Storied Ice, The - Joan N. Boothe Paperback – January 1, 2017

I bought the book before we traveled to Antarctica on a cruise and was reading the first half of the book as we traveled across the Drake Passage to the Antarctic peninsula. I was delighted to to find stories in the book that took place at the places we visited. The stories of the early explorations and the hardships they endured are full of facts and really show how the economics of the fur seal trade and whaling really drove the early explorations. An excellent read if you want to know more about Antarctica

I really enjoyed reading this book while on a cruise to Antarctica. The author covers many adventures and misadventures with just the right amount of detail. I have two complaints though. Much of the book details the utter devastation that was leveled on seals, then whales, then seals again, but the author makes absolutely no commentary against the practice. There is exactly one word -- "sadly" -- that states the authors complete feelings about this abhorrent, terrifying and destructive period. In no way should this period be called the "Heroic" period of exploration, in fact it was exactly the opposite of a heroic period. If not for the massive amount of ice, idiot humans would have hunted every species present to extinction in Antarctica long ago. For the author to totally ignore this by not taking a side is not excusable.Also, of much lesser concern, the maps in the Kindle version of this book are totally unusable, at least in the Paper White version of the Kindle. They cannot be expanded and are very tiny to start with. It's too bad as the maps look very interesting.

Most books about the Antarctic focus on one piece of its history, e.g., the Terra Nova or the Endurance expeditions. This is an excellent book encompassing the entire history of discoveries about the Seventh Continent. The author has clearly worked hard to have the maps match the narrative, ensuring that even the novice Antarctiac can follow the expeditions' progress. The book has particularly detailed discussions of the sub-Antarctic Islands and peninsular explorations, which should well serve those actually visiting Antarctica, as this is the route most tours take. A highly recommended, well researched, and well illustrated addition to the literature.

Brilliant book full of fascinating information

Book was in excellent condition.

Read it BEFORE going to Antarctica - the experience will be so much better.

The Storied Ice is a terrific, long-needed book describing the human history of the Antarctic Peninsula. A lot has been written about the major Antarctic explorations, particularly the efforts to reach the South Pole, but there has been no comprehensive history of the peninsula region. The title is apt - there are many stories, and only one (or two) relate to the most famous of the area's explorers, Ernest Shackleton. Thanks to Joan Boothe for meticulously putting together all the pieces into a compelling history.What did I especially like about this book? The chapters tell good stories about the various players and are exceptionally well-written and easy to read, with the right amount of historically important detail along with points of human interest. (I particularly enjoyed the anecdotes about the pets). The chapters are well illustrated with useful photographs, many taken by the author, reflecting historic and current conditions. And, unlike most Antarctic histories where you're trying to remember the location of longitudinal lines, and what's east and what's west (it gets tricky when all the lines start converging) Boothe has helpfully included detailed maps of the area under discussion, with labels that actually match the text. VERY helpful indeed and a model for other writers, I hope.She has also included extremely helpful summary tables at the end - a timeline of events in the Peninsula, concurrent events in other parts of Antarctica, and relevant events around the world. She also includes a table of "firsts" - not an easy task given the frequently conflicting claims among early explorers not benefitting from instant text messaging systems to broadcast their findings to the world.Who would like this book? Well, naturally any polar history buff. And, for certain, any of the thousands of annual tourists to the region who will be impressed by the natural history, but who often may be poorly informed about the human history. But, it can also easily be enjoyed by any student of history, particularly history of human scientific endeavor and exploration for commercial gain (think whaling) so it's not just for the polar crowd. I also think students in need of term paper material could use this book. Most of the chapters can stand alone, so if someone needed a solid source of information about, say, whaling or a specific explorer, with well-documented source material, this is definitely the book to consult.The Storied Ice is not just a set of good stories, but it's an outstanding reference book. The author is to be commended for her non-partisanship - all countries are treated equally - and for her amazing work pulling together so much information into such a useable book.

I was fortunate enough to have a chance to travel to the Antarctic Peninsula and was lent this book in advance. It was such an interesting read and so packed with gripping stories of history of human exploration in the region, that I knew I had to purchase my own copy to bring along on the trip. Even if you are not traveling to the area, the book is a fascinating read. Boothe does a great job of providing geographical reference with detailed maps. Kudos to Boothe for compiling such a comprehensive history and presenting it in such an engaging and informative way.

I was lucky to read this book on a recent cruise to Antarctica. This book brought our cruise and the places we visited to life.Joan Boothe's research was incredibly strong and her style of writing is superb. I was totally absorbed by this masterpiece and hope this writer gets kudos for her effort. Possibly the best book I have read on any subject.

This book is clearly written by an individual with a passion for her subject. Joan Boothe has brilliantly managed to balance scholarship with readability. It is a book that will be appreciated by both the specialist and non specialist reader. The text is supported by excellent maps and photographs. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the spirit of adventure and discovery.

Without doubt one of the very best books on the history of the Antarctic Peninsula.

as on the tin!