The book is pretty good, and I did enjoy it, but it didn’t quite hit home. I think one reason is I simply don’t understand the obsessive fascination with Antarctica which Sara Wheeler certainly seems to share with a lot of people, and she doesn’t really help me understand it either. I’m not suggesting she should have explained better, as I’m pretty sure it’s not something one can explain, like a phobia, obsession is hardly rational, but I do wish she’d made me feel it. Without that the book is a bit too long, too dry, dare I say too cold?