| You might see a book in the catalogue listed as STACK. These are books which are housed behind the scenes in the Central Library - items that the Library definitely wants to keep, but for some reason (e.g. older condition, or not in as high demand) the open shelf is not the right place for them. Most can be borrowed. Please ask at the enquiries counter on the Second Floor and staff will be happy to retrieve them. This web-page will highlight some of these nearly forgotten treasures, and be updated with a new stack topic every two months. The author's selections and recommendations of these golden oldies are entirely idiosyncratic! |
Librarian's choice
In addition to the accounts of notable expeditions by Hillary, Scott, Byrd, and Shackleton, etc the library has a wealth of old treasures on polar exploration.
 | The home of the blizzard : being the story of the Australasian Antarctic expedition, 1911-1914, by Sir Douglas Mawson. (1915, 1930) Australian Mawson's trek focused on scientific inquiry and mapping, which the international media largely ignored. When Mawson left the Antarctic continent, his expedition had compiled more maps of Antarctica than any other until that time. But Mawson's journey was no more void of adventure - as he describes the storms, hardships, endurance, tragedy (his two companions die), and survival. Mawson ventures on an unthinkable solo sledge journey back to his coastal base. |
One foot at the Pole, by Jim Henderson. (1962) (New Zealander)
Jim Henderson's claim to fame was, as a war amputee, he was probably the first person with an articifial limb to go to the South Pole. Written in a very entertaining style, Henderson also covers such important matters as 'What do the scientists do all the time? What do they talk about? Exactly what does the South Pole look like? and Do they say Mush to the huskies?
Something different - Arctic Manual, by Vilhjalmur Stefansson. (1945)
Prepared under the direction of the United States Army Air Corps, this is designed "to be read at leisure before you go into the field, or to be read in the field in times of quiet". We are grateful to the US War Department in granting permission for the commercial release of this information as it contains everything one needs to know, and more, about potential encounters in the Arctic. Helpful advice includes
- "a practical way of discriminating between daylight and darkness is to say that it is not dark as long as a man of normal sight can read ordinary print out of doors"
- "shed horns are the most reliable indication of caribou movement"
- "the easiest method of cooking, and the one best liked in the long run is boiling"
- "If for any reason you must travel over thin ice on a river, you are bound to break through several times. As soon as you do, jump instantly out of the water into a snowbank...."
A fascinating insight into expectations of gentlemen explorers.
The North West passage, by Roald Amundesen.(1908). 2 vol.
Being the record of a voyage of exploration of the ship "Gjoa" 1903-7, with a supplement by First Lieutenant Hansen, Vice Commander of the Expedition.
Voyages of discovery in the Arctic and Antarctic seas, and round the world, by Robert McCormick. (1884). 2 vol.
Being personal narratives of attempts to reach the North and South poles; and of an open-boat expedition up the Wellington channel in search of Sir John Franklin, and Her Majesty's ships "Erebus" and "Terror" in Her Majesty's boat "Folorn Hope" under the command of the author.
First on the Antarctic Continent, by C.E. Borchgrevink.(1901)
Being an account of the British Antarctic Expedition, 1898-1900. Well illustrated with photographs.
Northern lights; the official account of the British Arctic air-route expedition, 1930-1931, by F. Spencer Chapman.(1932)
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Please don't hesitate to contact the author if you wish to share your comments and views on these or any other stack book, or view previous editions. Happy delving!
