Surrounded by hazardous seas and pitiless ice, Antarctica was first sighted by Europeans less than three centuries ago. Since then, hundreds of ships have voyaged around the continent, challenged by poorly-chartered waters, storms, pack ice, icebergs and disease. This comprehensive and richly illustrated book tells the story of these ships and the expeditions they supported, from the fifteenth century fleets of the Ming Emperors of China to today's tourist ships and powerful icebreakers. From extensive research, the author draws all these stories into one comprehensive record. Familiar names such as Terra Nova and Endurance feature with unfamiliar but equally important ships, while tales of heroic seamanship, like Captain John Briscoe's extraordinary 1830-32 circumnavigation in the tiny Tula, or Shackleton's voyage in the James Caird, illustrate the horrendous conditions that sailors and explorers faced. Plans, photos, and paintings enhance a highly authoritative and readable text that will appeal to polar historians, adventurers, armchair travellers, ship enthusiasts and visitors to Antarctica. It will fill an important gap in polar literature and is destined to become the reference book on the ships of the Antarctica as well as a superb and concise history of Antarctic exploration. SELLING POINTS: ? First comprehensive collection of detailed information on exploration ships ? Beautifully produced, readable, concise and up-to-date history of Antarctic exploration ILLUSTRATIONS: 300 colour db/w *
