that leaves a lot of questions of why people fled to the North or South, and not just because it was there.

Recommended for new readers in the world of polar exploration. These are some well known works, but will introduce people to the literature of the Poles, and give readers ideas of what to look for.

My thanks to Rowan and Littlefield, Tom McCarthy and Netgalley.
So, this is a pretty good selection of exploration tales. And, I'll confess that I never tire of them!
But, if you are someone, like me who already knows these stories, and like to dig a wee bit deeper? Then you may want to give this a pass.
This wasn't a bad book, by any means. If you are new to the polar world, this is a good start.
Normally, I'd give this 2 stars. But, since I love this shit and would have enjoyed it as a newby...I'll give it a 3 1/2.
Again, only for someone who's finally found their love of the Northern hemisphere.

What Tom McCarthy achieves with this collection is reigniting a sense of adventure in an otherwise boring world. I see it with my Children where all sense of adventure and achievement means being tied to a screen. McCarthy reminds us that it wasn't always this way. There was an exciting sense of discovery. These men risked their lives, and many lost them, in an effort to conquer the barren North and South poles. These are incredible stories. Each one was captivating in its own way.

I do wish we had one more tale. I believe the story of the RV Belgica should be included. It would have the two tales of Cook and Amundsen closer. Plus, Cook was the hero of the Belgica journey. The tale included here mainly consists of him arguing his proof of making it to the North Pole first which comes across as unflattering.

A great collection.

272 pages

5 stars

“Men wanted for hazardous journey. Low wages, bitter cold, long hours of complete darkness. Safe return doubtful. Honour and recognition in event of success.” Ernest Shackleton in newspaper advertisement.

Sign me up! Right? Not on your life. I have been reading about the polar expeditions for some years now. Even though I absolutely hate snow and cold, I remain fascinated by these men who venture north or south to explore the frozen wastelands. I salute their bravery and at the same time question their foolhardiness.

After a little bit of a muddled beginning, this book takes off. With lengthy excerpts from the journals of the members of the expeditions, we learn about the extreme environmental conditions, the toll the journey takes on the individuals’ bodies, the bravery, hopelessness and strength of will to survive.

John Franklin, Roald Amundsen, Robert Falcon Scott, Robert Peary, Ernest Shackleton and a host of others all ventured to the North or South Poles. Many made it back, but many did not.

A list of sources is included in the book for those who want to further explore the stories of these brave souls.

Mr. McCarthy presented these stories in a clear, very readable way. The book is easily accessible to anyone with an interest in polar exploration, or exploration in general. I truly enjoyed reading these stories. There was nothing new in them, for I have been reading about polar expeditions for years, but I enjoyed revisiting the tales.

I want to thank NetGalley and Rowman & Littlefield/Lyons Press for forwarding to me a copy of this delightful book for me to read, enjoy and review. The opinions stated in this review are solely my own.

*****This book is not yet available on GoodReads, BookBub or Amazon to review. I will watch these sites and post my review when they become available.