Robert Falcon Scott led an expedition to the Antarctic aboard a ship named Discovery, which resulted in the successful charting of Antarctic lands, and a series of scientific discoveries.

Scott's account is meticulously consistent in its detail, commencing with a history of preceding explorations and accounts of Antarctica. Scott then delves into the planning phase of the Discovery expedition, including the design and construction of the ship itself, the selection and training of the crewmates, and the plan on where to venture and investigate upon first reaching the southerly continent. The initial stage of the journey took the crew to New Zealand, before they continued to the icy and perilous lands of the Antarctic.

The expedition met with success, with the Discovery penetrating toward the South Pole. Although the Pole itself proved too difficult to reach, the crew managed to chart various regions of the frigid lands of the Antarctic, while successfully carrying out a series of scientific researches which would stimulate interest among researchers worldwide. For transport, the team invented a type of sledging - the successful use of this method is described in the later chapters.

This book contains several photographs and charts, which serve to further enhance the narrative.