"A sensitive, empathetic, and measured biography." - Library Journal , starred review "A superb achievement. Wheeler's research is so deep and extensive, and her writing so compelling, that it is hard to imagine this biography will ever be superseded." -- Colin Thubron "Wonderful--witty, amazingly documented, and in its fluency and verve, worthy of its subject." -- Paul Theroux "Jan Morris is a fascinatingly elusive subject. She constantly tries to wriggle out of her biographer's grasp, but Sara Wheeler pursues her through every twist and turn and the result is a breathtakingly good read. Coherent, comprehensive and compulsive." -- Michael Palin "A masterly biography.

" -- Simon Jenkins "Compelling . leaves the reader with a visceral understanding of the mysterious, even sublime power the poles have exerted on the human imagination, and the desolate beauty that resides there amid the glaciers and icebergs and penguins." -- Michiko Kakutani, New York Times on Terra Incognita "Wheeler's fascinating, witty bio reveals her wonderful eye for telling details." -- Entertainment Weekly on Too Close to the Sun "Utterly fascinating . Wheeler has given us an important new understanding of the most notorious calamity in the annals of twentieth-century exploration. Cherry is a wonderful book." -- Jon Krakauer, author of Into Thin Air , on Cherry "Sara Wheeler's travel books are insightful accounts of intrepid journeys . There are wry observations, astute close-readings, scathing critiques of Putin's misrule, and numerous impressions on Russian quirks and foibles.

Gilding the whole proceedings is Wheeler's lyrical prose . We come away from this enthralling book wiser and happier--and with a pang or two of wanderlust." -- Malcolm Forbes, Minneapolis Star Tribune , on Mud and Stars.