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An Antarctic Affair
By Emma McEwin Price: $32.95 |
About the Author
Emma McEwin grew up on a dairy farm in South Australia, the eldest of five children. After graduating from Adelaide University, she went to London where she lived for almost nine years before returning to write this, her first book.
Reviews
"Through the Homeric tale of Douglas Mawson's legendary feat of survival in the Antarctic wasteland runs the thread of enduring love."
- Angela Bennie, The Sydney Morning Herald
"Having a famous great grandfather, Sir Douglas Mawson, as the subject of your first book, may seem like a piece of good fortune for a budding author. But it's proved a personal challenge for Adelaide woman, Emma McEwin..."I have tried to break new ground by bringing in a family perspective, and in a sense that made it hard." McEwin said. "I worried at first about family reactions...""
- Rosemary Cadden, The Independent Weekly
"An enduring love for his young fiancée was one of the factors that contributed to the survival-against-the-odds of Australia's greatest Antarctic explorer, according to a new book on Douglas Mawson."
- The West Australian
"An Antarctic Affair uses biographies, letters, diaries and telegrams to illustrate aspects of the explorer’s character which determined his survival. While Paquita is a presence in the tale, she is far from a central one…this tale, with all its gory details (the men had to eat their loyal huskies and there is speculation about cannibalism) paints a vivid picture."
- Bookseller and Publisher
"An enduring love for his young fiancee was one of the factors that contributed to the survival-against-the-odds of Australia's greatest Antarctic explorer, according to a new book on Douglas Mawson.
An Antarctic Affair, written by Mawson's great-granddaughter Emma McEwin, is largely based on letters exchanged between Mawson and his teenage bride-to-be, Paquita Delprat, during his Antarctic expedition of 1911-14.
The letters, discovered by chance in the 1990s during a valuation of his paper estate, shed a new light on Mawson the scientist and explorer, McEwin says.
"
- The Age (online)
"A book all Australians should read...and I must add just before you go that they're great photos too.. Emma McEwin I hope this book sells well as it deserves to. It's a great Australian story and we should embrace our history more."
- Charles Wooley, Macquarie Southern Cross Media (radio)
"Using these letters as the basis of her story, Emma McEwin, Mawson's great-granddaughter, has told the story of her remarkable forebear with the benefit of family knowledge and intimate family anecdotes."
- nonfiction review section, The Sydney Morning Herald
"..it is very romantic which is pretty rare amongst Antarctic explorers...right at the extremes of existence we find out a little bit about a great love story.."
- Tim Noonan, ABC 891 (South Australia)
"Douglas Mawson's extraordinary survival trek, alone in the Antarctic wilderness in 1912, is a well-known story. But in An Antarctic Affair his experiences on that fateful expedition are re-told from the perspective of his personal life; in particular his relationship with fiancee Paquita Delprat, who later became his wife of 44 years....excerpts from their letters and diaries reveal a relationship that remained strong and sustaining despite danger and distance. This is the poignant story of their long wait to be reunited."
- Australian Geographic
"Mawson didn't die tragically like Scott and Shackleton and could never lay claim to winning the race to reach the South Pole like Amundsen. But his contribution was no less than those of his fellow explorers and the story of his adventures no less captivating."
- The Canberra Times
"Our pick. Intrepid Australian explorer Sir Douglas Mawson's myth and legacy are explored in An Antarctic Affair by Emma McEwin."
- Brisbane News
"...largely based on letters exchanged between Mawson and his teenage bride-to-be, Paquita Delprat, during his Antarctic expedition of 1911-14. The letters, discovered by chance in the 1990s during a valuation of his paper estate, shed a new light on Mawson the scientist and explorer..."
- Daily Mercury
"Something for you...a fabulous adventure romance."
- Practical Parenting
"Mawson belonged to the heroic era of Antarctic exploration, at a time when giants like Robert Scott, Ernest Shackleton and Roald Amundsen risked their sanity and their lives to penetrate the frozen end of the earth. Unlike them, Mawson survivied to live a long life, dying a devoted husband and family man.."
- Burnie Advocate
"Antarctica is in Emma mcEwin's blood - but its ice has never touched her skin. As great-granddaughter of renowned Antarctic explorer Sir Douglas Mawson, however, she has travelled those icy lands in her mind's eye for most of her 38 years. In the past six years, she has made her own journey, one of archival exploration, the result of which is An Antarctic Affair, an intimate biography of her great-grandparents."
- Samela Harris, The Advertiser
"Sir Douglas Mawson's great-granddaughter, Emma McEwin, has written the story of the long relationship between Mawson and his wife, Paquita...Mawson is well known as the famous Antarctic explorer and eminent scientist but Emma McEwin says he was also a warm, romantic man with a deep love for his life partner Paquita...The Antarctic permeated their lives, even their wedding had an Antarctic theme, with an iceberg on the wedding cake and sugar penguins for the guests...I'm so glad you did this. It's humanised him for me..
"
- Richard Aedy, Life Matters
"PICK OF THE WEEK
A well written, informed portrait of a marriage that tested to the limits the notion of absence making the heart grow fonder."
- Camerone Woodhead, The Age
"There is a distinct physical resemblance between the 35-year-old McEwin and the fine, fox-like features of her great-grandfather. But that's where the similarities end. In fact, McEwin says the most adventurous thing she has done is climb Mt Snowdon "on a foggy day"."
- Hobart Mercury
"Emma McEwin's new book explores an Australian hero's true love."
- MX Sydney
"Antarctic explorer Sir Douglas Mawson has been eclipsed in fame by Shackleton and Scott but his story is still one of the great Australian adventures. It's been told before, but never with such a personal angle." "
- Sunday Telegraph
"...meticulously researched and beautifully written first book...combines a family love story with its gripping portrayal of Australia's Antarctic hero whose love for the frozen continent was matched only by his love for his Huguenot wife, Paquita Delprat."
- The Chronicle, Official Journal of the Huguenot Society of SA Inc
"It's one of the great did he or didn't he questions. For years it's been rumoured that cannibalism was the real reason that Douglas Mawson was the sole survivor of an epic 500 kilometre Antarctic trek in 1912....in the end Mawson walked the last 160 kilometres alone but not totally alone because he was deeply in love. His love for Paquita and her role in his survival has long fascinated his great-granddaughter, Emma McEwin. Now Mawson's great granddaughter has tackled the subject in a new book and she says it wasn't his companions that sustained Mawson but the power of love."
- Ian Henschke, Stateline (ABC TV)
"Emma’s book goes beyond just repeating what has already been written. She writes as a descendant and an insider to a family who for many generations will continue to be shaped by Douglas’ experiences and ultimately his safe return home...While marketed somewhat as a love story, An Antarctic Affair is perhaps more a tale of resilience, endurance and history with a strong theme about the power of love...Emma McEwin explores many other themes throughout her book. Intertwined with tales of endurance and survival, she touches on faith, loyalty, and human instinct, and always comments only as a third party. She analyses situations seemingly without bias and reveals Douglas as a strong and remarkable man, but a man nonetheless with weaknesses and flaws who was on occasion surrounded by controversy..."
- Sandhya Burton, Salisbury Library Service (SA)
"This compelling read constantly links the highlights and the tragedies of Mawson's expedition with his feelings for Paquita, who was then his fiancee, giving her the recognition she deserves as his greatest supporter. It is a true romance...For avid devourers of adventure stories and explorers' endeavours...it is also a marvellous reference book, with McEwin putting Mawson in polar and historical context by weaving in stories of other explorers and expeditions and providing a comprehensive appendix and index."
- The Independent Weekly (review section)
"Sir Douglas Mawson’s bold exploration of Antarctica is one of the great survival stories of the 20th century."
- http://www.etravelblackboard.com
"Emma McEwin, the great-grandaughter of Australian explorer, Douglas Mawson, has written a fascinating account about the adventurer's various sojourns to the Antarctic, as well as his family life...this is an insightful tribute to Mawson, the family man and explorer."
- Good Reading Magazine
"Part love story, part biography and part adventure, 'An Antarctic Affair' paints a thorough picture of Mawson's life."
- Herald Sun
"Sir Douglas Mawson’s bold exploration of Antarctica is one of the great survival stories of the 20th century."
- Gold Coast Sun
"While not short on scientific and historical detail, McEwin is able to humanise our appreciation of the man with family anecdotes, such as the time Mawson arrived at a lecture in complete polar outfit and proceeded to peel off layers throughout his address to reveal a dinner suit. An inspiring and educational read."
- SA LIfe
"Emma McEwin has written a great book about Mawson. She paints a warm and affectionate picture of our greatest polar explorer..McEwin is also able to separate the myths from the man and deal with the rumours of Mawson's supposed cannibalism in a dispassionate manner. It's an exciting read and a great tribute to the man who established much of Australia's claim to territory in the Antarctic."
- South Coast Register
"Love story, biography and adventure, "An Antarctic Affair" is a thorough picture of Mawson's life."
- Daily Telegraph