A comparison of the scenery, underlying physical structure and ecology of the Arctic and Antarctic Circles, describing the mammals and birds found in each region and explaining the various evolutionary developments that have allowed them to adapt their lives to ensure survival in such environments. There is an examination of the history and discovery of the polar regions, including the epic voyages and treks of great explorers such as Ross, Nansen and Peary in the North and Shackleton, Scott and Amundsen in the South. The origins of the Inuit peoples are described revealing their inert ability to live in harmony with the savage environment and in contrast the book highlights the threat from mechanical man, an outsider in these natural wildernesses. It includes the wider implications of the destruction of the ozonre layer, the "greenhouse effect"and the damage done by oil spillage. The photographers, a father and son team produced "Eric Hosking's Birds of Prey" and "Eric Hosking's Owls".