The Life of José María Sobral

Mary R. Tahan is a writer, producer, and documentarian, with a professional background in journalism and marketing. Internationally renowned for her educational and informational series, she has authored many scholarly articles and historical books, and produced/directed documentary films.

Foreword.- Preface.- Introduction.- Editor's Note.- Background on the Expedition.- Chapter 1 The Journey to Antarctica.- The First Winter at Snow Hill.- Chapter 2 The Second Winter at Snow Hill.- Chapter 3 The Third Winter at Snow Hill.- Chapter 4 Personal Recommendations, Historical Overview and Statistical Facts.- Chapter 5 The Rescue of All Three Parties of the Expedition by the Argentine Corvette "Uruguay" and the Return of the Expedition to Buenos Aires.- Chapter 6 Transcript of the Speech Delivered by Sobral to the Argentine Naval League.- List of Figures.

"The book provides commentary as well as access to Sobral's diary entries as he joins the first expedition to overwinter intentionally in Antarctica and unintentionally spend two successive winters there. ... It provides a glimpse of what Antarctica was like before human activity began to change it in an accelerating way, how our understanding of Antarctic animals and weather systems began to accumulate at first, and also something of the psychological progression of a person living in close quarters in an extreme environment for a long time. ... it becomes an engrossing [read]." (Steven A. Kolmes, Environment, Science and Policy for Sustainable Development, Vol. 62 (2), 2020)
"The contrast between [the] extraordinary environmental beauty, dedicated work, hardship and interpersonal struggle make this an absorbing book which would be of great use to readers interested in the Heroic Age of Antarctic exploration and to students of the period. Sobral's diary is an expression of the indomitability of the human spirit. It encapsulates the contemporary idea of Antarctica as a crucible, putting men to the ultimate test." (Patricia Millar, Polar Research, Vol. 38, 2019)