"WHITE SPOT"
THE WHITE DESERT: the official account of the Norwegian-British-Swedish Antarctic Expedition, by John Giaever; Chatto and Windus, English price 25/-. 2OR several reasons this book will rank high in polar literature. The exploration in. 1949-1952 of the "white spot" on the Antarctic known as Queen Maud Land, opposite our Ross Sea, was undertaken jointly by thre? countries. The party spent two winters at headquarters on the sea-ice, with no absolute assurance that their foundation would hold, and made thrusts southwards, one of which produced the longest sledge journey on _ record-five and a_ half months. The scientific results were important. : The narrative of the leader, John Giaever, a veteran of Norwegian polar
work (which is supplemented by reports from the sledging parties) is exceptionally well written. It is a lively, highly judicious and readable blend of action, scientific interest, and human relationships, including humour. The spirit of this wise and very observant leader shines through the easy, perfectly natural English of the translator, E. M. Huggard. The smooth success of this Nor-wegian-British-Swedish venture is an admirable object lesson in international co-operation. Men from the party were the first to set foot on the land of this almost unknown quadrant. Scientific work went on all the time at the base, and during the two summers parties went out with dog teams and motor sledges, and in the air. It was a motor sledge that caused the tragedy of the expedition; by going over an. edge of ice it drowned three men. The chief practical interest in the scientists’ work lies in meteorology and glaciology. The Antarctic is profoundly important in relation to the world’s weather and climate. What will be the effects if the vast ice masses substantially diminish? By new methods these scientists plumbed ice up to 7800 feet deep over land. In one spot it was calculated that if the 6500 feet of ice were removed, the ocean would flow into a fiord 2000 feet deep! The book is packed with interesting facts about ways of living in the Antarctic. and is well illustrated.
A.
M.
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New Zealand Listener, Volume 31, Issue 799, 12 November 1954, Page 15
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348"WHITE SPOT" New Zealand Listener, Volume 31, Issue 799, 12 November 1954, Page 15
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Copyright in the work University Entrance by Janet Frame (credited as J.F., 22 March 1946, page 18), is owned by the Janet Frame Literary Trust. The National Library has been granted permission to digitise this article and make it available online as part of this digitised version of the New Zealand Listener. You can search, browse, and print this article for research and personal study only. Permission must be obtained from the Janet Frame Literary Trust for any other use.
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