Amundsen's Way: Race to the South Pole

by Joanna Grochowicz

But how will history view Roald Amundsen? he wonders to himself. Will I be remembered for my dedication, my discipline, my daring deeds? Or only for my deception?

Roald Amundsen—hero or villain? Amundsen's South Polar conquest is an extraordinary tale that combines risk, intrigue, and personal conflict. A man of striking intelligence and a single-minded thirst for world records, Amundsen's astute planning and shrewd strategy propelled him into first place. Such a man, with everything to lose, will stop at nothing to secure his goal. His story is a testament to utter brilliance and ruthlessness. From the author of the highly acclaimed Into the White , and full of life-threatening challenges, deception, disappointments, and triumph, Amundsen's Way is an adventure story in the purest sense.

Genres: Nonfiction, Adventure

288 pages, Paperback

First published May 6, 2019

Reviews

[Jude · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed learning more about the Norwegian explorer, Roald Amundsen and his determination to be first to reach the South Pole. He had previously been the first person to traverse the Northwest passage and had also been to the North Pole. The story of his Antarctic expedition is incredible, the conditions the dogs and men faced are hard for us to comprehend - the cold, the weather, the white everywhere you look, the danger of crevasses, the food and living conditions. This is another great book from Joanna Grochowicz and the perfect follow on from her previous (also excellent) book "Into the White: Scott's Antarctic Odyssey".

[Mandy Hager · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb writing, perfectly pitched and paced. Very atmospheric and authenic-feeling.

[Lorna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Those poor dogs... Different times, I guess. I admire the man but I don't think we'd have been friends!

[Susan Winfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars - the author notes at the end that famed Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen was not an overly likeable character, but has certainly a charismatic leader, and his achievement of being first tot he South Pole, is a testament to the man's single-minded pursuit of a life-long dream - at any cost.

Like her other works, 'Amundsen's Way' is very well-written researched, however I think the cover art and style of the illustrations are a bit misleading for the content of this book. I would not recommend this for kids under 13 due to graphic depictions of the killing of dogs (including throwing puppies over the side of the ship) and penguins.

This book contains a map of Amundsen and Scott's routes to the South Pole, and photographs taken during the expedition. There are also flashbacks to Amundsen's childhood and previous expeditions.

[Lynda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Roald Amundsen was a man of iron. It's stunning to think of the dogged determination, and cruel deprivation, that he and his polar exploration team experienced as they slogged away to be the first to reach the South Pole in 1912. Reaching the Pole first was regarded as a glittering prize in terms of celebrity and status, not just for the explorers, but for their home country of Norway. The North Pole - their original destination - had already been claimed. They had been pipped to the post and were determined not to let it happen again. The British team, led by Captain Robert Scott, was already headed for the Antarctic, and at any point, could overtake Amundsen and his team. Amundsen deployed a lifetime of polar experience and strategic planning - but there was often a price to be paid.

[IvyZuzu · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was extremely intriguing to read and I found myself flipping through the pages with pure interest. A man named Roald Amundsen will stop at nothing to be first to reach the South Pole. With obstacles like dogs dying, diseases spreading and extreme frostbite, Amundsen continues his quest fearlessly. My favourite part was when Amundsen returns, he is welcomed warmly by the whole country and congratulated sincerely. This book would be most suitable to 10-15 year olds as the story is quite realistic and has a complex structure. People who love stories about adventures or expeditions, will enjoy this too.

[Maggie Dziong · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love creative non fiction so this book was right up my street. It's compelling and very easy to read, and it's definitely made me want to reach for more of her books, as well as more books on the subject. Seems like Amundsen was a right a-hole, but I think you kinda have to be in order to live through and achieve what he did.

[Kafl · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book that brings the story of Antarctic exploration to life.

[Made._.Moiselle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Riveting from beginning to end. For a book for ages 10-14 there are some pretty gruesome things happening to the dogs.

[Cheryll · Rating 3 out of 5]

What brave men - poor dogs :( A bit of an education for me!

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

More interesting than exciting due to the level of detail and the steady pace., Gruesome in parts. Definitely a good read for 10+ with an interest in exploration or the polar areas.

[Shaun Barnett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could those black specs on the horizon be the British? Could this be the realisation of Roald Amundsen’s worst fears; that Captain Scott has won through with his dreaded motor sledges, proving obsolete the Norwegians’ superior skiing ability, sledge construction and dog handling? Ski champion Olav Bjaaland races forward to find out.

The specs prove to be nothing but dog turds, magnified into absurd size by the bizarre optical characteristics of the polar light. The British reduced to crap.

Norwegian Roald Amundsen had already made polar history when he became the first to successfully navigate the Arctic’s infamous northwest passage in 1903–06. Next, he set his sights on conquering the North Pole, but was beaten to it. So instead, the ambitious Norwegian turned his imperious eyes south, and told virtually no one, not even his crew aboard the Fram. Famously, when the ship reached the port of Madeira in the middle of 1910, he cabled Captain Scott ‘Beg to inform you Fram proceeding Antarctic’.

Amundsen’s unflinching resolve and honed ability as an explorer are well known, so much so that it is easy to forget all the uncertainty of his South Pole expedition. As she did with her previous book 'Into the White', Joanna Grochowicz has written a superbly readable polar narrative. She effortlessly introduces the characters, not least the dogs that were Amundsen’s trump card. On the journey south, the dogs, kennelled on deck aboard the Fram, lose condition with the cold, discomfort and lack of exercise. So the crew feed them butter from the ship’s stores. One man complains, ‘If we keep feeding them like this, there’ll be none left for us humans.’ Dog handler Sverre Hassel replies, ‘The dogs are more important than you or me [...] The whole outcome of this expedition depends on them. You want to be successful or eat pancakes?’

Much more than pancake deficit could have gone wrong. Amundsen’s hut Framheim was built on the sea ice at the Bay of Whales, which while 100 miles closer to the pole than Scott’s Ross Island base, was at not inconsiderable risk of breaking away. The dogs often proved unruly and constantly fought; on the depot laying mission, in temperatures as low as minus 45, some nearly starved, and ate whips, ski bindings and harnesses.

Impatient, Amundsen insisted in setting off too early for the pole, despite the warnings from Hjalmar Johansen, the only other man on the expedition with comparable polar experience. It could so easily have ended in mutiny, or frozen disaster.

The tension between Amundsen and Johansen is well teased out, and flash-backs to Amundsen’s previous life provide a sense of how he came to be racing for the major prize in polar exploration. Grochowicz beautifully captures a sense of place too: ‘The commotion that is inevitable when forty-two impatient dogs set off at a gallop can still be heard when the teams disappear over the ridge and onto the Great Ice Barrier. But the continent swallows the sound soon enough into its vast empty belly.’

Amundsen took a huge risk too in his choice of route up the Axel Heiberg Glacier, which – unlike Scott’s already proven route up the Beardmore Glacier – was wholly unknown. Parts proved to be a crevasse minefield. ‘A mighty crust breaks away under the back of his skis with a dull booming sound, revealing a void that has been waiting a thousand years to swallow a man.’

Grochowicz weaves the story with impressive skill and a gift for convincing dialogue. Throughout she shows how Amundsen succeeded – losing not one man. Drawings by Sarah Lippett add charm to the book, which serves as a perfect introduction to polar history for younger readers – or a welcome return for all Antarctic enthusiasts.

‘How will history view my latest polar conquest,’ Amundsen wonders. ‘Will I be remembered for my dedication, my discipline, my daring, or merely my deception?’ Amundsen could not have known that neither his success nor his deception would overshadow the tragedy of the British explorers. We all know the names of Scott’s doomed polar party: Oates, Wilson, Bowers and Evans.

But how many people can name the Norwegian team?

For the record, here they are: Roald Amundsen, Olav Bjaaland, Sverre Hassel, Helmer Hansen and Oscar Wisting. First to the South Pole, 14 December 1911. 'Amundsen’s Way' is a satisfying tribute to their place in polar history.