Mawson

And the Ice Men of the Heroic Age - Scott, Shackelton and Amundsen

By: Peter FitzSimons

Narrated by: Paul English

Douglas Mawson, born in 1882 and knighted in 1914, was Australia’s greatest Antarctic explorer. On 2 December 1911, he led an expedition from Hobart to explore the virgin frozen coastline below, 2000 miles of which had never felt the tread of a human foot. After setting up Main Base at Cape Denision and Western Base on Queen Mary Land, he headed east on an extraordinary sledging trek with his companions, Belgrave Ninnis and Dr Xavier Mertz. After tragedy struck, Mawson found himself all alone, 160 miles from safety, with next to no food.

Peter FitzSimons tells the staggering tale of Mawson’s survival, despite all the odds, arriving back just in time to see his rescue ship disappearing over the horizon. He masterfully interweaves the stories of the other giants from the Heroic Age of Polar Exploration - Scott of the Antarctic, Sir Ernest Shackleton and Roald Amundsen - to bring the jaw-dropping events of this bygone era dazzlingly back to life.

©2011 Peter FitzSimons. (P)2011 Bolinda Publishing

Critic reviews

"Narrator Paul English transports the listener to the frozen continent of Antarctica at a time when explorers pushed the limits of human endurance—and often beyond. The author intertwines the major heroes of the southern ice with a general history of early Antarctic exploration while focusing on Australia’s famed Antarctic explorer, Sir Douglas Mawson. English’s voice presents a theatrical narration with his adroit use of accents and varied tone as he recounts stories of hardship, tragedy, and triumph. Both author and narrator are Australian, and some listeners may find the combination of colloquialisms and Australian accent a bit of a puzzle. Nonetheless, English’s superb storytelling returns the listener to the age of heroes a century ago." (AudioFile Magazine)

A good overview of the various expeditions, but feels fluffed.

The book seems to claim to tell a somewhat unknown story of Mawson. It took approximately 18 hours of charting the history of the Antarctic explorations of Scott, Amundsen & Shackleton & their trials before getting into the the titular story, which was not much better fated.

A Real Life "Boys Own" Adventure Story

Would you listen to Mawson and the Ice Men of the Heroic Age again? Why?

Yes, and intend to do so. It is long and detailed but so fascinating in its account of events in early 20th century Antarctic.

What did you like best about this story?

This account is history brought to life through the diaries and logs of each explorer and many of their men who travelled the journey to the Antarctic. It's recounted in the present tense, so you feel that you are there as the story unfolds. Included are so many interesting facts about the region, the equipment and the improvised methods used to overcome extreme difficulties, all extremely compelling listening. Also, there are many moments of both humour and sadness.

Any additional comments?

I was surprised just how much I enjoyed this book. If you like real-life adventure and modern history told in an accessible and entertaining manner, then this book is for you. I will be on the lookout for other books by Peter FitzSimons. Highly recommended.

when Men where Men

Truly was the greatest generation. I found this a great book with well narration.

Great book

Awesome book, in depth but keeps you interested. I recommend this for anyone wanting to get a more human aspect of polar travel and the risks faced

This is a brilliant study in culture and leadership!

Anyone leading teams in high stakes endeavors, particularly in austere environments would be well served by the lessons waiting to be gleaned in the stories and contrasts of these men and their cultures.