Cool conquests

In South With the Sun: Roald Amundsen, His Polar Explorations, and the Quest for Discovery, author and adventurer Lynne Cox tells the story of the legendary polar explorer just in time to celebrate the centenary of his heroic 1911 capture of the South Pole. In this memorable feat, Amundsen led a team of men and their dogs on a 102-day journey that spanned more than 1,880 miles of crushing Antarctic terrain. His team reached the pole a month earlier than their British challengers, a team led by Robert Falcon Scott, all of whom tragically perished on the return journey. Cox traces Amundsen’s early explorations and makes it clear why his quests succeeded when others failed. It’s a beautifully written story, and her adventurous spirit pervades this narrative. Cox visited the icy continent herself, bringing back details she uses here to paint a colorful portrait of Amundsen’s Antarctica.