What an interesting genre - great post. One of the few books I read last year outside of the lifetime goal was this type of book: Ian McGuire’s The North Water. Longlisted for the Man Booker prize (and transposed to an AMC miniseries with Colin Ferrell as the memorable Henry Drax character), it had the feel of Blood Meridian set in the Arctic. I recommend this brutal and relatively concise book.
I've really gotten into this niche topic over the last couple years, too, and can't get enough! Thanks for the help adding more to my TBR!
Labyrinth of Ice: The Triumphant and Tragic Greely Polar Expedition by Buddy Levy was my entry point, and I would highly recommend. I listened on audio, and remember gasping aloud and shedding tears multiple times.
I've also read and enjoyed Madhouse at the End of the Earth, The Wager (not technically arctic, but it counts), and The Terror (fictional) which have been mentioned.
Nothing prepared me for learning about the symptoms of scurvy though...
I'm a sucker for this genre as well. The Julian Sancton book is as good as any I've read. Thanks for the recommendations. Nothing like stories about people trapped in ice running out of food.
Thank you for this post! I have a niche interest in Antarctic literature - fiction and non-fiction - and have a burgeoning personal collection. I would add Terra Incognita by Sara Wheeler. I read this as a first year languages undergrad in 1997 and it inspired in me a deep desire to visit Antarctica. Cruises were out of my budget and most jobs required a science background. In 2015 however I spotted the perfect opportunity - a job working at the world's southernmost Post Office and Museum! I had 15 years of experience in customer service and tourism - here was a job in Antarctica was finally qualified for! I was fortunate enough to be successful and worked at Port Lockroy for the austral summer - Nov 2016 - Mar 2017 and it was a dream come true. Fittingly, on my journey home, I re-read Terra Incognita on the ship back to Ushuaia - a full circle experience!
Thanks for sharing I have a couple of these on my TBR. Good timing I just started Niven’s:’The Icebreaker’ last night. Another one I enjoyed listening too is Race for the S Pole based on diaries of Scott&Amundsen by RHuntford
Another book that may be of interest. America in the Arctic: Foreign Policy and Competition in the Melting North by Mary Thompson-Jones. Published this month it is an excellent review of Arctic history , Arctic States, as well as current issues of Geopolitics and Climate Change. An important book for our times.
Terra Nova, by Henriette Lazaridis. A reimagined, fictional exploration.
The year is 1910, and two Antarctic explorers, Watts and Heywoud, are racing to the South Pole. Back in London, Viola, a photo-journalist, harbors love for them both. In Terra Nova, Henriette Lazaridis seamlessly ushers the reader back and forth between the austere, forbidding, yet intoxicating polar landscape of Antarctica to the bustle of early twentieth century London.
Though anxious for both men, Viola has little time to pine. She is photographing hunger strikers in the suffrage movement, capturing the female nude in challenging and politically powerful ways. As she comes into her own as an artist, she's eager for recognition and to fulfill her ambitions. And then the men return, eager to share news of their triumph.
But in her darkroom, Viola discovers a lie. Watts and Heywoud have doctored their photos of the Pole to fake their success. Viola must now decide whether to betray her husband and her lover, or keep their secret and use their fame to help her pursue her artistic ambitions.
Rich and moving, Terra Nova is a novel that challenges us to consider how love and lies, adventure and art, can intersect.
“Sea of Glory” by Nathaniel Philbrick is a pretty good account of the “discovery” of Antarctica.
Staying on the South Pole, just finished “Cold People” a good yarn about aliens forcing all humans to move to Antarctica and what happens when they do.
The Terror by Dan Simmons. Fiction but great arctic reading
It's high on my list!
I would add A Woman in the Polar Night by Christiane Ritter and Life on Svalbard by Cecilia Blomdahl!
Added to my list — thanks Gina!
What an interesting genre - great post. One of the few books I read last year outside of the lifetime goal was this type of book: Ian McGuire’s The North Water. Longlisted for the Man Booker prize (and transposed to an AMC miniseries with Colin Ferrell as the memorable Henry Drax character), it had the feel of Blood Meridian set in the Arctic. I recommend this brutal and relatively concise book.
I'll definitely check out North Water — thanks John!
I've Shackleton on my reading list. Last year I read "Into thin air" by Jon Krakauer.
I've read all of Jon Krakauer — amazing author and storyteller.
I love an Arctic/Antarctic book, fiction or non-fiction.
Can I add:
The Solitude of Thomas Cave by Georgina Harding
and
Barrow’s Boys by Fergus Fleming
and
Terra Incognita by Sara Wheeler & Cherry: A Life of Apsley Cherry-Garrard also by Sara Wheeler
and
The Birthday Boys by Beryl Bainbridge
Marvelous - thank you!
Bill Streever’s “Cold: Adventures in the World’s Frozen Places” helped to get me hooked on the genre.
Intriguing list! Adding them all now.
I've really gotten into this niche topic over the last couple years, too, and can't get enough! Thanks for the help adding more to my TBR!
Labyrinth of Ice: The Triumphant and Tragic Greely Polar Expedition by Buddy Levy was my entry point, and I would highly recommend. I listened on audio, and remember gasping aloud and shedding tears multiple times.
I've also read and enjoyed Madhouse at the End of the Earth, The Wager (not technically arctic, but it counts), and The Terror (fictional) which have been mentioned.
Nothing prepared me for learning about the symptoms of scurvy though...
Buddy Levy is who actually kickstarted the idea for this post. I finished his brand new book and will be reviewing it soon!
Oh! I'll have to check it out, and look forward to your review!!
A great list, Jeremy--thanks for this!
I'm a sucker for this genre as well. The Julian Sancton book is as good as any I've read. Thanks for the recommendations. Nothing like stories about people trapped in ice running out of food.
Totally agree!
I usually read some polar-themed books during winter as I’ve found I really enjoy the added atmosphere the winter months add to them.
A few I’d recommend:
“The Worst Journey in the World” by Apsley Cherry Garrard.
“Shackleton” by Ranulph Fiennes.
“The Heart of the Antarctic” by Shackleton.
“The Last Place on Earth” aka “”Scott and Amundsen” by Roland Huntford.
Marvelous, thanks for the recs!
Thank you for this post! I have a niche interest in Antarctic literature - fiction and non-fiction - and have a burgeoning personal collection. I would add Terra Incognita by Sara Wheeler. I read this as a first year languages undergrad in 1997 and it inspired in me a deep desire to visit Antarctica. Cruises were out of my budget and most jobs required a science background. In 2015 however I spotted the perfect opportunity - a job working at the world's southernmost Post Office and Museum! I had 15 years of experience in customer service and tourism - here was a job in Antarctica was finally qualified for! I was fortunate enough to be successful and worked at Port Lockroy for the austral summer - Nov 2016 - Mar 2017 and it was a dream come true. Fittingly, on my journey home, I re-read Terra Incognita on the ship back to Ushuaia - a full circle experience!
Oh that's so cool! Thanks for sharing, Laura. :)
Thanks for sharing I have a couple of these on my TBR. Good timing I just started Niven’s:’The Icebreaker’ last night. Another one I enjoyed listening too is Race for the S Pole based on diaries of Scott&Amundsen by RHuntford
Awesome, thanks for the recs!
Another book that may be of interest. America in the Arctic: Foreign Policy and Competition in the Melting North by Mary Thompson-Jones. Published this month it is an excellent review of Arctic history , Arctic States, as well as current issues of Geopolitics and Climate Change. An important book for our times.
Oh interesting, thanks for sharing!
Terra Nova, by Henriette Lazaridis. A reimagined, fictional exploration.
The year is 1910, and two Antarctic explorers, Watts and Heywoud, are racing to the South Pole. Back in London, Viola, a photo-journalist, harbors love for them both. In Terra Nova, Henriette Lazaridis seamlessly ushers the reader back and forth between the austere, forbidding, yet intoxicating polar landscape of Antarctica to the bustle of early twentieth century London.
Though anxious for both men, Viola has little time to pine. She is photographing hunger strikers in the suffrage movement, capturing the female nude in challenging and politically powerful ways. As she comes into her own as an artist, she's eager for recognition and to fulfill her ambitions. And then the men return, eager to share news of their triumph.
But in her darkroom, Viola discovers a lie. Watts and Heywoud have doctored their photos of the Pole to fake their success. Viola must now decide whether to betray her husband and her lover, or keep their secret and use their fame to help her pursue her artistic ambitions.
Rich and moving, Terra Nova is a novel that challenges us to consider how love and lies, adventure and art, can intersect.
That sounds great, thank you Judy!
“Sea of Glory” by Nathaniel Philbrick is a pretty good account of the “discovery” of Antarctica.
Staying on the South Pole, just finished “Cold People” a good yarn about aliens forcing all humans to move to Antarctica and what happens when they do.
Oh I love Philbrick but haven't read that one. Thanks for the heads up!