Before the Heroes Came: Antarctica in the 1890s (Hardcover)

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Editorial Reviews

From Kirkus Reviews

A slender history of the first years of organized Antarctic exploration. Baughman (History/Benedictine College) begins at the beginning, with speculation by ancient Greeks about the existence of a vast southern continent. The region remained a mystery for almost two millennia, until the 1820's, when several different explorers sighted Antarctica. Expeditions were mounted, but all fell through; in the early 1890's, though, whale hunters began moving into Antarctic seas. One such venture included seaman Carsten Borchgrevink (1864-1930), who discovered the first sample of Antarctic plant life (lichen) and became the first human to set foot on the continent by elbowing aside his captain during the landing. Spurred on by Borchgrevink and others, men began steaming to Antarctica on scientific and exploratory expeditions. Prominent figures included Sir Clements Markham, president of the Royal Geographic Society, who sponsored the expedition that gave Robert F. Scott his first command, and Dr. Frederick Cook--better known for his North Pole rivalry with Robert Peary--who served brilliantly on the Belgica expedition, saving the crew by discovering the benefits of eating penguin to stave off scurvy. Baughman looks askance at Markham, who decided that dogs were inadequate for polar work--a belief that led to the death of Scott and his companions in the 1912 polar push. But the author's attention and criticism land most heavily on Borchgrevink, a poor leader and poorer scientist whose Southern Cross expedition- -conducted about a decade after his first landing on the continent--never measured up to its potential for meteorological or scientific discovery. Not the major history of this era that still begs to be written; still, a useful, informative addition to Antarcticana. (Four maps, two b&w photographs) -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Review

"A history of human experience in the [Antarctic] in the second half of the 19th century . . . There was courage, of course, a good deal of romanticism, vanity, competition, spitefulness, and other entirely human qualities displayed by these early visitors. . . . [The book] is very well written, as well as good history."-Choice (Choice )

"A long overdue appreciation of . . . pioneering ventures in the far south. . . . A well-researched book that gives a fresh picture of the personalities and influences behind exploration in the late 19th century."-Science (Science )

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: University of Nebraska Press (December 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0803212283
• ISBN-13: 978-0803212282
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,281,316 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must for all Antarctica buffs!, May 14, 1998

By	"thaddeusjd" (Lawrence, KS) - See all my reviews

This is a great book, trust me. The Kirkus review is right in giving Baughman praise for his work. Baughman's reasearch is exact and through. The writing style is informative, but is done in a enjoyable narrative that makes the book easy to read. Having studied under Dr. Baughman ( I already got my degree so this ain't puffery) and taken an Antarctic history class from him, I can honestly say that this book is a useful tome for all interested in exploration and students of history alike.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Important Prelude, November 3, 2001

By	Ricky Hunter (New York City, NY United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Before the Heroes Came: Antarctica in the 1890s (Paperback)

T. H. Baughman's Before the Heroes Came (Antartica in the 1890's) is an important look at the era before the Heroic Age of Scott, Amundsen, and Shackleton. This very slim volume shows the build-up of interest in the Antartic and the politican and scientific forces coming together to propel both the noble and the foolish onto the triumph and tragedy that was the Antarctic after the turn of the century. This book is essential for those with a passion for this frozen land but will leave those looking for another arctic adventure story a little cold. The writing can be a little dry at times and the procession of scientists and sailors whirl by a little too quickly. But for those who want to fully understand man's need to explore the Antarctic, this book will prove essential.