The race to reach the South Pole first is still one of the great true adventure stories in history. This book tells the stories of three who tried - Scott, the old-fashioned hero, brave but tragically under-prepared; Shackleton, a more modern leader, refusing to sacrifice his men's lives to the cause; and Amundsen, the true professional whose attention to detail saw him through. Hooper includes all the great themes - courage, hardship, agonising decisions, leadership, suffering and tragic death - along with stunning photographs taken during the expeditions.