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SHACKLETON, E. H.
The Heart of the Antarctic
Being the story of the British Antarctic Expedition 1907–1909. With an Introduction by Hugh Robert Mill, D.Sc. An Account of the First Journey to the South Magnetic Pole by Professor T. W. Edgeworth David, F.R.S.
First edition. Shackleton's account of the British Antarctic Expedition of 1907–9 (Nimrod). "Their sledge journey to the south magnetic pole was one of the three foremost achievements of this expedition. The other two achievements were, first, the ascent and survey of Mount Erebus (12,448 feet), the active volcano on Ross Island and, second, the southern sledge journey, which reached within 100 miles of the south pole" (ODNB). The expedition established Shackleton as a "bona fide English hero," but the success of the book did little to alleviate "the financial problems left to him by the expedition" (Books on Ice). Sir Raymond Priestley (1886–1974), a British Geologist and Antarctic explorer who accompanied Shackleton on the 1907–1913 Antarctic expeditions, said, "For scientific leadership, give me Scott; for swift and efficient travel, Amundsen; but when you are in a hopeless situation, when there seems to be no way out, get on your knees and pray for Shackleton."
2 volumes, large octavo. Original blue pictorial cloth, front covers with large silver block, spines lettered gilt, top edges gilt, others uncut. 3 maps, panorama in rear pocket, 12 coloured and 257 black and white plates, and numerous illustrations and diagrams. Spines a touch sunned, tail of volume II slightly crumpled, silver blocks just a little mottled, endpapers browned as usual, occasional light foxing, but the hinges sound and overall a very good set.
