Edited by Ken Green and Eric Woehler
New South Wales: Surrey Beatty & Sons. 2006, ISBN 0-949324-98-1, 280 pp., paperback, AusD$77

Review by Charles H. Lagerbom

It is not every day that a polar book thoroughly and competently covers a wide-ranging field of topics about its particular subject. But a new book about Heard Island has done just that. Heard Island: Southern Ocean Sentinel, published by Surrey Beatty & Sons in Australia, is an excellent book that covers many aspects about this remote volcanic island. The book’s editors, Ken Green and Eric Woehler, both have extensive history and personal connections with the island and the book’s multi-faceted approach reflects this.

There are many reasons to like this book, from the colorful cover with its striking image of the smoking volcanic cone of Mawson’s Peak to the detailed fold-out map on the first page, to the itemized flora/fauna appendices and lengthy index. The true strength of the book, its overall comprehensiveness, is evident through the 15 different review chapters of its 280 pages, all authored by an extensive and diverse group of contributors, experts in their particular fields. Though the different chapters are written by a variety of authors, all present their information in an understandable and enjoyable format for any polar enthusiast. Whether one is interested in the island’s human occupation, its geology, glaciers, climate, flora or fauna, there is a well-written and authoritative section that covers it. Filled with many informative graphs, charts and photographic images (both color and black/white), each chapter also includes a helpful introduction and its own references section. The chapters on sealing and the island’s ANARE years were particularly interesting.

Heard Island: Southern Ocean Sentinel should be the model or template for such complete studies of any island, region or area, whether polar related or not. It will make a great addition to any polar library. The book is available through Surrey Beatty & Sons Pty Ltd. They can be reached at surreybeatty@iform.com.au