Launched: 11 February 2007. Last updated: 28 March 2007.
Encyclopedia of Exploration [Parts 2 & 3: 1800 to 1850 and 1850 to 1940] Raymond John Howgego (Potts Point, NSW, Australia: Hordern House, 2004 and 2006), 2 volumes of a 3-volume set, 690 + 724pp. Both are AUD$245. [Referred to below sometimes as HOWGEGO] Exploring Polar Frontiers; A Historical Encyclopedia William James Mills (Santa Barbara, Denver, Oxford: ABC CLIO, 2003) 2 volumes, 797pp. $230. [Referred to below sometimes as MILLS] Encyclopedia of the Antarctic Beau Riffenburgh, Editor (New York and London: Routledge, 2007), 2 volumes, 1146pp plus indexes. $425. [Referred to below sometimes as RIFFENBURGH] Antarctica; An Encyclopedia John Stewart (Jefferson, North Carolina, and London: McFarland & Company, Inc., 1990), 2 volumes, 1193pp. Out-of-print, but easily available secondhand. [Referred to below sometimes as STEWART] Encyclopedia of Antarctica and the Southern Oceans B. Stonehouse, Editor (Chichester: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., 2002) 391pp. $425 or £275. [Referred to below sometimes as STONEHOUSE] Antarctica. An Encyclopedia from Abbott Ice Shelf to Zooplankton Mary Trewby, Editor (Auckland, Buffalo, Toronto: FireflyBooks, Ltd. , 2002) 208pp. $35. [Referred to below sometimes as TREWBY]
NOTE: To see four selected entries taken from each of the titles for comparison purposes, click here. NOTE: To see a comparative listing of entries, click here. NOTE: The photos below show the books opened to the entry for Robert Scott.There are books that somewhat resemble encyclopedias in content but not in format. Among these are Antarctica; Great Stories from the Frozen Continent by Reader's Digest (Surry Hills, N.S.W.: Reader's Digest Services Pty Limited, 1985) and Antarctica: the Complete Story by David McGonigal and Lynn Woodworth (Willoughby, N.S.W.: The Five Mile Press, 2001). The former is out-of-print and the latter appears to be as well, although secondhand copies are easily found. Another title that's somewhat in the encyclodpedia genre is the Chronolgical List of Antarctic Expeditions and Related Historical Events by Robert K. Headland (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1989). This is out-of-print although a new edition is in preparation.
Encyclopedia of Exploration [Parts 2 & 3: 1800 to 1850 and 1850 to 1940] by Raymond John Howgego
Encyclopedia of Exploration [Part 2:] 1800 to 1850
Author: Raymond John Howgego
Publisher: Potts Point, NSW, Australia: Hordern House
Date: 2004
ISBN: 1 875567 39 9
Binding: Saifu cloth, upper cover and spine with lettering in gilt.
Dustwrapper: Pictorial
Endpapers: Pictorial
Pages: 690
Paper: No statement can be found as to whether the paper is acid free.
Size: Quarto. 8-1/4 x 11 inches; 210 x 280 mm
Weight: 4 lbs 6 oz; 1.98 kilograms
Illustrations: None
Maps: None
Tables/figures: None
Price: AUD$245.
Other features: Three ribbon bookmarks
Website: www.explorersencyclopedia.com
The publisher's website is very well conceived and executed. Not only is the usual information on the title available but a listing of all the major articles is included as well as a listing of other persons mentioned, ships mentioned, reviews, etc. One can request by e-mail one article which is a very helpful feature.
Notes: The title is part of a three-volume series, of which this is the most recent. The other titles are: Encyclopedia of Exploration Part 1: to 1800 and Encyclopedia of Exploration [Part 3:] 1850 to 1940 The Oceans, Islands and Polar Regions. Part I, which has not been examined, includes entries for James Cook, the Forsters, Edmond Halley, William Hodges, Yves-Joseph Trémairec de Kerguelen and Anders Sparrman, and perhaps others I missed.
524 articles in about 700,000 words.
Area: Worldwide
Timeframe: 1800 to 1850
CONTENTS:
Introduction vii-xTypical Entry: Number, Name, Inclusive dates of the expedition in question, Region, and Text, concluding with a bibliography.
General Organization and Content
Bibliographies
World Exploration 1800-1850
Acknowledgments
Alphabetical entries 1-671
Index to Persons 673-685
Index of Ships 686-690
BALLENY, John (.75)A total of 25 entries representing ca. 35 pages out of 671 or 5% of the book is devoted to the Antarctic. No doubt an equal or greater percent is devoted to the Arctic. See below under the same title, Part 3, for author informawtion, blurbs and reviews.
BARNARD, John (.25)
BELLINGSHAUSEN, Faddei Faddeevich (1.25)
BISCOE, John (1.25)
BRISBANE, Matthew (.75)
DAVIS, John (.5)
DECAEN, Rene-Marie (.5)
DUMONT D'URVILLE, Jules Sébastien César (5.25)
ENDERBY BROTHERS (1.5)
FANNING, Edmund (.5)
FOSTER, Henry (.75)
HERRING, Joseph (.5)
HOOKER, Sir Joseph Dalton (1.5)
KEMP, Peter (2.5)
LAZAREV, Mikhail Petrovich (.5)
LYALL, David (.5)
MORRELL, Benjamin (1)
PALMER, Nathaniel Brown (1.5)
PEALE, Titian Ramsay (.5)
REYNOLDS, Jeremiah N. (1.25)
ROSS, James Clark (2.25)
SHEFFIELD, James (.5)
SMITH, William (1.75)
WEDDELL, James (2)
WILKES, Charles (2)
See below under the same title, Part 3.
CONTENTS:
Introduction vii-xTypical Entry: Number, Name, Inclusive dates of the expedition in question, Region, and Text, concluding with a bibliography.
General Organization and Content
Bibliographies
Exploration in the Oceans, Islands and Polar Regions from 1850
Aerial Exploration
Sources and Acknowledgments
Alphabetical entries 1-703
Index to Persons 705-717
Index of Regional, Island and General Articles 718
Index of Ships, Boats, Aeroplanes and Airships 719-724
AMUNDSEN, Roald Engelbregt Gravning (nearly 3 pages)A total of 35 entries representing ca. 113 pages out of 703 or 16% of the book is devoted to the Antarctic. No doubt an equal or greater percent is devoted to the Arctic.
Antarctic Exploration: historical overview (5-1/2 pages)
Auckland Islands (2 pages)
BORCHGREVINK, Carsten Egeberg (3-1/2 pages)
BRUCE, William Speirs (3+ pages)
BULL, Henryk Johan (1-1/2 pages)
BYRD, Richard Evelyn (4-1/4 pages)
Campbell Island (1 page)
CHARCOT, Jean Baptiste Etienne Auguste (3-1/2 pages)
COOPER, Mercator (1/2 page)
COPE, John Lachlan (1-1/2 pages)
Crozet Islands (1 page)
DALLMANN, Eduard (1 page)
DRYGALSKI, Erich Dagobert von (2 pages)
DUNDEE ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION (1-1/2 pages)
ELLSWORTH, Lincoln (2 pages)
FILCHNER, Wilhelm (1-1/2+)
GERLACHE DE GOMERY, Adrien Victor Joseph de (6 pages)
Heard Island (3/4 page)
Kerguelen Island (1-1/4 page)
LARSEN, Carl Anton (1-1/2 pages)
Macquarie Island (3/4 page)
MARKHAM, Clements Robert (2-1/2+ pages)
MAWSON, Douglas (10 pages)
NORDENSKJÖLD, Nils Otto Gustafv (4-1/2 pages)
RIISER-LARSEN, Hjalmar (1 page)
RYMILL, John Riddoch (2 pages)
SCOTT, Robert Falcon (19 pages)
SHACKLETON, Ernest Henry (16+ pages)
SHIRASE, Nobu (2 pages)
South Georgia (2-1/2 pages)
THOMSON, Charles Wyville (1/2 page)
WILKINS, George Hubert (2-1/2 pages)
WISTING, Oscar (1-1/4 pages)
WORDIE, James Mann (1 page)
CONTENTS:
Introduction ix-xvTypical Entry: The same format as with subsequent volumes. Subjects of Major Articles (related to the Antarctic, many in a very tenuous wasy) (with approximate page length)
General Organization
Indexing of Personal Names
Place Names
Ships
Bibliographies
World Exploration in 1800
Sources and Acknowledgments
Alphabetical entries 1-1,136
Index to Persons 1,137-63
Index of Ships 1,164-68
AMUNDSEN, Roald Engelbregt Gravning (nearly 3 pages)A total of 35 entries representing ca. 113 pages out of 703 or 16% of the book is devoted to the Antarctic. No doubt an equal or greater percent is devoted to the Arctic.
Antarctic Exploration: historical overview (5-1/2 pages)
Auckland Islands (2 pages)
BORCHGREVINK, Carsten Egeberg (3-1/2 pages)
BRUCE, William Speirs (3+ pages)
BULL, Henryk Johan (1-1/2 pages)
BYRD, Richard Evelyn (4-1/4 pages)
Campbell Island (1 page)
CHARCOT, Jean Baptiste Etienne Auguste (3-1/2 pages)
COOPER, Mercator (1/2 page)
COPE, John Lachlan (1-1/2 pages)
Crozet Islands (1 page)
DALLMANN, Eduard (1 page)
DRYGALSKI, Erich Dagobert von (2 pages)
DUNDEE ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION (1-1/2 pages)
ELLSWORTH, Lincoln (2 pages)
FILCHNER, Wilhelm (1-1/2+)
GERLACHE DE GOMERY, Adrien Victor Joseph de (6 pages)
Heard Island (3/4 page)
Kerguelen Island (1-1/4 page)
LARSEN, Carl Anton (1-1/2 pages)
Macquarie Island (3/4 page)
MARKHAM, Clements Robert (2-1/2+ pages)
MAWSON, Douglas (10 pages)
NORDENSKJÖLD, Nils Otto Gustafv (4-1/2 pages)
RIISER-LARSEN, Hjalmar (1 page)
RYMILL, John Riddoch (2 pages)
SCOTT, Robert Falcon (19 pages)
SHACKLETON, Ernest Henry (16+ pages)
SHIRASE, Nobu (2 pages)
South Georgia (2-1/2 pages)
THOMSON, Charles Wyville (1/2 page)
WILKINS, George Hubert (2-1/2 pages)
WISTING, Oscar (1-1/4 pages)
WORDIE, James Mann (1 page)
What's immediately obvious is that this 3-volume set is beautifully produced. The paper, binding, design, printing and presentation are all of high quality. With regard to these points it far surpasses the other titles which are serviceable but not overly handsome. It's a pleasure to hold these volumes. Possibly the most impressive thing about this effort (apparently a 4th volume is planned) is that it's been undertaken by one person and not a stable of contributors. The writing is elegant and a joy to read. I personally don't care for the way dates are presented (e.g. "On 23.11.35 Ellsworth and. . .") but that is small point. One very often comes upon facts that don't appear in any of the other titles. In just one example, who knew that Richard Byrd "had come face to face with bandits in the Philippines"? Unlike some titles, the entries on people do not concentrate just on the Antarctic portion of their lives, but give details on what came before and after, making for a far fuller and more interesting entry. The volumes are large and heavy and the text somewhat smaller than the other volumes but this doesn't seem to hinder their use. They easily lie flat. The entries are generally longer than in other titles (nearly 2-1/2 pages per average entry) and the persons or subjects treated are necessarily more selective, although many persons and subjects are mentioned in the entries for others and can be found using the indexes. The lack of maps or illustratons may be considered a disadvantage by some. On the other hand, it has been possible to include more text by leaving them out. Although not in itself a disadvantage, the fact that the coverage not only includes the Arctic but the rest of the world, means that there is more material here than the typical Antarctican will want or need. It would be nice to have an electronic version of some sort. The only title that offers this option is MILLS. Unlike most of the other titles, there is no supplementary material such as an exploration timeline which would be useful and not difficult to produce. The bibliographies at the end of each entry are thorough and comprehensive and far more extensive than any other title. The first entry in the ANTARCTIC EXPLORATION: HISTORICAL OVERVIEW section is Aagaard's Fangst og forskning i Sydishavet which is largely unknown, in Norwegian and very scarce—but also one of the great works of Antarctic scholarship. Few errors in the bibliographic entries jumped out at me. Bob Headland's Chronological List is mentioned, specifically the second edition of 2005. That's wishful thinking! Bob is still carrying around the galleys and still is having 'problems' with maps. The entry for Frederick Cook has him attending the College of Physicians and Surgeons which is part of Columbia University not New York University. A small and unimportant point. Without having read most of the entries, it's hard to know how frequently one would come upon errors, but my hunch is that it would be rare.
Exploring Polar Frontiers; A Historical Encyclopedia by William James Mills
Exploring Polar Frontiers; A Historical Encyclopedia
Author: William James Mills
Publisher: Santa Barbara, Denver, Oxford: ABC CLIO
Date: 2003 (December)
ISBN: 1-57607-423-4 (different than what's on the book itself)
Binding: Paper covered pictorial boards
Dustwrapper: No
Endpapers: Plain
Pages: Two volumes. I: 1-388; II: 389-797
Paper: Acid free paper.
Size: Quarto. 8-3/8 x 10-15/16 inches; 212 x 278 mm
Weight: 5 lbs 5 oz; 2.41 kilograms
Illustrations: Some black and white illustrations mostly historic.
Maps: Yes
Tables/figures: Some
Price: $115 (published at $230)
Other features: Also available as an e-book at $230.
Website: www.abc-clio.com
Includes details on the e-book version.
Notes:
Advisory Committee:
William Barr
Ann Savours
Erki Tammiksaar
Geoff Renner
Contributors:
David Clammer
Sir Ranulph Fiennes
Jenny Mai Handford
Rear Admiral John Myres
Geoff Renner
David Stam
Area: Arctic and Antarctic
Timeframe: 325 B.C. to 2001
CONTENTS:
Vol ITypical Entry: Name (followed by birth and death dates) or title followed by Text followed by a 'See also' section and 'References and Further Reading.' Those entries prepared by others are signed.
Contents (Entries in Alphabetical Order by Volume) v-x
Entries Listed in Chronological Order xi-xviii
Entries Listed by Category xix-xxii
Maps (20 outline maps in black and white) xxiii
Introduction xlv-xlvi
Alphabetical entries A-L 1-388
Vol II
Contents (Entries in Alphabetical Order by Volume) v-x
Alphabetical entries M-Z 389-723
Glossary 725-730
Polar Timeline: A Chronological Listing of Polar Expeditions by Region 731-739
Selected Bibliography 741-767
Index 769-795
About the Author 797
Description: Covers the entire history of Arctic and Antarctic exploration, from the voyage of Pytheas ca. 325 B.C. to the present, in one convenient, comprehensive reference resource. The next decade will see centennial celebrations marking the heroic age of the great polar explorers: Robert Falcon Scott, Roald Amundsen, and Sir Ernest Shackleton. From Pytheas's voyage to the Arctic Circle in 325 B.C. to Børge Ousland's solo crossing of the Arctic Ocean in 2001, the history of our quest to conquer the poles is filled with tales of courage, inspiration, tragedy, and triumph. Exploring Polar Frontiers: A Historical Encyclopedia is the only reference work that provides a comprehensive history of polar exploration from the ancient period through the present day. The author is a noted polar scholar and offers dramatic accounts of all major explorers and their expeditions, together with separate exploration histories for specific islands, regions, and uncharted waters. He presents a wealth of fascinating information under a variety of subject entries including methods of transport, myths, achievements, and record-breaking activities. By approaching polar exploration biographically, geographically, and topically, Mills reveals a number of intriguing connections between the various explorers, their patrons and times, and the process of discovery in all areas of the polar regions. Furthermore, he provides the reader with a clear understanding of the intellectual climate as well as the dominant social, economic, and political forces surrounding each expedition. Readers will learn why the journeys were undertaken, not just where, when, and how. Title Features • 511 A-Z biographical, geographical, and subject entries on polar exploration such as dogs, man-hauling, Elephant Island, South Georgia, and major explorers such as Sir John Franklin, Fridtjof Nansen, and Richard Byrd • Extensive collection of photographs, many taken by expedition participants • Vivid illustrations, including woodcuts and drawings • 20 maps detailing Arctic and Antarctic regions • Chronology of expeditions beginning with the voyage of Pytheas in 325 B.C. through the present Highlights • The only title to tell the stories of all major polar expeditions, Arctic and Antarctic • Numerous great stories, many that rival Roald Amundsen's journey to the South Pole and Sir Ernest Shackleton's Endurance voyage • Examines the intellectual, social, economic, and political forces surrounding each expedition." Source: www.abc-clio.com
When I first obtained a copy of this title and consulted it a few times I concluded that it really wasn't very helpful. I seemed to seldom find what I was looking for. I've since concluded otherwise. Like HOWGEGO, MILLS has fewer entries than some titles but they are longer, nearly as long as HOWGEGO (an average of 2.23 pages versus 2.47). So it's not particularly suitable for quickly looking up some fact like the spelling or a name or a birthdate. The author sadly died shortly after the book appeared (he was the librarian at Scott Polar Research Institure). Comments have been made that some errors weren't caught in the rush to publication. Without reading it through I can't attest to this. (One I came upon was incorrectly locating the East Hampton Library in Connecticut rather than on Long Island, NewYork. Another: It's Henryk Bull not Henrik.) The Timeline in Vol II is not particularly useful although the concept is fine: Dates on one side and geographic region along the top. But the entries themselves are merely last names with no commentary (e.g. Cooper alone rather than Mercator Cooper, first documented landing on the Antarctic continent). The 'Entries Listed in Chronological Order' in Vol I is more useful as some descriptive information is included. The Advisory Committee and Contributors are all knowledgeable. Entries by the Contributors are signed but these are not numerous so most of what appears was apparently the work of William Mills. The few black and white illustrations are generally well-selected and complement the text well. The 'Selected Bibliography' is lengthy and comprehensive.
Encyclopedia of the Antarctic edited by Beau Riffenburgh
Vol Ivii Advisory BoardVol II
ix-xviii Contributors
xix-xxi Introduction (Beau Riffenburgh)
How to use this book
Acknowledgments
xxiii-xxix List of Entries A-Z
xxxi- Thematic List of EntriesAtmosphere and Climatexxxvii Map of Antarctica
Birds
Conservation and Human Impact
Geography
Geology
Glaciology
History, Exploration, and History of Science
Marine Biology
Marine Mammals
Oceanography
Research Programs, International Organizations, Atlantic Treaty System
Sea Ice
Solar-Terrestrial Physics and Astronomy
Technology and Transport
Terrestrial Biology and Limnology
xxxix Map of the Antarctic Peninsula
1-579 Alphabetical entries A-K
1-86 Index (covers both volumes)vii Advisory Board (same as in Vol I)
ix-xviii Contributors (same as in Vol I)
xix-xxi Introduction (Beau Riffenburgh) (same as in Vol I)
How to use this book
Acknowledgments
xxiii-xxix List of Entries A-Z (same as in Vol I)
xxxi- Thematic List of Entries (same as in Vol I)Atmosphere and Climatexxxvii Map of Antarctica (same as in Vol I)
Birds
Conservation and Human Impact
Geography
Geology
Glaciology
History, Exploration, and History of Science
Marine Biology
Marine Mammals
Oceanography
Research Programs, International Organizations, Atlantic Treaty System
Sea Ice
Solar-Terrestrial Physics and Astronomy
Technology and Transport
Terrestrial Biology and Limnology
xxxix Map of the Antarctic Peninsula (same as in Vol I)
581-1108 Alphabetical entries L-Z
1109-14 Appendix I: Chronology of Antarctic Exploration
1115-18 Appendix II: The Antarctic Treaty
1119-21 Appendix III: Signatories to the Antarctic Treaty
1123 Appendix IV: SCAR Code of Conduct for Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes in Antarctica
1125-33 Appendix V: Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty
1135 Appendix VI: Scientific Research Stations in the Antarctic Region
1137 Appendix VII: Antarctic Academic Journals
1139-46 Maps (17 in all)
1-86 Index (covers both volumes)
Aviation, History of (extensive)Contributors: Among the many contributors are the following historians, writers, etc. (Entries are signed by the contributors.)
Christensen Antarctic Expeditions (1927-1937). Extensive treatments of little known expeditions (5 pages)
All the national scientific programs and stations are described.
Photography, History of in the Antarctic (2.75 pages)
Ponies and Mules (2.25 pages)
Protected Areas Within the Antarctic Treaty Area (12 pages)
Sealing, History of (2.25 pages)
Whaling, History of (3.75 pages)
H.J.P. ArnoldAbout the Title "The Antarctic is unique, geographically, politically, and scientifically. It is the most remote, hostile, and dangerous continent, while at the same time it is the most pristine and least developed. Antarctica is the only major part of the Earth's landmass not directly governed by one nation, but under the control of a Treaty, with a multitude of acceding nations. The Encyclopedia of the Antarctic brings together large quantities of information on the wide variety of factors, issues and individuals influencing and relating to the Antarctic. No comparable book currently exists for this region. The Encyclopedia of the Antarctic discusses scientific activities and topics, but the 'human element' is also a significant part of the work, with entries on history, politics, legal issues, national research programs, scientific bases, historic huts, the United Nation's 'Question of Antarctica,' compliance with the Environmental Protocol, and tourism."
Philip Ayres
Susan Barr
Bjørn Basberg
Tim Baughman
David Burke
Bob Burton
G.E. Fogg
Bill Fox
Rai Goerler
David Harrowfield
T.J. Jacka
Michael Rosove
Jeff Rubin
Ann Savours
Michael Smith
Peter Speak
Bernard Stonehouse
John Thomson
David W.H. Walton
This title—the newest of the lot—has a lot in common with MILLS. The overall design, look and feel are very similar (2 volumes, binding, page layout.) There are almost no illustrations, however. For Antarcticans, the advantage of this title is that it's exclusively Antarctic. This title has more entries (of an historical/cultural nature, that is) than either HOWGEGO or MILLS but less than the others. The average length of these entries is 1.8 pages. The historical/cultural entries make up approximately 20% of the book The Contributors are numerous and impressive; among the leading lights of their respective fields. The list stretches over 10 pages. Although the historical/cultural side of Antarctic exploration is certainly covered well, it is the scientific side of things that is the focus of this title. This makes it unlike the other titles. The Appendices are useful although mainly to the scientific user. The Chronology of Antarctic Exploration is excellent, beginning in 1487 and ending with the IGY 1957-58. It focuses exclusively on expeditions and voyages and includes is the date, name of the expedition or voyage, the leader, the name(s) of the ship(s) and the accompishments. My biggest complaint with the set is it's price: $425, the highest price of any of the titles discussed here. Being the newest title, there should be an electronic version but apparently not.
Antarctica; An Encyclopedia by John Stewart
Vol ITypical Entry: Name or title followed by Text. In the case of places, the longitude and latitude are given.vii Foreword (Sir Edmund Hillary)Vol II
ix Table of Contents
xi-xiv Preface
xv-xviii A Capsule History
xix-xx A Note on Alphabetization
xxi-xxii Abbreviations
1-597 Alphabetical entries A-Lv Table of Contents (same as in Vol I)
598-1132 Alphabetical entries M-Z
1133-1160 Chronology (1502-1990)
1161-1172 Expeditions
1173-1193 Bibliography
Aerial photography
Airplanes
Automobiles
Balloons
Births in Antarctica
Churches
Deaths in Antarctica
Disasters
Dogs
Food
Helicopters
Historic Huts
Landings
Mapping of Antarctica
Movies
Mysteries
Recreation
Sanitation
Sledges
Southing records
Stamps
Tractors
STEWART's two-volume encyclopedia was the first one to appear (1990) and for a quick reference, it remains the most handy. Why? Well, the actual volumes are smaller and more easily handled and pulled off the shelf to look up something without a lot of fuss. But undoubtedly, it's biggest attribute is the number of entries: too many to actually count but by counting a typical ten pages and multiplying, I come up with 14,000 entries. (The runner up is STONEHOUSE with only 260.) This, of course, means the entries are noticeably shorter than the competition: less than a tenth of a page (the shortest in the group) versus about 2-1/2 pages for the longest entry (HOWGEGO). But the shortness of the entries serves a purpose here: fast reference. The number of entries has the advantage of upping ones chances when looking something up. Although the answer may lurk in a larger entry in one of the other encyclopedias, one has to hunt for it. In STEWART, it's usually there, alphabetically, easy to find. Some have pointed out that STEWART isn't always absolutely accurate. Like RIFFENBURGH, STONEHOUSE and TREWBY, it's exclusively Antarctic. Like HOWGEGO and TREWBY, this effort is almost exculsively the work of one person. That's neither good nor bad, but it certainly is impressive. Some have said that STEWART has lots of errors. Yes, I have found some: in the entry for the British Imperial Transantarctic Expedition (Endurance), Stewart says Shackleton, Crean and Worsley showed up "at an astonished Grytviken" when, of course, it was Stomness (p. 134). Albert Armitage's middle initial is B not P (p. 40). Gregory is noted on p. 408 as "director of the civilian staff" on Scott's Discovery expedition. He was appointed to head up the scientific staff, but resigned once he learned he would be serving under Scott and thus never actually was on the expedition. On p. 248, Edwin De Haven, a member of the US Exploring Expedition, is entered as Edmund H. De Haven. And on page 429, the steward on the Discovery was Clarence not Charles Hare. Minor errors for the most part, but after awhile as they creep up, one has to be somewhat cautious. There are some interesting subject entries (see the listing above), more than any of the other encyclopedias offer. Both the Chronology, Expeditions and Bibliography sections at the end of Vol II are lengthy and comprehensive. Together they total 61 pages. Pretty impressive quantitatively. NOTE: The author e-mails to say that he's underway on a new version of his encyclopedia.
Encyclopedia of Antarctica and the Southern Oceans edited B. Stonehouse
[vii] List of Advisory EditorsTypical Entry: Name (plus birth-death year) or title followed by Text. In case of places, latitude and longitude are given after title. The initials of the contributors are given at the end of each entry. Sometimes 'further reading' appears at end. The entries are laid out in two columns throughout. Some of the Particularly Noteworthy Entries: Among the Advisory Editors in the area of Politics and History:
[ix] List of Contributors
[xi]-xii Introduction (by Bernard Stonehouse)
[1]-297 Alphabetical entries
298-301 Appendix A. Agreed Measures for the Conservation of Antarctic Fauna and Flora
302-306 Appendix B. Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals
307-314 Appendix C. Convention on Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources
315-335 Appendix D. Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty
336-339 Text of the Antarctic Treaty
340-344 Further Reading
345-347 Study Guide: Climate and Life
348-353 Study Guide: Exploration
354-357 Study Guide: Geography
358-359 Study Guide: Geology and Glaciology
360-363 Study Guide: Information Services
364-368 Study Guide: National Interests in Antarctica
369-373 Study Guide: Protected Area under the Antarctic Treaty
374-377 Study Guide: Southern Oceans and Islands
378-391 A-Z Listing of Encyclopedia Entries
Klaus DoddsAmong the Contributors in the area of History:
Robert K. Headland
Klaus Dodds"An up-to-date and authoritative one-volume reference offering comprehensive coverage of the biology, climatology, oceanography, geology, history and current legal, political and human aspects of the Antarctic continent and the surrounding ocean and islands.
Robert K. Headland
William Mills
This effort by Bernard Stonehouse will, I would suggest, be usurped by the more recent and more comprehensive RIFFENBURGH. There's some similarity in approach: a large number of contributors with entries pulled together by an editor, as opposed to HOWGEGO and STEWART, for instance, which are the work of single authors. A plus is that next to STEWART, this encyclopedia has the largest number of 'historical/cultural' entries, 260. The next largest occurs in TREWBY. These two are also the shortest in overall length and the only single-volume titles. In other words, the entries are relatively numerous but not very lengthy and comprehensive. The Study Guides at the back are perhaps useful for students. They are essentially summaries of the encyclopedia by subject area with entry titles in bold for referencing. For me, the Study Guide on Exploration is a useful summary. The production is straightforward enough but rather boring as far as the design, typography and maps and illustrations are concerned. The main criticism that can be levelled at the title is its cost which at $425 is far more than it should be. That's the same price as the newer and far bulkier RIFFENBURGH. Fortunately I was able to get a mint secondhand copy for $177 which is still a lot to pay.
Antarctica. An Encyclopedia from Abbott Ice Shelf to Zooplankton
Author: Mary Trewby, Editor
Publisher: Auckland, Buffalo, Toronto: FireflyBooks, Ltd.
Date: 2002 (9/7/2002)
ISBN: 1-55297-590-8
Binding: Paper covered pictorial boards
Dustwrapper: No
Endpapers: Pictorial
Pages: 208 pp
Size: Quarto. 9-1/4 x 11-7/16 inches; 234 x 291 mm
Weight: 3 lbs 3 oz; 1.45 kilograms
Illustrations: Many photographic illustrations (236) in color and black & white.
Maps: Yes
Tables/figures: No
Price: $35; Canada $35
Other features:
Website: www.fireflybooks.com
Notes: More for the general audience. Has advantage of illustrations.
Area: Antarctica
Timeframe: To the present
Contributing Editors [6]Typical Entry: Name or title followed by Text.
Foreword (by Gillian Wratt, Chief Executive, New Zealand Antarctic Institute) 7
Map of Antarctica (Physical) 8-9
Map of Antarctica (Political) 10-11
Alphabetical entries 12-203
Photographic credits 203
Selected bibliography 204
Index 205-208
Without question what jumps out about Mary Trewby's effort is the very affordable price, only $35, by far the lowest price of any of those included here. Given that alone, there's little reason not to purchase a copy. The production is more attractive than some and included are some good photographs, both historical and modern and in color and black and white. It's the shortest of the titles discussed, 192 pages versus the 1,374 of the two HOWGEGO volumes. But there are quite a few 'historical/cultural' entries (163) although their length average about a third of page (only STEWART's are shorter). Some of the entries are disappointedly short of information. The one on Shackleton's Nimrod, for instance, says little more than that it was used by Shackleton and that it was towed by Koonya. Nothing about where or when it was built, how long it was, what happened to it, etc.
HOWGEGO is unquestionably the most attractive and best produced, has the most detailed and best written entries and is the most impressive when it comes to what one person can accomplish. On the other hand, it's not exclusively polar. The entries in MILLS are lengthier and more comprehensive than many of the others; both polar regions are included; and the price has come down. It is the only title that is also available in an electronic version. RIFFENBURGH is the newest of the lot and tied for first on price: $425. Only the Antarctic is dealt with. A good combination of science oriented entries and historical/cultural. Will probably be the standard Antarctic encyclopedia for some time. STEWART has the advantage of having far and above the most entries and they are all Antarctic oriented. For quick reference, it's the one to have close at hand. Perhaps more errors have crept in than with the other titles. STONEHOUSE is possibly the one to skip mainly because it's the same high price as the newer RIFFENBURGH and is far less comprehensive. It's hard to turn up TREWBY. If it were $150 or $100, one could do without it; but at $35, it belongs on all Antarcticans' shelves.