Amundsen's Way: The Race to the South Pole

Description

How will history view Roald Amundsen? Will he be remembered for his daring deeds, his discipline, or merely his 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 employed astute planning and shrewd strategy to propel 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.

Joanna Grochowicz's narrative non-fiction is meticulously researched and compellingly told. By fusing the real and the imagined in her stories of early Antarctic exploration, she reveals the human aspirations and tragedies that have shaped our understanding of what remains an utterly inhuman place. As an Antarctic writer and communicator, Joanna believes strongly that engaging with Antarctic history encourages a deeper connection with a globally significant continent that few will ever visit. While focusing on polar exploration, her ever-popular school sessions guide students in examining the continued importance of resilience, perseverance and curiosity in all human endeavours.

'The story feels immediate and compelling...very approachable for less enthusiastic readers, but a keen reader will be swept along by the momentum of the story and will race through the book. From the outset, it is apparent that Grochowicz has hit her stride as a writer. The characters feel fully developed and the pacing is slick, while the delivery is consistently on the mark for an intermediate-level reader. While the extensive research underpinning the book is apparent, it is the narrative voice that carries us forward. Sarah Lippett's illustrations and maps enhance and enrich the text, while photographs from the expedition anchor it solidly in reality.' - NEW ZEALAND REVIEW OF BOOKS 'This story, from the author of the highly acclaimed 'Into the White', is another masterpiece of narrative non-fiction.Using Roald Amundsen's South Polar conquest, Joanna has written a gripping account of how a man will stop at nothing to reach his goal of reaching the South Pole. Joanna fuses the real and the imagined to allow the reader to understand both some history and geography of Antarctica.' PAUL BAKE, ENGLISH ASSOCIATION, UK