From Scott and Shackleton to sled dogs and penguins, stories of Antarctica seize our imagination. In December 2002, environmental historian Tom Griffiths set sail with the Australian Antarctic Division to deliver the new team of winterers. In this beautifully written book, Griffiths reflects on the history of human experiences in Antarctica, taking the reader on a journey of discovery, exploration, and adventure in an unforgettable land.He weaves together meditations on shipboard life during his three-week voyage with fascinating forays into the history and nature of Antarctica. He brings alive the great age of sail in the initiation of travellers to the great winds of the "roaring forties." No continent is more ruled by wind, and Griffiths explains why Antarctica is a barometer of global climatic health. He charts the race to the South Pole, from its inception as part of the drive to map Earth's magnetism, to the reasons for Robert Scott's tragic death. He also offers vivid descriptions of life in Antarctica, such as the experience of a polar night, the importance of food for morale, and coping with solitude.A charming narrative and an informative history, "Slicing the Silence" is an intimate portrait of the last true wilderness.
- ISBN10 0674026330
- ISBN13 9780674026339
- Publish Date 1 September 2007 (first published 1 May 2007)
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 11 August 2011
- Publish Country US
- Imprint Harvard University Press
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 408
- Language English