From harrowing accounts of survival to a heartwarming tale of a rescued penguin, we list our favourite books about Antarctica
The most inhospitable place on Earth is an engrossing setting for any story, be it fictional or factual. Unsurprisingly, Antarctica’s literary canon is filled with tales of tragedy and/or survival against the odds. It would be easy, then, to fill this list with biographies of Amundsen, Scott and Shackleton alone. But Antarctica deserves attention beyond its tales of tragedy.
With that in mind, we have taken a broader view. There are, of course, profiles of the pioneers and their epic journeys of discovery spanning more than a century of polar exploration, but we’ve also included a diverse mix of memoirs, biographies and novels – from crime to science fiction – all with Antarctica at the core of the narrative.
Whether you’re readying for a voyage to the great white continent or just have a passing interest in the most uncharted area of our planet, you’ll find something for you in our list of books about Antarctica.
Best books about Antarctica
Our list is in no particular order and draws on our personal favourites as well as Amazon best-sellers and Goodreads’ most popular books.
1. Antarctica: A History in 100 Objects
by Jean de Pomereu and Daniella McCahey
Amazon | Goodreads
This absorbing hardback was published to coincide with the 250th anniversary of the first crossing of the Antarctic Circle by James Cook in 1773. It retraces the history of Antarctica through 100 varied and fascinating objects, from a bust of Lenin installed at the southern pole of inaccessibility to a sealing club made from the penis bone of an elephant seal.
2. South: The Story of Shackleton’s 1914-1917 Expedition
by Sir Ernest Shackleton
Amazon | Goodreads
Recently republished as a Penguin Modern Classic, South is the story of Shackleton’s extraordinary feat told in his own words. First published in 1919, Shackleton methodically describes the entire spectacular expedition covering the moment his ship sunk to his crossing of South Georgia island. The report can be slow-paced at times but absorbing nonetheless and remains one of the most popular books about Antarctica.
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