Martin, writer and historian, provides an illustrated history of Antarctica from its prehistory and geography to its early modern and contemporary presence in literature, politics, and science, and elucidates the varied experiences of humanity with the continent. This new edition (1st ed., 1996) begins with a brief introduction. It is then divided into nine chronologically organized chapters, followed by eight pages of endnotes. The introduction and first chapter provide a useful overview of history, geography, and cartography, as well as recent developments in the Antarctic. Chapters 3-8 give a chronological account of Antarctic contact, exploration, and occupation from 1775 to 1990. The final chapter narrates the reality of the Antarctic after the Madrid Protocol, focusing on scientific endeavors, conservation, tourism, and the emergence of human communities on the once-desolate land. Both broad and detailed, the work provides a useful lens through which to view the development of contemporary science, politics, and environmental action in the context of this important region. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower- and upper-division undergraduates and general readers. H. Doss Wilbur Wright College, City Colleges of Chicago