A treasure trove of photographs―some never before reproduced in book form―from the two greatest Antarctic expeditions. Among the greatest achievements in the history of photography; those of the early polar explorers surely stand out; for the beauty of their images and the almost impossible conditions they encountered. And none of these are more remarkable than the photographs recorded by the official chroniclers of two epic Antarctic expeditions―that of Robert Falcon Scott; departed in 1910; which tragically resulted in his death; and; four years later; that of Ernest Shackleton; whose heroic sea journey from Elephant Island to South Georgia has become the stuff of legend. Their photographers―Herbert George Ponting and Frank Hurley―transported bulky cameras and glass plate negatives across the forbidding polar landscape to record some of the earliest images of this dramatic environment. That the photographs survived to be presented on their return to King George V is miraculous; and they have remained ever since in the Royal Collection. The Heart of the Great Alone reproduces the best of these marvelous images; some of which have never appeared in book form before―ships encased in ice floes; ice cliffs and ravines; campsites and dog sleds; and the incomparable beauty of Antarctic flora and fauna. Together they form an invaluable record of an environment that global warming has forever changed. With a superb narrative drawing on Ponting's and Hurley's writings and other unique archival material from the Royal Collection; and with extended captions for each image; this book is a unique addition to the literature of polar exploration.
#1103384 in Books University Press of Mississippi 2009-10-07Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.50 x .35 x 5.51l; .44 #File Name: 1604735716143 pages
Review
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful. Investigating the LegendBy Doctor MossThere are now several interesting books about the "secession" of Jones County; Mississippi from the Confederacy during the Civil War. Sally Jenkins' and John Stauffer's book; The State of Jones; made a splash a while back; and an earlier book by Victoria Bynum; The Free State of Jones; is at least partly the basis for a movie set to come out next year.Both books; and this one as well; deal with Jones County's complicated participation in the Civil War; including anti-secessionism; deserters; resistance; active engagement against Confederate forces; and alleged attempts to ally with Union forces. The Jenkins/Stauffer and Bynum books also address in some detail the roles of slavery and racial relations and interactions in Jones County as part of the larger story.This book was written earlier than the other two; and it reads as a more scholarly investigation of the "legend" of the "Republic of Jones" or "The Free State of Jones." The author concludes that; while there was no real secession per se; and no actual local government set up in opposition to the Confederacy; there are some facts backing up the legend. The facts were just exaggerated in the interest of a more dramatic and even humorous story.But Leverett seems equally motivated to investigate and dispel positive accounts of Netwon Knight; a central figure in the legend; as any sort of politically motivated resistor and champion of anti-secessionism. Both the later books paint a much more sympathetic; if mixed; portrait of Knight; depicting him as a politically motivated Unionist. Leverett's book; on the other hand; reads at times like a prosecutor's case against Knight; portraying him as a common thief; for whom any real political motivations were opportunistic inventions either by him or by his chroniclers.A prosecutor's case should be listened to; but it shouldn't be the only thing we listen to; and it should be listened to with a critical ear. In particular; I question Leverett's distinction between "political convictions" on one hand and "concerns of economic survival" on the other. His contention is that Knight's activities were motivated by economic hardship and not political conviction. I'm not so sure that the two are so sharply separate -- one thing that Leverett does not give much room to in his account is the burden placed on Southern farmers; particularly in as poor a region as Jones County; by the Confederate government to supply its troops. Economic resistance and political resistance to that burden would be difficult to distinguish -- food is politics. When Knight and his band; for example; raided the Confederate supply depot at Paulding and took away some quantity of corn; they may well have been acting out of both economic hardship and political conviction.The Jenkins/Stauffer and the Bynum books both present dimensions of the story not present in Leverett's account. Bynum in particular takes on sociological tones in her depiction of race relations in Jones County at the time; and Jenkins/Stauffer tell a much more detailed story of Newton Knight's own life; personality; his marriage; and his relationship with the slave Rachel Knight (and his "second family" with her). I have to admit that; as Jenkins/Stauffer remark in their commentary on sources; I find it odd that so central a feature of Knight's life as his relationship with Rachel and his other purported interactions with slaves of the area went completely without comment in Leverett's book. The fact that slavery was scarce in Jones County (as Leverett says; no more than three percent of Jones County residents owned any slaves) does not account for that absence; particularly given Leverett's intention to assess Knight's motivations.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Great Book.By Steven SmithThis book eloquently points out the undeniable differences between the "Legend" and the official records; local newspaper accounts; and even eyewitness recounts of the Real TRUTH. The Free State of Jones is no doubt just a legend composed of much myth and grandstanding. One suggestion however; you should know the "legend/myth" via other books or movies before reading this book. If you do; this book will mean more to you from the very beginning.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Good MovieBy Charla BendinskyHaving read the book by S Jenkins and J stauffer; I was pleasantly surprised to find that the movie was pretty factual. Newton Knight's father was my great; great uncle. McConaughey gave a very good performance and even resembled Knight. Most movies that are taken from books don't follow the story line and add too many "extras". This one was good!
