Review : Stupid heroes

It’s surprising to realise that until the middle of this century, the
Arctic was still almost a no-go area for humans. To the Arctic!, Jeanette
Mirsky’s account of the thousand-plus years of Arctic exploration, is a tribute
to human endurance and heroism, albeit laced with foolhardiness and stupidity.
It teems with tragedy and catastrophe and controversy boils in it-who reached
the North Pole first? An extraordinary story full of extraordinary characters,
and told well. Published by The University of Chicago Press,
£13.50/$16.95, ISBN 0226531791.