The race to reach the South Pole is a compelling tale of courage and hardship. Begun by the Ancient Greeks, its history climaxed 2,000 years later with the ultimate triumph and tragedy of Amundsen and Scott, separated by a matter of weeks. Discover the role played by an ancient obelisk in early exploration, learn how the frozen land repulsed the advances of great explorers like Captain Cook and explore how the Antarctic continent was finally discovered by chance.

It is a remarkable story that captures ambitious men like Amundsen, Scott and Shackleton – along with the unsung heroes like Crean and Wild, who spent longer on the ice than the better-known explorers. This dramatic history is expertly woven by polar historian Michael Smith, who introduces us to the opportunistic Norwegian claiming to be the first to set foot on Antarctica, the kilted Scots piper performing to a puzzled penguin and the French captain who typified national sang-froid by cracking open the champagne. Smith also examines the life-changing differences between Amundsen and Scott in the final march to the Pole and how Scott's journey, a century after his death, continues to this day.

Ultimately, Towards the Coldest Place highlights the great explorers and colourful characters whose incredible feats in the world's most inhospitable region have made Antarctic exploration so enduringly popular.