Library Journal
In polar history, much has been written about the explorers, men like Robert Falcon Scott, Ernest Shackleton, and John Franklin. In contrast, little is known about the women who married and supported them. In this work, Herbert (founding director, Polarworld; The Explorer's Daughter) delves into the lives of seven women to bring this often neglected aspect of history into focus. As the daughter of polar explorer Wally Herbert, the author is ideally situated to understand the hardships that explorers' families endure while waiting for information about an expedition's outcome. Chapters on Eva Nansen, Jo Peary, Eleanor and Jane Franklin, Emily Shackleton, Kathleen Scott, and Marie Herbert bring to life their relationships and personal lives through letters, diaries, and other sources, starting with coverage of their early years, followed by their lives with their husbands and their work in relation to crucial support of their husbands during and after their expeditions. Many of these strong women were accomplished in their own right: Eva was a celebrated singer, Kathleen a sculptor and artist, Eleanor a poet, and Marie an adventurer and author. VERDICT This highly enjoyable book is an important addition to polar and exploration history collections or for biography or women's studies shelves.—Margaret Atwater-Singer, Univ. of Evansville Libs., IN