South by Northwest

South by Northwest The Magnetic Crusade and the Contest for Antarctica

Hardback (27 Sep 2006)

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Publisher's Synopsis

That race, for the South Magnetic Pole, was a marathon rather than a sprint and its starting point was suitably distant from Antarctica, in the ice of the fabled Northwest Passage. The Magnetic Pole eluded the rival French, American and British expeditions sent to find it in 1840-41. It also defeated their successors Shackleton and Mawson at the turn of the century. Not until 1986 did Australian scientists succeed, and only then by literally running it down. Along the way, the magneticians collectively unveiled much of Greater Antarctica, but their achievements were blighted by bitter controversies about who first saw what. Governments, being what they are, turned these into another contest, one for Antarctic territory. Maritime historian Granville Allen Mawer resolves long-standing controversies in this detailed and highly readable account of ambition and adventure centred around the competing claims to the last continent.

Book information

ISBN: 9781841585017
Publisher: Birlinn Ltd
Imprint: Birlinn
Pub date:
DEWEY: 919.8904
DEWEY edition: 22
Language: English
Number of pages: 319
Weight: 856g
Height: 230mm
Width: 168mm