The Home of the Blizzard: an Australian hero's classic tale of Antarctic discovery and adventure

The Home of the Blizzard #abridged

by Douglas Mawson

Abridged edition

In The Home of the Blizzard Sir Douglas Mawson records his historic expedition to explore uncharted land in Antarctica. Pitted against formidable natural forces, he and his team faced unrelenting winds with speeds of up to two hundred miles per hour as well as freezing temperatures and day-long blizzards. They traversed the previously unexplored King George V Land directly south of Australia and collected geological samples and magnetic readings. After accident and illness led to the death of his two teammates, a starving and frostbitten Mawson finished one hundred miles of the return journey alone.

Mawson puts the reader at the cold, windy scene with vivid descriptions of the men and their sled dogs persevering over rough terrain. Mawson's thoughts upon losing his colleague Lt. Belgrave Ninnis in a deep, snow-covered crevasse in a glacier or while dangling from his own sled in another crevasse while alone and near death convey the dual excitement and danger that accompany his unique expedition. Readers will be swept up in Sir Douglas Mawson's amazing and historic adventures. The many accompanying photographs taken during the Antarctic trip paint a vivid picture of that harsh and extraordinary land.

Mawson's writings were first published in two volumes, in 1915. An abridged popular edition was published in 1930, and this book is the reprint of that popular abridged version.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Adventure, Survival, Travel, Memoir, Biography

536 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1915

About the author

Douglas Mawson (1882-1958) was Australian Antarctic explorer and geologist. Along with Roald Amundsen, Robert Falcon Scott, and Ernest Shackleton, Mawson was a key expedition leader during the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration.

Reviews

[Diane in Australia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. These men had courage! The hardships they faced, way back in 1911, it boggles the mind. No modern soft comforts for these men, they did it tough, very tough. Also, I always enjoy the very understated way that many great men relate their experiences ... lol

The book covers the exploration, the scientific endeavours, bits about their meals, their clothing, their dogs ... well, everything. Very interesting.

If you like polar adventure, you'd probably like this one.

4 Stars = Outstanding. It definitely held my interest.

[Chrissie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Antarctica is not a country, nor is it owned by other countries, yet more than twelve nations claim rights to portions of the land. The largest claims belong to Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Norway and New Zealand. Possession is regulated by the 1959 Antarctica Treaty. The area is today being used for scientific research and as a nature reserve.

This book documents the so named “Australasian Antarctic Expedition of 1911-1914” in minute detail. The expedition was Australian led. Its aim was exploration and scientific investigation. The author was the expedition’s leader. He bases what he writes on his own journal entries and the journals written by other participants of the expedition’s eighteen member team. The team was composed of an assortment of scientists, experts in biology, cartography, geology and meteorology. The expedition split up into different groups assigned to explore different islands and landmass areas. The ship Aurora, with captain J.K. Davis at its helm, transported the men, sled dogs, food and supplies to the respective areas, conducted ocean bottom soundings and at the expedition’s end brought home the survivors. Two had died.

Is this an adventure tale? In part. Mawson and two other men made an exploratory mapping trip. This legendary 1912-1913 sledge journey from their base camp in Adali land may rightly be classified as a tale of adventure. Blinding blizzards, seemingly bottomless crevasses, innumerable and daunting ice formations, frostbite, diminishing food supplies, bouts of dysentery, ever-recurring snow blindness, peeling skin, wet sleeping bags and clothing are what had to be dealt with. The deaths of Mawson’s two companions, Belgrave Ninnis and Xavier Mertz, and his own near death are accounted in full. In November 2012 the three men set off on a mapping trip. On December 14, 2012, Ninnis died when he and their sledge carrying food and supplies slipped into a crevasse. Then Mertz became ill. His death is attributed to dietary deficiencies, starvation and psychological distress. Ninnis and Mertz were close friends. It was these two who had been in charge of all the dogs of the expedition. When food supplies were lost with the sledge, Mertz and Mawson had no other choice but to slaughter and eat the dogs with them. With Mertz’s death on January 8, 1913, Mawson was forced to continue on alone. By February 8, 2013, he had succeeded in struggling back to base camp. Eventually he recovered.

Nevertheless, these sections make up only a small portion of the entire book. Due to excessive detail and repetition, much of the text is in fact tedious. The book was originally intended as documentation of a scientific expedition. This was its prime purpose. Wind velocities, metrological reports, siting of bird species and their respective varieties and number, daily food consumption lists recorded in ounces and half ounces and the umpteen lists of diminishing food supplies is hard to sit and listen to. The whole becomes repetitive. The descriptions of seals and penguins and nesting habits, an albatross or two, some sea lions and sea elephants are interesting, but one returns over and over again to the same information. The ice formations are splendid, but after a while this too becomes tedious. Soundings of the ocean bottom floor measured in fathoms and descriptions specifying whether it be mud or stones and then the size of these stones went beyond my curiosity. Let me repeat, this is a book of scientific documentation. For an arctic expert or polar enthusiast, sure, the book may be right down their alley, but the excessive and repetitive detail is going to drive an average reader batty. Now, read the next paragraph.

This book is in fact an abridged version of the original document! I, disliking abridgements, worried about picking the book up for this very reason. My worries were groundless. The book remains excessively detailed. In 1915, it was published first as a two volume edition. In 1930 it came out in an abridged one volume edition. This, the abridged version, then came out in a facsimile edition in 1996. Maps, diagrams and photographs were included. The audiobook version is based on the 1996 edition, but it has no accompanying PDF file. No maps, none of the diagrams and no photos are included! For a book such as this, these are essential. The audiobook does provide a necessary wordlist. It is placed at the beginning, immediately following numerous introductions and prefaces. Each word is read through, one by one. The absence of the maps, photos and diagrams and the difficulty of accessing the wordlist while listening make the audio version a poor choice.

I am giving the book two stars. It is OK. I liked reading about the fauna there, on the ice. I feel I now have a much better conception of how it is in the Antarctica during the different seasons, at least in the areas explored by the Australians. Yet I did not come close to the men themselves, the explorers. I never came to know who they really were. There are few personal details of them. I felt no connection to them! By the book’s end I was bored stiff; I just wanted it to end. Two stars is the most I can muster.

James Condon narrates the audiobook. His reading is very good. Always clear and easy to follow. The pace is perfect. He speaks with an English accent. The narration I have given four stars.

[Rusty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is without a doubt a five star read. I learned so much about Antarctia as well as some new vocabulary. These were the most vivid for me: arite (sharp ascending edge of a mountain), lead (in this case, a narrow open water path in an ice floe or solid ice), neve (compact snow in the process of becoming glacial ice, sastrugi (irrigularaties in the snow due to wind as waves or ripples formed by hard winds), and nash (refers to cormorants).

The expedition appears to have been blessed with good fortune to date. I thought that the best narratives were written by Mawson. So many wonderful observations are given about local wildlife which, of course, leave before winter; wind, wind and more wind; and wonderful humorous tales about how the crew coped with all those shut-in days. Mawson is the leader of the expedition and such an accomplished writer that I feel as if I am swishing across the glacier crevices with them. The first documented loss of a member of the 18-member party who falls into a "bottomless" crevice along with half of the dogs (the strongest), half of the food (all of the dog food), the tent and some important clothing occurs in Mawson's group. Mawson's description of the incident is so vivid. There is so much - tales about the ship, Aurora, that took and brought them home and experiences from all the small exploring groups. What a read!

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been living under a rock. How did I miss the story of to recreate Mawson's journey?

Or his book?


Mawson: Life and Death in Antarctica

Or his award-winning 90-minute documentary following the expedition that re-enacted the polar survival journey of Sir Douglas Mawson ?

This sensational headline from the time of Jarvis' trip says it all: "Accused of eating a team mate to survive, he's the polar hero history chose to forget. A century later, one remarkable man set out to prove Douglas Mawson was innocent ... "

Interestingly, it never even occured to me after reading his memoir that Mawson cannibalized his fellow climbers. I don't think I'd give a damn if I found out he did, and I don't suppose they would either, but Jarvis trip is a quite a homage to this great explorer and I can't wait to read more about Mawson and what it was like to walk in his footsteps!

[Andi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very well-done account of one of the lesser known Antarctic expeditions of 1912-13; it is lesser known because it's mission was not as glamorous as those journeys attempting to reach the south pole, or circumnavigate the continent. Douglas Mawson, who had been part of the Shackleton expedition of 1907, undertook to map parts of the continent that had not been clearly defined and to bring back valuable specimens of the flora and fauna found within. Nevertheless, this account of a journey that extended through a second winter in this forbidding terrain, is worth your time and is enhanced greatly by the many photographs that are included. Fascinating!

NOTE: The title, as catalogued in Goodreads is wrong: The title is: The Home of the Blizzard: A True Story of ANTARCTIC Survival!

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

An exceptional accounting of the endeavour.

[Mihai · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's hard to find more epithets to describe the heroic efforts undertaken in this expedition. While the writing is not edge-of-the-seat the entire time, the constant struggle for survival and individual acts of persisting against all odds are simply astounding.
The thing that impressed me the most overall is how much Mawson and his men were able to accomplish given the technology and resources of their time. To be able to carry out geographic exploration and scientific studies in an unknown part of Antarctica more than 100 years ago using equipment and gear we now consider primitive is a testament to their supreme dedication.
The second thing that impressed me was that this was a major scientific undertaking to which every member, most of whom were in their 20s, was completely dedicated from beginning to end. Each individual carried out his duties with unwavering diligence and resiliency, the spirit of which not even the most horrendous weather conditions in the world were able to break. Yes, there is plenty of suffering, despair and gruesomeness in this story, but in the end the expedition prevailed over the inhospitable environment and made significant contributions to many domains of human knowledge during their years on the Seventh Continent. Most importantly, these people did not lose their humanity under the most trying scenarios - instead, they redefined the concept of coming together.
The third and perhaps the most surprising thing coming out of Home of the Blizzard was the international spirit of cooperation in the exploration of the southern ends of the Earth in the early 20th century. The race between Scott and Amundsen to reach the geographic South Pole is what is remembered mostly now, but Mawson makes it clear those whom the world powers could afford to send to Antarctica shared information freely and helped each other when needed. It is noted with great regret that World War I brought to an abrupt end this Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration, severely retarding the progress that had been achieved until then. Such is the sad irony of humans fighting each other.
In the end, Mawson will be remembered mostly for his successful solo return after his sledging party was wrecked and his companions perished, but in this account Mawson downplays his incredible survival and instead attempts to give credit to all members of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition of 1911-14. Their achievements were truly groundbreaking and their story remarkable - thus restoring faith in humanity.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a compelling story of endurance, courage and determination on the most inhospitable continent on earth. Mawson's recount tells of the wonder, excitement and horror of early Antarctic exploration in vivid detail; today's reader can only marvel at how these scientists were able to manage living conditions in such a hostile environment and to set the standard of scientific achievement for future expeditions.
The first part of the tale covers how in 1912 a team of 18 men set up a base and learned to manage living in almost continuous blizzard conditions and winds of unimaginable strength. With self-deprecating humour Mawson explains how the Hut was built, a formidable task in itself; how they cooked, cleaned and entertained themselves; what they wore to protect themselves against the bitter cold; how they took care of the sledge dogs; and - with a light touch for the general reader - how they undertook the job of gathering scientific and cartographic data. Using equipment and protective clothing that nearly a century later seems primitive, they were entirely self-sufficient - the ship Aurora having departed for its own perilous return journey through the icy waters to Hobart, Tasmania.
This section of the book is immensely readable, but it is the story of Mawson's epic sledge that is unputdownable. After the men had spent nearly a year in the Hut, in November the weather improved, and the men split up into small teams to explore the area further afield. Mawson, Mertz and Ninnis set out together, but only Mawson returned, having lost his companions in appalling circumstances. He tells the tragic story of their deaths and his journey back to the base so vividly that it is unforgettable.
In Adelaide, South Australia, the museum has a special permanent exhibition about Mawson, Australia's greatest polar explorer. Viewing the little wooden sledge that he used for his solo trek across the ice, brings into perspective the enormity of this man's battle against the elements. His refusal to give into despair is inspiring.
The book comes with photos, maps and diagrams, as well as supplementary narratives from the other men on the expedition. Highly recommended.
Cross posted at Library Thing http://www.librarything.com/work/2311...
AND
another review focussing more on Mawson's heroic journey at http://anzlitlovers.wordpress.com/200...
Yes, I really, really like this book!

[Matthew Sutton · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the great accounts of polar exploration ever written. Mawson's book ranks amongst the top three classic works about Antarctica's 'Heroic Age' which would include the "Worst Journey in the World", and "Endurance".

This is Mawson's own account of the ambitious Australian expedition to the terra incognita of "Adelie Land" Antarctica. The goals included mapping the coast of the Antarctic continent south of Australia, to take soundings in this remote stretch of the Southern Ocean, to find the magnetic south pole, to establish radio communications with the Antarctic continent from Australia for the first time via an intermediate station established on Macquarie Island, and various other zoological and meteorological observations.

That much of this was accomplished in what turned out to be one of the most inhospitable, and perhaps last known, places on Earth is a testament to the men and leadership of the expedition. Despite the failure of an airplane they brought with them, a harrowing return trip from an expedition to the interior in which Mawson's two companions died and he wasn't able to return to the Hut in time for departure that season, and constant, ferocious wind (Adele land is the windiest place on Earth), the enterprise was a success.

In terms of vivid depictions of the alien landscape and merciless conditions found there it approaches the sublime "Worst Journey" by Apsley-Gerard.

An amazing story.

[Justin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This polar narrative was credited to Australian native Douglas Mawson, and indeed most of it was written by him. Large sections of the book are composites of the diaries of other expedition members who were stationed in other remote locations, more or less cut off from each other, but performing scientific and exploration work contemporaneously. Some of the similarities in style and tone between different narratives are likely due to the editing, as well as the fact that these men labored under similar, equally trying conditions. Culture also plays a role. Shackleton's expedition biography South, penned a few years later, is strikingly similar to Home of the Blizzard.

Unlike many other expeditions, the purpose of this one was not to win glory by breaking distance records (i.e. a new "furthest south") or a go for broke competition to get to the pole first. But even with these dramas extracted, this expedition faced all the same--or worse--hardships, along with the likelihood that what glory there was to win, would never surpass the hero worship of the "firsts." The humility of this Antarctic coastal mapping expedition somehow makes the isolation and trials faced by its members all the more admirable for the simple fact that they knew they all took the same risks as Scott and Amundsen, but would never be as famous or well-remembered. And that is ironic, because although everyone understands and relates to feats of human endurance, the scientific value of getting to either of the poles first pales in comparison to the dangerous, laborious work of mapping the crevasse-studded, constant hurricane wind-scoured and penguin poop-besmirched Antarctic coast.

Shackleton's South and Mawson's Home of the Blizzard should be read for what they are: sober, scientific and historical accounts of expeditions that held the world in thrall in a way that cannot be truly imagined by people (like me) who came of age after humans landed on the moon. They were written to emphasize the achievements of expeditions to the last unexplored places on the planet that required enormous public and private funding efforts to reach.

Along with lecture tours, these books were designed to satisfy financial backers and to bring glory to the United Kingdom. They were written by Edwardian-era gentlemen at the close of the so-called Heroic Age of Polar Exploration, and thus hardships, near starvation and death are spoken of very little, and only with the characteristic stiff-upper-lip approach to manhood and adversity that was expected in order for honor to be bestowed. Yet, Mawson's account gives us a few fleeting glimpses into the explorers' emotional lives that Shackleton's leaves entirely absent. To an American reader at the terminus of the first quarter of the 21st Century, these aspects of Edwardian-era manliness are equally touching, highly admirable, humorous and absurd.

In the case of Shackleton, one reads a very different--and far more gripping--tale of the same expedition in Lansing's Endurance than in Shackleton's dust-dry but faithful account, South.

Home of the Blizzard is closer to Shackleton than Lansing, but Mawson has an eye for detail and humor not shared by Shackleton, so in addition to the repetitive lists of soundings, daily temperature readings, wind speed, and dwindling food stores, the reader is treated to (brief, albeit) sketches of pranks, baking disasters, animal drama (particularly with the crew on Macquarie Island). Some of these sketches are unintentionally funny: descriptions of seagulls puking on themselves as a self-defense mechanism. Though it is sparing, there is also harrowing detail of their hardships that demonstrate how these people lived (and some died) in constant peril. Some of these hardships make a kind of nonfiction body horror (which I will not belabor here). Readers are also treated to poetic descriptions of--to most of us--an ethereal, mesmerizing, alien landscape.

These subtle, nuanced but highly rendered descriptions of daily living told in prosaic detail, end up proving more satisfying storytelling than the narratives of the tragic, sudden deaths of two members of Mawson's sledging team, which seemed oddly stilted and perfunctory--perhaps because of the obvious trauma Mawson experienced in witnessing their deaths before having to make a month-long solo journey back to base, which he knew he was unlikely to survive. Shackleton's narrative in South similarly gave the truthful details of events, but with nowhere near the depth and richness as they are retold in Endurance, by an author who did not experience them himself. At first blush I thought Mawson and Shackleton simply were not good storytellers, but their writings demonstrate otherwise. I think these explorers must have been under tremendous pressure to prove that the expense of these ventures were worth their cost; that task would be made so much harder by lingering over the details which readers a century removed from the action might find the most compelling.

The reader also gets a real-time perspective of how these guys problem-solved and jury-rigged equipment through numerous malfunctions and breakdowns. Of all the polar expedition accounts I've read, this was the best in terms of detailing the food, scientific equipment, living spaces and living conditions polar explorers endured in the early 20th Century, making this work especially important for both historians and writers. It was also interesting to read about how the earliest days of radio communication (Marconi wireless) operated in these extreme and remote environments.

It took forever to finish the book, but I'm so glad I read every word and resisted the temptation to skim, because while it was often tedious, it was also peppered with beautiful descriptions and fascinating details, with all the humor, horror, and humanity one would expect to find in a journey to the end of the Earth.

[Amerynth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Douglas Mawson's "The Home of the Blizzard" is a very comprehensive account of his two years exploring Antarctica. It is really a terrific description of the trials and hardships, including an incredible sledge journey in which Mawson lost one of his two teammates, his best dogs and most of his food. From a pure adventure standpoint, I enjoyed Lennard Bickel's "Mawson's Will" slightly more -- just because Mawson somewhat downplays just how incredible his survival was. However, this book is really terrific and a must-read for arm chair polar adventurers. While there is an abridged version, this two volume set has such amazing maps and plates it is worth seeking it out, even though it makes for a longer read.

[A.L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful tale of hardship and peril by one of the overlooked Antarctic explorers. Half of this book is Mawson's story of his catastrophic scientific expedition, in which he lost first one companion, almost all their food, and their tent, to a crevasse, and then his sole remaining companion to starvation, or possibly to vitamin A poisoning. Left alone, with very little to eat, he has to try to make his way back to the base against almost insurmountable odds. It's Mawson's indomitable character that makes this such a fascinating read.

The rest of the book features narratives from other members of the expedition, which are also fascinating, if not as hair raising as Mawson's experience.

[Vicky Hunt · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dramatic Title

This account of the Mawson expedition to the South Pole is not a recommendable read. I expected it would be heartwarming and revealing to read about such a dramatic event from the 'man himself.' But, this account directly from the leader of the expedition, though a direct source document, is written as an after the fact report to superiors. In it, Mawson wrote very succinctly and in a politically correct manner. He did not want to offend anyone, or to dwell upon problems. He passes by the time he spent alone on the ice very quickly. And, that is the most dramatic part of the trip. I have felt more emotion from reading professional staff handbooks in the past.

If you are looking for the gusto in this event, look elsewhere. Alone on the Ice: The Greatest Survival Story in the History of Exploration by David Roberts is an excellent narrative that pieces together all the strands to form a true picture of this event that is at the heart of human interest. Also, see my list of To the Mountains Canyons Poles for other books that share in the drama of extreme expeditions. These are books I have read and reviewed.

But, if you have the time and just want to hear Mawson talk/ write; then he will update you by the hour and date in this book. I read it in the Audible format, narrated by James Condon. The narration was not enjoyable. I don't recommend that either. But, some may like it. It is a classic that reminds you that not everything classic is good reading. As a matter of fact, I had started it earlier in the year and laid it aside until now, because it was such slow reading with a lack of any enjoyment. Now, I can not say honestly that I am even glad I finally finished it. It is more like that, 'I could have read something else' feeling. Well, a New Year awaits, and a whole new shelf of books to be read. I'm eager to get started January one, as soon as I have finished this year's challenge.

[zunggg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mawson's sledge-trip East is the obvious highlight, a staggering survival story featuring hungry crevasses, hungrier men, sudden death, madness, a diet of long-boiled husky paws (he's "Dogless Mawson" by the end, ha ha) and an episode where he lashes the soles of his own feet back on.

But elsewhere, among the sometimes boring scientific obs and routine, are passages that make you certain Lovecraft read this:

"We had come to probe its mystery, we had hoped to reduce it to terms of science, but there was always the 'indefinable' which held aloof, yet riveted our souls."

Or:

"Climbing out of the veranda, one was immediately swallowed in the chaos of hurtling drift, the darkness sinister and menacing [...] Unseen wizard hands clutched with insane fury, hacked and harried."

More than half the book is taken up with the non-Mawson, "subsidiary", narratives, of which Grainger's account of his two years on MacQuarie Island is sometimes quite funny, for example when the men are bored enough to mess with the penguins' heads by adding 10 eggs to a nest while a parent is away, or when a new paragraph starts "Blake found a cave..."

Finally I enjoyed the presence of radiocommunications in this book. The various parties take the radio equipment with them, but it's only after a year or so that it starts to work. We feel their excitement and wonder as their isolation begins to melts away with the interchange of dots and dashes. The "heroic age" of Antarctic exploration is ending, but only a masochist would want to go back to it.

[Morag Forbes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally published in 1915, this book tells the story of the three year long Australian expedition to the Antarctic. Chartering unmarked territories these groundbreaking explorers spent years cut off from civilisation exploring and taking part in scientific research. It’s an incredible story and you have to marvel at the dedication and bravery of the men. There are some wonderful descriptions of the scenery, wildlife and weather but I was most intrigued by the meals they are. Some chapters are a little too detail heavy and the sections written by different authors meant I got a little confused as to timelines and sense of place. Overall it is a classic exploration book but it just lacked an element of flare.

[Jessica Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite Polar Exploration novel. Unforgettable imagery and dear goodness, how bad was it at home that this was a conceivable alternative. If only he'd been able to read The worst Journey in the World, before he went, or if Cherry had known about what Mawson went through before he titled his book. If you're ever sat thinking that your life feels a bit tough, read this for instant positive comparisons.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t actually ‘read’ the book. I listened to it while building a camper van and then driving it 1500km. It was a fantastic way to devour such a beast. Beautifully narrated and read with the perfect amount expressiveness. An exciting and riveting book that inspired me to learn more about these intrepid explorers.

[Nathanmcarroll · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amazing story of survival, painfully long, and some extremely repetitive journal reports.

[WF · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing true story about an intrepid explorer in the original tradition.

[Maxine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, certainly captured my imagination.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

excellent history of Antarctic exploration from the Australian point of view.

[Hans Guttmann · Rating 3 out of 5]

The usual frozen toes, crevasses, death marches on diminishing rations.

[Karen Cramer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great adventure. Fascinating

[Harry Croft · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some readers may be distressed by the many references to death. An exceptional story of grit, recalled in thrilling detail. Dr Mawson's story of his Antarctic expedition in the 1910's features incredible details of the climatic conditions his team faced, and reveals his experiences at his most vulnerable. The general reader will find many advantages in this abridged edition.

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy reading books about polar exploration. There's something fascinating, terrifying, and inspiring about these stories. I ran across a segment of this book reprinted in The Ends of the Earth and it made me want to read the whole thing.

The Australian Antarctic Expedition of 1911-1914, led by Douglas Mawson sought to map out and explore the geography, meteorology, and wildlife of Adelie Land, the portion of Antarctica which faced Australia. Unlike other explorers on the continent at the time (Amundsen and Scott, notably), they weren't trying to bag the pole.

The books is written rather straightforwardly, taken from the detailed diaries of the three main expedition groups. Wind speeds, temperatures, and other meteorological phenomena abound! But there is also some moving and excellent writing here. A sample:

"We dwelt on the fringe of an unspanned continent, where the chill breath of a vast, polar wilderness, quickening to the rushing might of eternal blizzards, surged to the northern seas. We had discovered an accursed country. We had found the Home of the Blizzard."

For weeks, teams would move out across the coast and into the interior of Antarctica, braving glacial crevasses, frostbite and starvation to try and learn more about this harsh, remote place. I can't even imagine doing a tenth of what these people did.

The most amazing part of this years-long ordeal describes the journey of Mawson and two colleagues hundreds of miles across the ice. A few accidents reveal the razor-thin margin of error that exists in a brutal place like Antarctica, and Mawson has to find his way back to his home base, alone, across a hundred miles of ice, with the soles of his feet coming off.

This book isn't for everyone, but if you like books about exploration and humans surviving in harsh environments, give it a try.

[Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tale of exploration of Australian section of Antarctica
Douglas Mawson, an Australian geologist, Antarctic explorer and academic, leads an expedition to explore Antarctica, 1911-13
Similar to other first hand accounts of those early days, stoical can-do attitude in the face of unknown terrain, harsh conditions, isolation and limited equipment
More focus here on scientific measurement than race to the pole expeditions
struck by the extraordinary individuals that took part, their skillsets - each had to bring multiple to the party. Initially did seem to be ill-prepared as so much had to be solved on ad hoc basis, but this appears to have been the plan - build team with the skills to adapt.
From sewing and skiing to radio operations, baking and cooking to devising, building and maintaining scientific instrumentations - many of their own creation - puffmeter...
just three lines selected to give a little flavour.
"We had come to probe its mystery, we had hoped to reduce it to terms of science, but there was always the "indefinable" which held aloof, yet riveted our souls."
"Searching for "fleas" amongst the feathers of birds and the hair of seals, or examining the viscera for "worms" is neither of them a pleasant occupation. To be really successful, the enthusiasm of the specialist is necessary. Hunter allowed no opportunities to pass and secured a fine collection of parasites."
"The two long years were over—for the moment they were to be effaced in the glorious present. We were to live in a land where drift and wind were unknown, where rain fell in mild, refreshing showers, where the sky was blue for long weeks, and where the memories of the past were to fade into a dream—a nightmare?"

[Brice Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars - Really Liked It

For other Antarctic adventure enthusiasts like myself, the first thing to know about this book is that it is not Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage. While Shackleton's Incredible Voyage tells an edge-of-your-seat, bone-chilling story of survival, The Home of the Blizzard was a much more successful voyage, and within its nearly 800 pages you will find detailed information about the daily life and scientific studies of the men who lived on this god forsaken continent for 2 years. I read the unabridged version, which goes into such minute detail about each individual party's ventures throughout the expedition that, by the end of it, you feel as if you've lived all two years of this journey with them. The difference being, of course, that I am living the journey from the comfort of a warm and cozy house, whereas Mawson's party brave the world's worst blizzards to provide the story.

If you enjoy books about early 20th century Antarctic expeditions, this book is a must-read. If you haven't yet had the opportunity to enjoy books about early 20th century Antarctic expeditions, read The Endurance first. And then this one.

[Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a difficult time of keeping track of the timeline here--I think the dates for each section are written at the beginning, as well as the name of who wrote each part, but I have a really bad habit of skimming over that stuff, and since I was reading an e-book version, it wasn't real easy to flip back and remind myself. Still though, really enjoyable writing, from all involved, and it was especially interesting to me that Mawson and Scott were there at the same time, and that Mawson's party actually received word of Scott's death while there. I am definitely planning to read more about this expedition, and I'm glad I read the original account, but I'm not totally convinced it was the best place to start. Still, definitely recommended!

[Luci Ann Keenagh · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing and often shocking and disturbing read. I am astounded by what these men experienced both physically and emotionally. Such as the loss of s friend down a crevasse, one moment he is following behind with his sledge and dogs, the next he is simply gone. Traumatizing. Their physical suffering actually led me to stop reading for a while, it so disturbed me. But I was committed to finishing their story and I am amazed that Mawson survived this journey.

[Robert Melnyk · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was just ok as far as books on antarctic adventures is concerned. I don't think it compared to the book "Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage." It just seemed to ramble at times...we walked here, walked there, it was cold and snowy..." There did not seem to be the character development or the intense survival story line that "Endurance" or other books I have read of this genre. So while I enjoyed it, I was a bit disappointed that it was not better.