“Tahan’s analysis is an exceptional approach because it turns the attention away from a perception of Amundsen as ‘the man who beat Scott’. … Readers who are interested in the history of canines in the Antarctic will find this book more than satisfying. … The views and perceptions of Amundsen and other expedition members that Tahan depicts are revealing about the whole operation and will excite scholars in social sciences as well as psychologists.” (Ursula Rack, The Polar Journal, October 16, 2019) “... In dem vorliegenden Buch hat sie offenbar wirklich alles Wissenswerte über die Hunde zusammengetragen. ... Neben der Beschreibung der Hundeschicksale wird durch den Vergleich der einzelnen Tagebucheinträge der Teilnehmer auch ein detailliertes Bild von Amundsens spontanen Entscheidungen als Reaktion auf unvorhergesehene Ereignisse gegeben. ... hat die Autorin in diesem Buch wahrlich ein würdiges Denkmal gesetzt. Das Buch ist jedem zu empfehlen, der sich mit Amundsens Methode der Schlittenreisen näher auseinandersetzen möchte ...” (Cornelia Lüdecke, in: Polarforschung, 2021)“Mary R. Tahan’s books on polar expedition . . . are a welcomed addition to historical exploration scholarship and the animal studies field. . . . Tahan’s books focus on the interactions and intersectionality between people and nonhuman animals and how this connection spurred humankind forward in its survey of the South Pole. In a unique approach, Tahan’s research and materials center on the animals . . . By adding this aspect of the canines, she gives recognition to the significant role that animals played in this important part of history as well as the indispensable human–animal relationship needed for the Antarctic exploration. . . . In recent years . . . academics have increasingly argued that the inclusion of other voices such as women, native peoples, immigrants, and individuals of varied social class enhances historical accounts. Tahan’s books seek to take this onestep further and argue that the inclusions of nonhuman animals as agents will most certainly enrich historical data. The author certainly hits this mark, and these should be recommended books for anyone with an interest in nonhuman animals, exploration, or history.”‘(Nicholas Miller, Terrae Incognitae, March 23, 2022)’
