Description:
The Book Guild, 2002. 2002 First Edition. hardcover. 165pp, hardback, New in dustwrapper. A scarce title.. Swithinbank is the only Briton to have served with the Soviet Antarctic Expedition. From 1963 to 1965 he lived and worked a break at Russian stations in the far south.. Glacier Books are experienced and professional booksellers. We take pride in offering carefully described books and excellent customer service.
VODKA ON ICE: A Year with the Russians in Antarctica by Swithinbank, C - 2002
by Swithinbank, C
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VODKA ON ICE: A Year with the Russians in Antarctica
by Swithinbank, C
- Used
- Hardcover
- first
The Book Guild, UK, 2002. First Edition. Hardcover (Original Cloth). Near Fine Condition/Near Fine. 1st Edition; ix, 165 pages, illustrated with b/w and colour photographs, maps. Original covers in unclipped dust jacket. Previous neat owners inscription on front end paper otherwise contents clean, appears unread. Charles Swithinbank, a British exchange scientist, joins the Soviet 1964-65 Antarctic programme, the first British scientist to do so. For an insight to the thinking of the Russians at that time a better choice in Charles Swithinbank could not have been made. He quickly joins in all the activities, tractor driving, discharging ships and all chores associated with a polar expedition on ship or on shore. He has a knack of getting expedition members to talk freely of themselves, their life at home, their ambitions and even their political views, and this, the time of the cold war, was something very rarely done.To get to his base at Novolazarevskaya, Swithinbank travels in the Soviet ships, Estonia and Ob, and flies in Lisunovs of various classes.The reader is quickly made aware of the flexible safety standards applying then, and the often reckless tractor journeys undertaken with little regard to simple precautions.Throughout the book it is the personnel that Swithinbank gets to respect profoundly, men with long experience in the Arctic whose skills often turn a situation of concern into a moment of joy. Perhaps this is best illustrated by a passage taken from the text.".. One of the 20 tonne sledges had become frozen to the snow and could not be moved. Liosha put several sticks of dynamite under one runner and lit a length of quarry fuse. We retreated some distance before a colossal explosion shattered the runner and tossed heavy shards of steel high into the air. Many pieces fell among us. Glancing around first to check that nobody was injured, our little group collapsed in fits of laughter. The sledge however, was now unusable."In the course of his journey Swithinbank visits Mirny and Molodezhnaya stations noting much of interest at both. He records the various standards of food on the ships and at the bases, the ships coming a poor second.Through it all he teaches English where possible and learns Russian in return. His ability to 'join in" makes him a popular figure among the base staff who quickly warm to him and his sense of humour. The British were well served by this man at the time.The endless ability of the Russians to make alcohol, sometimes from sources not normally thought of having that ability continues to interest him.The consumption of such is astounding. A group of doctors produced a drink and apologised for it being only 40% alcohol. Great reading. This is the first UK edition. Quantity Available: 1. Shipped Weight: Under 1 kilogram. Category: Arctic & Antarctic; Exploration. ISBN: 1857766466. ISBN/EAN: 9781857766462. Pictures of this item not already displayed here available upon request. Inventory No: 3732. . 9781857766462
- Bookseller Polar Books (GB)
- Format/Binding Hardcover (Original Cloth)
- Book Condition Used - Near Fine Condition
- Jacket Condition Near Fine
- Quantity Available 1
- Edition First Edition
- Binding Hardcover
- ISBN 10 1857766466
- ISBN 13 9781857766462
- Publisher The Book Guild
- Place of Publication UK
- Date Published 2002
- Keywords BZDB349 polar, expedition, antarctic. Arctic & Antarctic; Exploration. Unbranded ISBN: 1857766466 EAN: 9781857766462 Swithinbank, C VODKA ON ICE: A Year with the Russians in Antarctica.
We have 3 copies available starting at £28.00.
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different
Vodka On Ice. A Year with the Russians in Antarctica.
by Swithinbank Charles
- Used
- Hardcover
- first
- Condition
- 165pp, hardback, New in dustwrapper. A scarce title.
- Edition
- 2002 First Edition
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9781857766462 / 1857766466
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Pitlochry, Perth and Kinross, United Kingdom
- Item Price
-
£28.00£16.00 shipping to
Show Details
Item Price
£28.00
£16.00
shipping to
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different
Vodka On Ice. A Year with the Russians in Antarctica.
by Swithinbank Charles
- Used
- Hardcover
- first
- Condition
- 165pp, hardback, New in dustwrapper. A scarce title.
- Edition
- 2002 First Edition
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9781857766462 / 1857766466
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Pitlochry, Perth and Kinross, United Kingdom
- Item Price
-
£28.00£16.00 shipping to
Show Details
Description:
The Book Guild, 2002. 2002 First Edition. hardcover. 165pp, hardback, New in dustwrapper. A scarce title.. Swithinbank is the only Briton to have served with the Soviet Antarctic Expedition. From 1963 to 1965 he lived and worked a break at Russian stations in the far south.. Glacier Books are experienced and professional booksellers. We take pride in offering carefully described books and excellent customer service.
Item Price
£28.00
£16.00
shipping to
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different
Vodka On Ice. A Year with the Russians in Antarctica.
by Swithinbank Charles
- Used
- Hardcover
- first
- Condition
- 165pp, hardback, New in dustwrapper. A scarce title.
- Edition
- 2002 First Edition
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9781857766462 / 1857766466
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Pitlochry, Perth and Kinross, United Kingdom
- Item Price
-
£28.00£16.00 shipping to
Show Details
Description:
The Book Guild, 2002. 2002 First Edition. hardcover. 165pp, hardback, New in dustwrapper. A scarce title.. Swithinbank is the only Briton to have served with the Soviet Antarctic Expedition. From 1963 to 1965 he lived and worked a break at Russian stations in the far south.. Glacier Books are experienced and professional booksellers. We take pride in offering carefully described books and excellent customer service.
Item Price
£28.00
£16.00
shipping to