''Whalers of the Midnight Sun'' (1934) is an adventure novel for children by Australian author Alan J. Villiers, and illustrated by Charles Pont. It won the Children's Book of the Year Award: Older Readers in 1950 after it had been published in Australia for the first time by Angus and Robertson.

Plot outline

The novel follows the adventures of a fleet of seven ships in a Norwegian whaling expedition near the South Pole. The main characters of the book are a group of young boys who sign on for the expedition in Hobart, Tasmania.

Critical reception

Len Barker in ''The Argus'' noted: "Mr. Villiers interweaves a fascinating documentary account of modem whaling with the story of a group of Australian ragamuffins, signed on in Hobart by the whaling fleet as extra hands. I have never read a better description of the bitter Antarctic winter or the operations of a whaling fleet." A reviewer in ''The Age'' agreed with Barker's opinion: "Tragedy and ill-luck dog the expedition, but Mr. Villiers tells a wonderfully interesting and exciting story. His book will be one of the best you have read."

References

Australian children's novels 1934 Australian novels Novels set on ships CBCA Children's Book of the Year Award-winning works 1934 children's books Novels set in Antarctica Children's books set in Antarctica {{1930s-child-novel-stub

Plot outline

Critical reception

See also

References