South Pole: Nature and Culture
Dr. Elizabeth Leane
The Geographic South Pole is a place of paradox. It is a point around which the earth quite literally pivots; yet it has a habit of falling off the edge of our maps. An invisible spot on a high, featureless ice plateau, the Pole has no obvious material value, but is nonetheless a much sought-after location. The endpoint of exploration’s most famous ‘race’, between teams led by Robert F. Scott and Roald Amundsen, the Pole has more recently become a favoured destination of ‘extreme’ tourists. Like the whole of Antarctica, ‘90˚ South’ does not belong to any nation, but six national claims meet there, and for nearly sixty years the u.s. has occupied the site with a series of scientific stations. The Pole is a deeply political place.
In South Pole Elizabeth Leane explores the important challenges that this strange place poses to humanity. What is its lure? How and why should people live there? How can artists respond to its apparent blankness? What can it teach us about our planet and ourselves? Along the way, she considers the absurdities and banalities of human engagement with the Pole.
Ranging chronologically from the ancient Greeks to the present, and featuring spectacular images of the South Pole, this book offers a fascinating history of the symbolic heart of the Antarctic.
To read and download some sample pages from the book please click here.
Product Details
About Dr. Elizabeth Leane
Reviews for South Pole: Nature and Culture
Nature
South Pole is an enticing cultural and natural history of this real and yet elusive place.
Sydney Morning Herald
this is a work that has to be considered a real contribution to the better understanding of a range of important Antarctic matters. With Leanes clear and straightforward writing, this book will surely encourage not only polar experts, but also a wider public to take a lively interest in the many stories of the South Pole.
Imago Mundi
Musicians, artists, writers and sculptors are among those to have visited Pole in the years since Amundsen led the way, and it has left its mark on all of them. This is a highly readable study of the worlds most remote destination.
Geographical Magazine
South Pole is well-written, beautifully produced on fine quality paper and well illustrated, with over half the photographs, paintings and diagrams in colour . . . a particularly well-produced book, well written and interesting to read.
Geological Journal
I found this book a very informative and surprisingly entertaining read that covers a wide variety of Antarctic topics . . . she has made a very good job of relating and collating the experiences and impressions of the many and varied visitors to this symbolic heart of Antarctica and its place in our quest to understand our planet.
Polar Record
[the book] weaves together mythology and tales of ancient speculation, the sledging journeys of the early 20th century, scientific investigations, environmental issues, political negotiations and new challenges of tourism. Leane draws on stories from researchers to describe what it is like to live in a place where every direction is north. A fascinating journey from ancient Greece to the modern day on an unexpectedly rich theme.
Cosmos
Elizabeth Leane has managed to capture the essence, the allure, the mystique and the magnificence of this isolated, featureless place on the earth, presenting it in such a way that it combines history, with geography in a manner that entertains as well as educates. If you are an armchair explorer or traveller you will definitely enjoy this journey!
Blue Wolf Reviews
Shortlisted for the William Mills prize for non-fiction polar books
2018