“Much more than just a gripping adventure story, SOLO is also hugely inspiring.”
Sir Ranulph Fiennes

“A marvellous account of a remarkable journey”
Fergus Fleming (author of Barrow's Boys)

“His account of the trek makes for tense and, at times, moving reading. In part, this is because of the extraordinary nature of his journey, but it is also because he sets it within the context of his life, sharing stories of his childhood, his training and how his father's death, his marriage and the birth of his children all helped provide him with the motivation to drag himself over the ice.”
Sunday Times - Book of the Week

“Hadow has showed that the Edwardian spirit of adventure displayed by Shackleton and Scott is still very much alive today.”
The Times

“An impressive testament to the power of positive thinking.”
Mail on Sunday

“Like many books recounting adventures that are practically unthinkable for the rest of us, SOLO is compulsive reading. Yet Hadow does not rush to tell his tale. His reflective prose reveals the inner turmoil that accompanies such dedication to a task which requires leaving behind a loving partner and two young children. His determination and practical planning blend with bemusement at the fact that he simply cannot rest until he achieves this challenge. Ultimately, reaching the North Pole unaided is almost as much about Hadow ridding himself of his driving demons as it is about fulfilling a deathbed vow to his father and accomplishing an unprecedented feat.”
Times Literary Supplement

“His book is straightforward and engaging and interesting not only for the practical details of how one stays alive in horrendous conditions, but also for the light it sheds on the commercial side of heroic adventures.”
Spectator

“He's going to announce his plans in the middle of next year. For now, SOLO gives a good introduction to the mind of a man who has earned the nickname ‘The Human Icebreaker'.”
Esquire

“Riveting stuff … you find yourself willing him on.”
Benedict Allen, The Independent

“Hadow is at his best when writing about the desolate Arctic – his descriptions of sunrise and sunset and the delicate tones of a baby polar bear's fur are magical. It's a wonderful moment when the Arctic finally allows this man to reach 90N.”
Geographical

“An inspirational new writing talent has emerged through the pages of SOLO by Pen Hadow, one of the world's leading polar explorers. Hadow goes where others fear to tread, guiding us with warmth, intelligence, and gentle humour through moments of despair and exhilaration as he risks all that is most dear to him in pursuit of his dream.”
Ski & Board

“Pen is a good humoured fellow who tells a fantastic story.”
Western Morning News

“A book for anyone who has ever dardd to dream of grand adventures, this astonishing account bears proof of what one person can achieve.”
Devon Today

“Arctic ordeal of the ‘Human Icebreaker' – gruelling solo trek to the North Pole earned him a place in history”
The Weekly News

“Solo and unrepentant. When Pen Hadow reached the North Pole in 2003 he entered the record books as the first person to achieve the feat solo and unsupported from the Canadian side. But in his recently published book SOLO, it's clear it wasn't about the record – it was personal…”
Outdoor Enthusiast

“It was easy to see how he has inspired and motivated people from disparate walks of life to push themselves to the limits of what they can personally achieve, as well as to the very outer edges of the earth.”
Eastbourne Gazette

“The Last Great Polar Explorer?”
Dundee Courier

“There is a strong sense that he was playing for more than just the satisfaction of doing a job and doing it well. Readers will have to ponder upon the reasons for his comment, when he reached the North Pole after a 64-day lonely trek, a ‘totally unexpected realisation starbursted into my head – I was free.' In any case, SOLO is a rich and satisfying book on more than one level.. Readers will meet a real and complex man. These tales inspire us that given energy, determination and uncommon courage; we might just achieve our most ambitious goals.”
The Harrovian