The Race to the White Continent: Voyages to the Antarctic

by Alan Gurney

A fascinating account of the early days of Antarctic exploration from an expert storyteller. In the 1830s, the forbidding Antarctic region represented the ultimate mystery. The prospect of discovering a lucrative whaling ground made this uncharted and untapped region especially enticing. Three expeditions to the pole were launched simultaneously by the United States, France, and Britain, each vying to be the first to venture farther south than any vessel had ever sailed before. These expeditions paved the way for the explorers, traders, and whalers of what was to become known as the "Heroic Age" of Antarctic exploration. The Race to the White Continent is a captivating account of their adventures.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[Richie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Hard to get into. I started this book wanting to read something about arctic adventures. Don't get me wrong, it contains arctic exploration, but it takes a hundred or so pages to get into that. Contains a lot of historical background information. Not what I was expecting.

[Curtiss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vivid descriptions of polar exploration before the age of steam power.