Title: Alone on the Ice
Author: David Roberts
Major Themes: Survival Stories, Exploration, Antarctica
Synopsis: The dramatic story of the intrepid leader of an Antarctic exploration party, Douglas Mawson, who found himself alone in the frigid wastelands of Antarctica—and barely managed to escape with his life.
At some stage quite a while ago, I went through a list of all the biographies and memoirs in audiobook form that our online library had available to borrow and listen to, and added the ones that looked interesting to a tag that I could look back on later and pick from. Alone on the Ice was one of the titles I added to that list; it looked interesting, and I figured at some stage, I’d be wanting a book to listen to, and maybe I’d pick that one. Well, the time came sooner, rather than later. I was on a tight deadline, trying to get through a pile of sewing, and needed something to keep myself entertained and on track. After wading through a couple of longish classics (Jane Eyre and Wives and Daughters), I was ready for a more modern story and a change of pace. This book was the perfect fit for me, and, as a bonus, it’s a gripping retelling of a true survival story!
Publisher’s description:
On January 17, 1913, alone and near starvation, Douglas Mawson, leader of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition, was hauling a sledge to get back to base camp. The dogs were gone. Now Mawson himself plunged through a snow bridge, dangling over an abyss by the sledge harness. A line of poetry gave him the will to haul himself back to the surface.
Mawson was sometimes reduced to crawling, and one night he discovered that the soles of his feet had completely detached from the flesh beneath. On February 8, when he staggered back to base, his features unrecognizably skeletal, the first teammate to reach him blurted out, “Which one are you?”
This thrilling and almost unbelievable account establishes Mawson in his rightful place as one of the greatest polar explorers and expedition leaders. It is illustrated by a trove of Frank Hurley’s famous Antarctic photographs, many never before published in the United States.
My thoughts:
It’s hard for me to comprehend how far people can push themselves sometimes when their lives are on the line. Alone on the Ice is one of the most incredible adventure stories I’ve read in recent years, and not just because it’s a life-or-death story. The mental fortitude Douglas Mawson showed as he endured the loss of teammates and very nearly his own life was incredible, and a real challenge to me when it feels like life’s getting a bit difficult. Beyond that, I was amazed at the dedication shown to serving a greater cause—that’s no easy task!
I’ve heard stories of Antarctic explorers before, but one thing I appreciated about this book was the way it brought all those diverse stories together for me into a logical, approachable sequence. I now feel like I have a better grasp on what happened with the early explorers—Amundsen, Scott, Shackleton, and others. It also taught me far more about what the climate is like down there than I previously knew. Reading about the expedition’s experiences in surviving the winter and trying to support themselves was incredible—not only physical fortitude was needed, but mental and emotional strength, too, and that gave me a greater appreciation for what even earlier explorers had to face, too.
If you’re interested in survival stories, science, or exploration, Alone on the Ice could be a great book for you. I found the read gripping, even if it was sometimes hard to read about the effects of food deprivation, extreme exhaustion, and extreme cold on the body. I enjoyed this book so much that when I was finished, I told a couple of my brothers that they ought to read it, too. Not only is it a peek into little-known history, but it’s also an inspiring tale of grit, determination, and courage in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds.
WARNING: Chapter 1: Mention of dogs so hungry they were willing to eat other dogs or pups, dog killed because she couldn’t walk, man falls down a crevasse and dies. Chapter 2: “Little cuss”, mention of millions of years, bloody (four times), man loses toes to frostbite, God only knows what he does. Chapter 3: Horses killed, bloody, he is an ass, a hell of a, darned, goodness only knows, for goodness’s sake. Chapter 4: Mention of man who dressed as a woman for many years, infernal, damn, bloody fool (twice). Chapter 5: God damn this country, to hell with it all, 70,000 years ago. Chapter 6: Mention of killing a dog, knowing they’d have to eat the remaining dogs, man with frostbitten fingers and he bites a bit off one, man dies, man’s feet literally almost peel apart, man wishes he could commit suicide, man losing skin and hair. Epilogue: Man tries to commit suicide with overdose and starvation.
Age levels:
Reading Independently—Ages 15 and Above, Adults
Links to buy this book:
Amazon: Paperback | Kindle | Hardcover | Audible Audiobook (unabridged) | Audio CD (unabridged)
AbeBooks: View Choices on AbeBooks.com
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