Richards was a member of Shackleton’s Trans-Antarctic Expedition, but who joined the Ross Sea party sent to lay depots in advance of Shackleton’s crossing. Unlike Shackleton’s Endurance team, the Ross Sea party lost three men. Richards’ book, with Joyce’s The South Polar Trail, were the only two accounts by members of the party. This volume was the second of SPRI’s special publications, and is uncommon.