One of a series describing the history of regions before and after their exploration by Europeans, this book concerns the Polar world from prehistoric times, to the age of exploration by travellers from all over the world. It explains how native peoples manage to survive in such a cold environment, and retells Amundsen's and Scott's race for the South Pole. The author traveled on winter and summer expeditions to the Antarctic and Arctic regions, and was Station Commander at the British base in the South Orkney Islands, Antarctica for seven years.