The race to reach the south pole is one of the most extraordinary stories in human history. In the early 20th century the pole represented one of the last unexplored places on Earth-and thus, for a certain breed of men, one of the most irresistible locations on the planet.Drawing on the archives of the National Geographic Society, which had close ties to all of the great South Pole explorers, THE SOUTH POLE tells the story of the discovery and exploration of Antarctica, through the memoirs, letters, ship’s logs and diary entries of the great Antarctic explorers. Beginning with the first glimpse by Captain James Cook in the late 18th century to the remarkable story of Ernest Shackelton’s Endurance; from the harrowing story of Robert Falcon Scott, who came within miles of his ultimate goal, to the triumph of Roald Amundsen first to the pole, to the loneliness of Richard Byrd, left alone in Antarctica for an entire winter, The South Pole paints a unique tapestry of the characters, the triumph, and the tragedy that characterized the exploration of the world’s last continent.Explorers featured in this book include: Captain James CookErnest ShackeltonRobert Falcon ScottApsley Cherry-GarrardRoald AmundsenRichard ByrdJames WeddellJames RossHugh EvansFavian von BellinghausenTHE SOUTH POLE collects these remarkable tales from both famous explorers and little-known adventurers and tells them in the words of the men who were there. Editor Anthony Brandt provides introductory information to each entry, seamlessly connecting the narrative story of the Earth’ s least known yet most passionately explored places.