At the time of this book publication in 1950, the Antarctic was still largely being discovered. The books tells the reader everything they need to know about life up there, including the lives of the leopard seals, killer whales, and emperor penguins. Thomas Henry's love for polar exploration began when he was a child, and in 1946 - 1947 he accompanied Admiral Byrd on an expedition to the Antarctic, which subsequently gave him the knowledge and passion to write this book.