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ALDRIDGE, Don

The Rescue Of Captain Scott.

The story starts with the building of the 'Discovery' in Dundee and discusses the design features required to survive ice bound waters. Also the lessons learnt by hard practical experience and past polar rescues. These lessons and experiences were met face on by hard bitten, practical men involved in the whaling industry. One of those was Captain Harry McKay, and the book recounts this mans sailing exploits. When Scott's Discovery Expedition fails to return, a relief expedition is required. The obvious choice for leader is Captain Harry McKay. The ship used for the rescue was the 'Terra Nova', which as we know was to feature again in the last Scott expedition.

Published in 1999 by the Tuckwell Press.

ALEXANDER, Caroline

Mrs Chippy's Last Expedition: 1914-1915

A light hearted book about 'Mrs Chippy' the ship's carpenter's cat on Endurance. The story does leave its sad end unexplained -but I will let you into a secret -it was shot! Interestingly, would Scott have had the cat shot? Shackleton did, and one reason was to assert his authority over the carpenter, McNeish who by some accounts was a bit of a trouble- maker. See, you thought it was just a simple childrens adventure story about a ships cat! Published 1997 by Harper-Collins.

The Endurance. Shackleton's Legendary Antarctic Expedition.

Very lively, well researched book its large format making the best of Hurley's photographs. This combination with Shackleton remarkable story comes across well. Published 1998 by Bloomsbury.

AMUNDSEN, Ronald

Belgica Diary. The First Scientific Expedition to the Antarctic

Edited by Hugo Decleir

In 1897 the first Antarctic expedition of a purely scientific nature set sail from Belgium (Gerlache De Gomery). On board, as second officer in a multinational crew, was Roald Amundsen, the future conqueror of the South Pole, and it was this expedition that fired him with his ambition to explore the polar regions. Amundsen studied the personalities of those on board during that first over wintering in Antarctica. He became acutely aware of the importance of morale and strong leadership in these circumstances. Published by Erskin Press/ Bluntisham (1999). Available new for £25.

South Pole: An Account of the Norwegian Antarctic Expedition in the Fram

The original edition is a very rare book and later edition copies in good condition are hard to come by. It relates Amundsen's winning race to the pole. Nothing was left to chance and he reached the pole in 99 days. The expedition was well organised and with weather conditions in their favour he reach the pole well before Scott. Published in a two volume edition by Murray in 1912.

My Life As An Explorer

Autobiography published 1927 by Heineman.

ARMITAGE, Albert

Two Years in the Antarctic: being a Narrative of the British Antarctic Expedition.

Relates the 1901-1904 Expedition as seen by Scott's second-in-command. Published by Edward Arnold 1905. A scarce and important work, good condition 1st Eds. fetch £500 or more. There is facsimile reprint published by Bluntisham Press in 1984.

From Cadet To Commodore.

Autobiography published in 1925 by Cassell. Armitage was captain both with the Jackson Harmsworth Expedition to Franz Josef Land in 1897 and with Scott's Discovery expedition to the Antarctic. His autobiography has become a somewhat scarce book, and provides a useful accompaniment to the same author's Two Years in the Antarctic (1905).

ARNOLD, HJP

Photographer of the World: The Biography of Herbert Ponting

Pub: 1969 Hutchinson. Biography of Ponting and photographs taken on Scott's Terra Nova' expedition 1910-1913. A good condition copy should fetch £50.

AVERY, Harold

No Surrender! Captain Scott Journey to the South Pole

Pub: 1933 Nelson. This is a book special written for older children and is obviously a product of the time. It is passionate although rather dated but books like these are not written anymore - a great shame. I can imagine children of the 30's were totally inspired by it. Value £7 to £10.

AYRES, Philip

Mawson A Life

The first comprehensive biography of Douglas Mawson whose two Antarctic expeditions (1911-14 & 1929-31) resulted in Australia claiming 40% of the continent. Ayres has relied on wealth of sources both archived and living to provide a full portrait of Mawson's life.