The Books on
Tom Crean

The standalone account of Tom Crean's life and career was written by Tim Foley. After submission to the Royal Irish Academy, Foley's research materials and primary sources led to substantial revisions of the article entry for Tom Crean in the Dictionary of Irish Biography — the most comprehensive and authoritative biographical reference work for Ireland, produced in partnership with Cambridge University Press.

The book chronicles periods of Tom Crean's life that were never previously explored, such as the pre-Antarctic naval assignments that took him to the Americas and to Australia. Tom Crean's return to a world at war after three expeditions to Antarctica, and his life in retirement during a turbulent time in Irish history, are also, for the first time, fully documented. A number of inaccuracies that had entered the storyboard of Tom Crean from previous accounts were identified and corrected.

Crean: The Extraordinary Life of an Irish Hero is internationally available through a host of reputable booksellers operating on the high street and online — including Merrion Press, Amazon, Eason and Barnes & Noble. See the buy links above.

The book was specifically written for young children between 6 and 11 years old, yet feedback has revealed that some adults have found it to be an educational and entertaining introduction to the story of Tom Crean.

Yes. Tom The Mighty Explorer is expertly narrated in a warm and entertaining fashion by Michael Ryan. It is the only children's audiobook about Tom Crean, complete with sound effects, and is available via Audible.

In an era when a person's importance was determined by their class, Tom Crean — unlike the expedition leaders he served under — was born into abject poverty where the expectations were no greater than mere survival. The magnitude of what he achieved during his three expeditions to Antarctica cannot be understated. Despite amazing acts of unparalleled bravery in the coldest, most inhospitable environment on earth, his story was lost to the history books. His contribution to the exploration of Antarctica as one of the pioneers who set foot upon the ice and ventured into its interior on missions that proved vital to our knowledge of the continent was immense.

The Royal Irish Academy, after receiving Foley's entire research, deemed it necessary to alter the records they held about Crean and invited Foley as co-author of the entry for Crean in the Dictionary of Irish Biography. Foley was subsequently invited to write further articles for the Royal Irish Academy and for the Royal Society. Renowned historian Dan Snow credited Tim Foley's work as the source for his History Hit podcast episode dedicated to Tom Crean. Dr. Jennifer FitzGerald, retired Senior Lecturer at Queen's University Belfast, described the biography as "a carefully documented, well-organized volume that offers the reader a full and gripping history of an unassuming Irishman whose extraordinary deeds put into practice a humanity and generosity which saved the lives of his comrades, lightening the darkest of times with courage and cheerfulness."

A deeply personal foreword was written by Julian Evans, grandson of Lieutenant Evans, whose life Tom Crean saved after his remarkable solo march across the Antarctic ice. For this selfless and heroic act, Crean was awarded the Albert Medal for bravery in July 1913. Julian Evans wrote: "…as Tim Foley explains in this excellent account of Tom Crean's extraordinary endeavours, Tom Crean's legacy is a testament to the human spirit."