Review: This accursed land: An epic solo journey across Antarctica

This Accursed Land: An epic solo journey across Antarctica by Lennard Bickel
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I came across this book in a second-hand bookshop and my friend was very enthusiastic about encouraging me to read it. I am so glad that he did.

The tale of Douglas Mawson's intrepid exploration of parts of Antarctica was put together by Lennard Bickel (1913-2002) and published in 1975. Bickel had been a journalist before becoming an author and knew how to do the background research needed for this kind of book. The result is a splendid and dramatic account of some of the most gruelling and difficult journeys imaginable. So many strong and intrepid men died in these explorations. The pursuit of knowledge, the exploration of new lands and the training and preparation required for such adventures are covered in good detail, without getting too bogged down in documenting everything.

The book did not capture my imagination immediately, as the early Chapters provide the context for Mawson's explorations and his associations with other, more famous explorers, such as Scott and Shackleton, with whom he had travelled to Antarctica before the journey covered in the main part of this book. After all the preparation for the journey, finding the funds and the establishment of the base, the story gets into the exploratory journey across the ice and snow in weather conditions that are still, to me, bordering on the unimaginable. So many of these journeys stretched from months into years! The commitment of these people is incredible and inspirational.

I have been to the Arctic, in Northern Sweden and in Svalbard, but nothing in the North would give an insight in the conditions in Antarctica. The explanations, in passing, of how the geography of Antarctica affects the blistering winds and endless storms are useful and very interesting. There are so many fascinating facts in this book, such as the extent of the land and the ice, the sheer size of the glaciers and the savage beauty of the place that pulls people back to it with an urge to spend more time there.

I guess this book would no appeal to everyone. But if you like to read ripping yarns about intrepid people taking themselves beyond the limit of human endurance, then this is the the kind of thing you should read. Because of the slow start to the book, and the gradual build of tension and pace, this one of the few books that led me to read it again immediately on finishing it. The imagery of Antarctica and the personalities of the characters will stay with me for a long time.

If you have got this far in my review, then I am sure you will enjoy this book!

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