Pole to Pole

2012 is the centenary of Captain Scott’s ill-fated expedition to the South Pole, arriving there only to find that Amundsen had beaten him to it by 35 days. The harrowing return journey, culminating in the death of Scott and his three companions, is a gripping story. In fact, the polar regions maintain a grip on the imagination, probably because so few of us ever visit them that they retain a mystery that has been lost to other places. Here’s a small celebration of all things polar.

The white planet   This is gorgeous: a film of a year in the Arctic, shot mostly in Canada and Greenland, and with a whole host of animal life – polar bears, caribou, seals, whales, and some frankly weird-looking marine organisms. There’s very little narration, as the imagery pretty much speaks for itself, complemented by background music. The ‘How it was made’ feature is also very good.

The fabulously-titled To the poles without a beard is Catharine Hartley’s story of walking to both South and North Poles. Hartley is no professional explorer, rather a very scatty woman with a bit of a drink problem, but her account of finding herself through her polar experiences is honest, funny, and very readable.

The man who ate his boots by Anthony Brandt is an account of Franklin’s ill-fated expedition to discover the North-west Passage, of how the race gripped the public’s imagination, and of the subsequent rescue attempts by Lady Franklin. One to read curled up by the fire.

Life in the freezer is David Attenborough’s documentary series on Antarctica. It won a BAFTA for photography, understandably so. The 6 episodes are each only 30 minutes long, but cover a year on the continent. As well as the penguins, skua and seals, there is also a chapter on exploration, including a visit to Scott’s hut, and to the modern research station.

Tom Crean’s rabbit is a picture book for children, written by Meredith Hooper and illustrated by Bert Kitchen. Crean’s pet rabbit gave birth to a litter of 17 en route to the Antarctic with Scott in 1910. Hooper introduces children to the story, describing the ship as Crean searches all over for a safe place for his rabbit. It’s enhanced by Kitchen’s stunning illustrations. For a more adult perspective on Crean’s life, there’s An unsung hero by Michael Smith.

Shackleton   Kenneth Branagh plays the Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton in a two-part film. Shackleton’s aim was to cross the continent, but found himself instead having to abandon ship, and lead 28 men back to safety. While he does come across as not the most sensible person – and happily, Branagh doesn’t gloss him up too much – it still makes for a good story.