BEYOND THE BARRIER: THE STORY OF BYRD'S FIRST EXPEDITION TO ANTARCTICA by Eugene Rodgers

BEYOND THE BARRIER was published by the Naval Institute Press
as a hardback in 1990, and as a quality paperback of the
Press's Bluejacket series in 1997.  The nonfiction book has
354 pages, photographs, detailed bibliography, and index.
Retail price (only the paperback is in print):  $17.95.
Books may be ordered at any bookstore.  ISBN:  hardback,
0-87021-022-X; paperback, 1-55750-713-9.

The publisher's copy for the hardback's dustjacket follows:

"This book is, quite simply, the most important work yet
written about America's legendary polar explorer Admiral
Richard E. Byrd.  Until now, scholars have had to rely on
sources of questionable objectivity resulting from the
protective influence of Byrd's heirs and friends, or, in some
cases, from pressure exerted by the admiral himself.  For
this study, however, the author consulted Byrd's private
papers, recently opened at Ohio State University.  And
Eugene Rodgers has made full use of them to write a
scrupulously honest account of Byrd's 1928 expedition to
Antarctica.  It is the first time the true story of the
admiral's celebrated accomplishments has come to light.
It is also the first time the man behind the legend has been
revealed.

"The story, as recounted here, rivals any fictional adventure
tale.  Byrd and his men encountered extreme dangers and
endured severe hardships to claim a series of unprecedented
achievements:  the first flight over the South Pole; the
discovery of vast new territory; the pioneering use of
airplanes, long-range radio communications, and
snowmobiles; and ground-breaking scientific studies.

"Without descrediting the expedition's success or Byrd's
leadership, this book makes clear that the admiral was not
the saintly hero he and the press depicted, nor was the
expedition without its problems.  Interviews with surviving
members of the expedition and extensive use of their
diaries, letters, and unpublished manuscripts, together with
the material uncovered in Byrd's private papers, have
enabled the author to provide significant new facts.
Rodgers shows the admiral was not the outstanding
navigator he claimed to be, and that his pilots usually had
to find their way by dead reckoning.  He gives evidence
that Byrd was not on the actual flight that discovered Marie
Byrd Land, contrary to long-standing claims.  He reveals a
crisis over drunkenness among the men, including Byrd.  He
describes the admiral's fear of mutiny and his efforts to
protect his leadership.  He reports the admiral's rewriting
of news stories from the pole to embellish his own image."

Comments printed on the back of the dustjacket:

"A superb analysis."--Clark Reynolds, naval historian.

"Beyond the Barrier is the very best book to date on
Antarctica and Richard Byrd.  Nothing can match it in breadth,
scope, and coverage....Eugene Rodgers has thoroughly
researched the subject, and his scrupulously objective,
unvarnished view of Byrd makes a significant contribution to
polar history."--Lisle Rose, polar historian.

Excerpts From Reviews--

KIRKUS REVIEWS:  "Superb....Brilliantly researched....This is
heady, revolutionary polar history."

NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW:  "(It) sparkles with
adventure....Mr. Rodgers skillfully recapitulates the
evidence....As exciting as it is scholarly."

WASHINGTON POST BOOK WORLD:  "(A) pathbreaking book...The
flying scenes alone are worth the price of this concise,
well-paced book...Rodgers makes his story balanced ... yet
exciting.  He sketches the other dimensions of his story
skillfully, and writes equally well about the beautiful
Antarctic landscape and the slime in the camp kitchen."

BOSTON GLOBE:  "(A) fascinating book....(The book) is,
above all, fair minded.  Rodgers has produced...a balanced,
scholarly yet highly readable narrative....(A) fine book."

RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH:  "Eugene Rodgers has
produced a well-written, fascinating and provocative book...a
balanced account...Rodgers's efforts at fair-mindedness
deserve praise...(it) is an enjoyable book, a marvelous
adventure story, a major contribution to American history,
and a thought-provoking examination of heroes and hero-making."

TRENTON TIMES:  "Rodgers does a superb job in building
and keeping interest....A tale rewarding and thrilling."

THE BOOK READER:  "Simply the best book on Byrd's
1928 expedition.  The research here is staggering, with small
details woven masterfully into the grand vision that was the
Antarctic exploration...Byrd, in all his uncertainties, in the
rigidity of his personality, comes through magnificently...
Here is the account other books will have to go along way to
beat...Author Rodgers has created a rare, truthful version of
history."

BOOKLIST:  "(An) outstanding volume...This is both a major
addition to the history of American polar exploration and
proof that a revisionist biography can still be done to the
highest standards of scholarship and readability."

AMERICAN HISTORICAL REVIEW:  "Certainly the definitive
account of Byrd's first expedition to Antarctica, and a
high-water mark for expedition histories."

REGISTER OF THE KENTUCKY HISTORICAL SOCIETY:  "This is
undoubtedly the definitive biography of (Byrd)." 

Chapter Descriptions--

Chapter 1  Biography of Byrd until he begins planning for
antarctic expedition, including his arctic expedition, North
Polar flight, and transatlantic race (won by Lindbergh).

Chapter 2  Planning and preparing until death of Floyd
Bennett, second in command.

Chapter 3  Planning and preparing from Bennett's death
until expedition departs.

Chapter 4  Tales about the voyages of the four ships carrying 
the expedition:  a windjammer and a former minesweeper
belonging to Byrd, and two whalers that volunteered to help.

Chapter 5  Constructing the base camp, Little America, and
making a sledge trip to lay depots for future operations.

Chapter 6  The first flights, which discover the
Rockefeller Mountains and Marie Byrd Land.  Byrd takes credit
for Marie Byrd Land discovery, made by others.  Geological
party loses plane in Rockefeller Mountains and has to be
rescued.

Chapter 7  How the 42 men lived cooped up together during the
perpetual darkness and killing cold of winter .

Chapter 8  Events of the winter, including drunken parties,
practical jokes, beating of an uncooperative member of the
party, rift between Byrd and the N.Y. TIMES reporter with
the party, Byrd's establishment of a secret society of
loyalists, conflict between Byrd and his chief pilot, and
announcement by another explorer, Hubert Wilkins, that
he would arrive in Antarctica to compete with Byrd.

Chapter 9  Sledging to lay depots, beginning of major sledge
trip for geological exploration, conflict between Byrd and
geological party, firing of reporter and re-instatement.

Chapter 10  Plane rehearsing South Polar flight forced to
land when it runs out of gas in air, Byrd and crew make
history's first flight over South Pole.

Chapter 11  On a flight, Byrd discovers Edsel Ford
Mountains.

Chapter 12  Adventures of geological sledge party.

Chapter 13  Scientists investigate antarctic phenomena.

Chapter 14  Late thaw of sea ice threatens to maroon
expedition another year, discontent and grumbling among
members threaten unity, Byrd desperately seeks help of
powerful whaling ships to break through, ice melts and
expedition departs on own.

Chapter 15  Adventures on the homeward voyages of Byrd's
ships, big celebrations when they arrive.

Chapter 16  Byrd and his men resume ordinary lives and
careers, give lectures and write books, star in Paramount
documentary on expedition.

Chapter 17  Byrd and chief scientist, Larry Gould, break
completely with each other over financing of scientific
reports, which are never published as a set.

Chapter 18  Evaluation of Byrd and his expedition.

Library of Congress categories:  Byrd Antarctic Expedition;
Byrd, Richard Evelyn.

Rodgers has had long experience writing about science and
technology.  He earned a B.S. in chemistry and an M.S. in
finance, completed course work toward an M.A. in the
history of science, and served in the University of
Wisconsin's apprenticeship program for science writers.  He
worked as a science writer in industry and government, and
spent two years as public information officer for the U.S.
Antarctic Research Program, including 10 months in
Antarctica.  Full biographies are in WHO'S WHO IN AMERICA and
CONTEMPORARY AUTHORS.

Rodgers will be glad to receive any comments or questions
about the book.