Below the Convergence: Voyages Toward Antarctica, 1699-1839

“A great adventure story.”—Dava Sobel, New York Times Book Review This wonderfully written book tells of the first Herculean expeditions to Antarctica, from astronomer Edmond Halley’s 1699 voyage in the Paramore to the sealer John Balleny’s 1839 excursion in the Eliza Scott, all in search of land, glory, fur, science, and profit. Life was harsh: crews had poor provisions and inadequate clothing, and scurvy was a constant threat. With unreliable—often homemade—charts, these intrepid explorer...