M
MARKHAM, Clements R.
Antarctic Obsession. The British National Antarctic Expedition 1901-1904
This is Markham's confidential and outspoken account of the behind the scenes manipulations before the expedition. The Bluntisham 1986 edition is edited by Clive Holland.
The Lands Of Silence. A History of Artic & Antarctic Exploration
This book was highly acclaimed on publication and remains one of the best accounts of polar explorations. It has become a highly sought after book in the antiquarian market, fine copies selling for £200 or more. To my knowledge, no reprint has previously been available.
Published 1921 by Cambridge University Press
MARTIN, Stephen.
A HISTORY OF ANTARCTICA
Sydney State Library of New South Wales Press. 1996.
Traces the patterns of human activity in Antarctica from the southern journeys of the sixteenth century to the modern expeditions of adventurers and tourists.
MASON, Theodore K.
Two Against The Ice: Amudsen and Ellsworth
On The Ice In Antarctica
Contains a chapter on Antarctic history. Published 1978 Dodd, Mead Co.
The South Pole Ponies.
Relates the role of the ponies that accompanied Scott and Shackleton.There is also a good bit about Capt. Oates - but you would expect that! Published 1979 Dodd, Mead Co. Now out of print but available from
http://www.classictravelbooks.com/. I have reprinted their review of this book -
The men of the expedition called them "devils" - those headstrong, mischievous, untrained ponies brought from the top of the world. The little horses made the lives of their handlers miserable during the initial stages of two attempts on the South Pole, yet endeared themselves so much that the men shared their own precious rations with them. Each handler could hardly bear it when his pony's turn came to be sacrificed for the good of all.
The names of the men of these expeditions are well-known - Scott, Shackleton, Mawson, Cherry-Garrard, Ponting, Wilson, Bowers, Oates - but few know the names of the ponies, or even that there ever were Manchurian and Siberian ponies in Antarctica.
Through meticulous research, the author brings Nobby, Snatcher, Snippets, Bones, Socks, Chinaman, poor Jimmy Pigg and the other ponies alive again while telling of the two trouble-plagued expeditions to the South Pole.
This edition is being produced in an effort to raise awareness of the need to preserve the four huts in Antarctica used by the British explorers, along with all of the remarkable memorabilia and ice-bound supplies preserved within their frozen walls. Having endured nearly a century of harsh weather and official government neglect, the scientific headquarters still symbolise the nobler aspects of human nature which took these talented and brave men to Antarctica. The tiny buildings are now listed as some of the most endangered sites in the world.
MAWSON, Sir Douglas.
The Home Of the Blizzard: Being the story of the Australian Antarctic Expedition 1911-14
Mawson's classic story exploring George V Land to Queen Mary Land was certainly no holiday. This thick book is compulsory reading if you want to know the real hardships endured. Plenty of maps and diagrams.
Published Hodder and Stoughton 1930
McELREA, Richard & HARROWFIELD, David.
POLAR CASTAWAYS; THE ROSS SEA PARTY (1914-17) OF SIR ERNEST SHACKLETON
Richard McElrea and David Harrowfield. Pub: Christchurch: Canterbury University Press, 2004.
MEAR, Roger, & SWAN, Robert
In The Footsteps Of Scott.
Not strictly a book set in the 'heroic era' but still worth reading. Mear and Swan follow Scott's footsteps and after a superb effort make it to the pole. It's then that a story, worthy of another book, shows the America dominance of the South Pole as a sinister, dominant force. The political fall-out is enlightening and worrying. The book itself tells a great story, it does have gaps but then they were explorers not writers. The book changed its title when it went to America - 'A Walk To The Pole'. Published by Jonathon Cape 1987
MICKLEBURGH, Edwin.
Beyond The Frozen Sea.
Chronicles history of Antarctic exploration and exploitation. 1990 by Bodley Head.
MILLS, Hugh Robert.
The Siege of The South Pole
The story of Antarctic exploration with maps, diagrams and other illustrations. Tells about the following expeditions: 1) James Cook 2) Bellinghausen’s Antarctic voyage 3) Weddell 4) Enderby Brothers 5) Dumont D’Urville 6) Charles Wilkes and the United States Exploring Expedition 7) James Clark Ross 8) Hairbreadth 9) Erebus, including information on whalers, sealers etc. 1st Edition 1905. Printed by Alston Rivers, London.
Hugh Robert Mill: An Autobiography
Hugh Robert Mill was the Royal Geographical librarian, he greatly influenced many polar explorers including Scott and Shackleton. Published Longmans & Green 1951.
The Life Of Sir Ernest Shackleton CVO, OBE, CMD,LID.
This is a good biography of Shackleton, full of fine detail. It does however, reflect the age in which it was written and does not have personality traits as found in Huntford book, but it still is a good read. Published Heineman April 1923. The second edition published 1924 has errors corrected.
MILLS, Leif
Frank Wild
A biography of Frank Wild who was a member of Antarctic expeditions with Scott, Shackleton and Mawson. He was an experienced expedition member which was immediately recognised by Shackleton and Wild became his right-hand man. The book is a good primary source and is well researched. Published Caedmon 1999.
MILLS, W.J.
Exploring Polar Frontiers. A Historical Encyclopedia
Covers the entire history of Arctic and Antarctic exploration, from the voyage of Pytheas ca. 325 B.C. to the present, in one convenient, comprehensive reference resource. Pub: Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, December 2003
MORTIMER, Gavin.
Shackleton and the Antarctic Explorers.
A nicely illustrated introduction to the main figures of the heroic age of Antarctic exploration. Published 1999.
MURPHY, J.T.
German Exploration of the Polar World: a History, 1870-1940.
London, Great Britain and Lincoln, Nebraska: University of Nebraska Press, 2002.
There is a good academic review of this book at:
http://www.sochistdisc.org/2003_book_reviews/murphy.htm
MURRAY, James & MASTON, George
Antarctic Days: Sketches of the homely side of Polar life by two of Shackleton's men..
This is a very rare book. Published by Melrose 1913.
MURRAY, George.
The Antarctic Manual For The Use Of The Expedition Of 1901
This is rarely seen in the original editions so fortunately we have a facsimile reprint by Explorer Books, limited to 500 copies. Prepared specially for the use of Capt. Robert Scott and his companions undertaking the scientific exploration of South Victoria Land and the ice barrier, the Manual was the first attempt to bring together all geographical and natural history information that was known of the Antarctic region. Includes a bibliography and chronological list of Antarctic expeditions. Murray was Scientific Director on Discovery. Pub. Explorer Books