In a crystal land

the long version

In a Crystal Land for the first time chronicles the adventures of Canadians who, often at the risk of their lives, contributed to the exploration of Antarctica, the last terrestrial frontier. More than a dozen Canadians were recruited as members of landmark south polar expeditions, largely for their cold-weather expertise. Physicists, geologists, surveyors, dog-drivers, aviators - many of them were the first to set eyes on Antarctica's ice plains, nunataks, mountain ranges, and glaciers. Their stories are told here, based on accounts found in journals, logbooks, and letters, and, in some cases, on personal interviews. From a Victorian expedition (1899-1900) that was the first to winter on the continent, to the first multinational assault on Antarctica; from a windswept encampment named Camp Winnipeg to the 'crystalline chambers and sapphire corridors' of the Ross Ice Shelf, Dean Beeby animates a wealth of research uncovering tales of bravery and madness, heartbreak and revelry. In a Crystal Land restores these Canadians to their rightful place in the history of Antarctic exploration.