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DAVID, M.E.

The Life of Sir Edgeworth David KBE, DSO,FRS,MA,DSC,LLD.

A biography (by his daughter) of the distinguished Australian geologist and geographer who accompanied Shackleton in the Antarctic in 1907 and with Mawson and Mackay established the position of the south magnetic pole - a party led by David climbed Mount Erebus. Published Edwards Arnold 1938.

DAVIS, John King

With The 'Aurora' In The Antarctic 1911-1914

Douglas Mawson led the Australian Antarctic Expedition aboard the 'Aurora'. Mawson's subsequent popular official account of the expedition - 'The Home of the Blizzard' offered an extensive overview, but even so failed to provide much detail about the ship's actual voyages. Davis the ship's captain fills the gap in the literature by providing the present record of the ship's life. Published Melrose 1919, it is a rare book worth £1200 for a good copy.

Trial by Ice. The Antarctic Journals of John King Davis. (Ed by Louise Crossley)

John King Davis was probably the greatest of the captains in the age of Antarctic exploration, and he was obsessed with the Antarctic. His seven voyages from 1907 to 1930 gave him an unrivalled experience in ice navigation. Known by his crew as 'Gloomy Davis' he believed in stern discipline and that it was the captain, not the expedition leader, who was in charge of the ship. His caution and pessimism often brought him into conflict with expedition leaders such as Douglas Mawson.
Taken from his previous journals, this is Davis's account of the major Antarctic voyages. It offers and interesting counterpoint to the diaries of Mawson and it gives a very personal view of Davis's feelings about the frozen continent that dominated so much of his life. Published by Bluntisham in 1997.

DEBENHAM, Frank

The Polar Regions.

A short general account, published 1930 by Ernest Benn.

Antarctica: The Story of a Continent.

A history of exploration, technique and travel. Published Jenkins 1959. US edition by Macmillan 1961

The Voyage of Captain Bellingshausen to the Antarctic Seas 1819-1821

Published by the Hakluyt Society 1945. Original copies of this book are extremely rare and would fetch £1000+.

In The Antarctic. Stories of Scott's Last Expedition

A short book written by a junior member of Scott's last expedition. It reflects the lighter side of life at Cape Evans. There are extracts from the South Polar Times and some sketches by Dr. Wilson. Interesting but not particularly informative. First published by John Murray in 1952 and reprinted by Erskine Press in 1998.

The Quiet Land. ( Ed. June Debenham)

Frank Debenham was a member of the 'Terra Nova' expedition and the main instigator, and the first Director, of the Scott Polar Research Institute. The book is based on his diaries and was not intended for publication. They however, retain all the freshness and enthusiasm of a young man embarking on a great adventure. There are plenty of photographs and Frank's own sketches throughout the book. A good primary source but you need to read between the lines to spot the problems he had being an Australian on a essentially a ' British' expedition. Published Erskine Press 1992

DE-LA-NOY, Michael

Scott of the Antarctic

General assessment leading up to the explorers death. Has a particular emphasis on the follow-up mythology surrounding Scott. It does provide a good analysis of Scott. Pub: Sutton in 1997.

DODGE, Ernest S.

The Polar Rosses

Biography of Sir John Ross 1777-1856 and of Sir James Clark Ross 188-1862. Published by Faber & Faber 1973.

DOORLY, Gerald

The Voyages of the 'Morning'

In 1904 the 'Morning' was sent to the Antarctic to relieve Scott's ship the 'Discovery'. Gerald Doorly was then one of the junior officers on the 'Morning' but it was not until 1915 that he wrote about his experiences and of his impressions of Scott and of the other members of that early British National Antarctic Expedition. This is a very lively and often amusing account. Published Smith Elder 1916. Reprinted by Bluntisham.

In The Wake

DRYGALSKI, Erich Von.

The Southern Ice- Continent. The German South Polar Expedition Aboard the 'Guass' 1901-1903

Translated from the original 1904 German original. This was the second expedition to over winter in the Antarctic. Strong emphasis on the scientific aspects. Published 1989 by Bluntisham.

DUNNETT, Harding

Shackleton's Boat Journey. The Story of 'James Caird'.

Written by the most knowledgeable living expert on Shackleton. This book traces the complete history of the 'James Caird' the 23 ft boat that played the most vital role in the history of survival in the Antarctic. Published 1994 by Neville & Harding.