Mawson in Antarctica by Joanna Grochowicz (June 2024)

Antarctica. Winter 1912. Hunkering down in the windiest place on earth, eighteen young Australians eagerly await a chance to prove themselves as polar explorers and scientists. The spring sledging season will bring adventure, danger, and the discovery of new lands under the command of Douglas Mawson. But tragedy also lies in wait. Douglas Mawson’s tale is legendary, an epic struggle between one man’s self-belief and the worst conditions the hostile polar environment can throw at him. His journey represents not only a feat of physical endurance but also a triumph of the human spirit’s ability to conjure hope when luck has all but run out. ‘While there were facts about Mawson with which I was familiar, Grochowicz’s skill in constructing a narrative around these, and imparting a real sense of being ‘on the spot’ makes for a truly immersive experience.’