Michael Smith (born 1946) is a British author and journalist specialising in the history of polar exploration.
Early life
Michael Smith was born in 1946 and raised in London.
Career
Smith began writing about Antarctic and Arctic exploration after a successful career as an award-winning journalist in London. He was twice named Industrial Journalist of the Year (1987 and 1992). He is a Life Member of the
National Union of Journalists.
From 1978–1989, Smith worked at ''
The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper
A newspaper is a periodical publication containing written information about current events and is often typed in black ink with a white or gray background.
Newspapers can cover a wide ...
'' as an industrial editor, political correspondent and transport editor. From 1990–91 he worked at ''The Standard'' as a city editor. From 1992–95 he worked at ''The Observer'' (1992–95) as industrial editor and business editor.
Michael Smith's first book, ''An Unsung Hero - Tom Crean'' was a notable success when first published in 2000 and became the No 1 best-selling non-fiction book in Ireland. The biography of
Tom Crean was responsible for raising awareness of the role played by Irishmen in the history of Polar exploration. A subsequent adaptation of the book for children (Tom Crean - Iceman) led to the story of Tom Crean being included on the national curriculum in Irish schools. Michael Smith has also written biographies of Captain
Lawrence Oates
Lawrence Edward Grace "Titus" Oates (17 March 188017 March 1912) was a British army officer, and later an Antarctic explorer, who died from hypothermia ,
Sir James Wordie and
Francis Crozier. He also chronicled the role of lesser known Irish explorers, including
Edward Bransfield
Edward Bransfield (c. 1785 – 31 October 1852) was an Irish sailor who became an officer in the British Royal Navy, serving as a master on several ships, after being impressed into service in Ireland at the age of 18. He is noted for his pa ...
,
Patrick Keohane,
Robert Forde and
Tim and Mortimer McCarthy. Michael Smith's biography of Sir Ernest Shackleton was published in October 2014. Michael Smith has appeared in a number of television factual documentaries. He also wrote and presented a series about Irish explorers for RTE Radio. Michael Smith has lectured extensively. Venues include: Athy Heritage Museum, Athy; Seamus Ennis Cultural Centre, Naul; National Maritime Museum, Cornwall; National Museum of Ireland, Dublin; Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Pitlochry; Queen's Gallery, Buckingham Palace, London; Queen's University, Belfast; Royal Geographical Society, London; Stables Theatre, Hastings; University College, Cork; White-Oates Museum, Selborne.
Books
* ''An Unsung Hero – Tom Crean'', (The Collins Press; Hodder Headline; The Mountaineers Press), 2000
* ''I Am Just Going Outside – Captain Oates – Antarctic Tragedy'' (The Collins Press; Spellmount) 2002
[ Review]
* ''Polar Crusader – A Life of Sir James Wordie'' (Birlinn) 2004
* ''Tom Crean – An Illustrated Life'' (The Collins Press) 2006
* ''Captain Francis Crozier - Last Man Standing?'' (The Collins Press) 2006
* ''Great Endeavour – Ireland's Antarctic Explorers'' (The Collins Press) 2008
* ''Shackleton - By Endurance We Conquer'' (The Collins Press and Oneworld Publications)2014
Children's books
* ''Tom Crean – Iceman'' (The Collins Press) 2003
* ''Shackleton – The Boss'' (The Collins Press) 2004
Contributory author
* ''Shackleton – The Antarctic and Endurance'' (Dulwich College) 2001
References
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Michael
Living people
1946 births
British writers