The real story of one of the greatest explorers who ever lived by the man described by the Guinness Book of Records as "the world's greatest living explorer".<br /><br /><br /><br />This is a very good book. It's not a novel or a pseudo-novel it's very definitely a well researched biography; Ranulph Fiennes has read 112 books on Scott (and gawd knows how much incidental stuff) in researching this book. Fiennes also draws on his own awesome polar exploration experiences to confirm facts or put things into perspective. Fiennes' narrative is punctuated by frequent quotes from Scott's crew and contemporaries and I sometimes found it a little confusing trying to keep up with the people involved.<br /><br />Sounds heavy? Perhaps a little (because it's not a novel) but it's very definitely compelling reading!<br /><br />
<br /><br />Robert Falcon Scott, Scott of the Antarctic, Captain Robert Scott C.V.O. K.C.B. RN<br /><br />Heard of him? If so what do you know, what picture does his name evoke in your mind's eye?<br /><br /><br />I have read elsewhere that:<br /><br />"
Though Robert Falcon Scott was not born until 1868, the most insightful and succinct description of his career may have been written in the 16th century, when Shakespeare observed that "some men are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.<br /><br />Robert Scott was of the third sort."" Bruce Heydt
Robert Falcon Scott<br /><br />The subtitle to Heydt's article is "
Robert Falcon Scott, the Antarctic pioneer, headed south to make sure that Britain won the race to the South Pole"<br /><br /><br />This, in some respects summarises contemporary opinion. It certainly summarises, if I'd ever been asked, what would have said about the man. I would also add "beaten in
the race because he made mistakes and was ill-equipped"<br /><br /><br />Nothing could be further from the truth, absoutely nothing.<br /><br />The only thing that is true is Scott's was the second expedition to reach the South Pole. But his expedition and means of achieving his goals and the magnitude of his achievemment far outstrips the achievements of Roald Amundsen, who was the first to reach the south pole.<br /><br />Roald Amundsen was a superb polar explorer, of that there is no doubt. In 1910 it seems he was mightily peeved that he had failed to become the first man to reach the North Pole, which had been his objective for some time. It was also the objective that, in 1910, he was preparing for - at least as far as his patron (the guy who added the weight of "the establishment" behind Amundsen's exploration), his government who's ship he was using and all of his sponsors were concerned. Amundsen sailed in 1910, the same year as Scott, and headed south, not north, and announced his intentions to try for the South Pole from the island of Maderia. At the same time Scott was en route from Cape Town to New Zealand. Amundsen's only objective was to be the first to plant a flag at the south pole, period.<br /><br />Plans had been in the making for two years. Amundsen for his objective of reaching the pole and nothing else. Scott for a scientific expedition that would also aim for the (south) pole. Amundsen headed for the South Pole, took two photos on the way (1200 miles??), draughted no maps, and did no other research. Scott and his team mapped, collected rock samples, biological samples, took photos, drew sketches and much else besides.<br /><br />Scott made then first polar flight ...and nearly killed himself... in a balloon.<br /><br />My previous awareness of Scott was that he "failed because he didn't take [sled] dogs"; I was wrong, he did, and Manchurian ponies, and caterpillar-tracked vehicles that they'd spent 2 years making, and he took people.<br /><br />Fiennes makes it clear that Scott considered everything on it's merits and was prepared to give everything a chance - choosing the best tools for the job.<br /><br /><br /><br />The bottom line is pretty much two-fold:<br /><br />1.) Scott's team experienced appalling weather conditions - the severity of which was out of the ordinary. a fact that has been confirmed by recent research to have not been experienced again in 38 years subsequent to Scott's expedition. (Amundsen, some several hundred miles away did not experience particularly "bad" weather.)<br /><br />2.) Scott's physical endurance and capabilities were phenomenal - he achieved has greatness by virtue of his own abilities, rather than "
having it thrust upon him". It is true he was selected to lead the expedition (why was that?) but it is a measure of his organisational and man-management skills and physical stamina, matched but not bettered by his companions, that he achieved so much.<br /><br />And it was pure bad luck with prolonged appalling weather that lead to his death.<br /><br /><br />
Amazon Books<br /><br />"Synopsis<br />Sir Ranulph Fiennes is uniquely qualified to write a new biography of Captain Scott. This is the first biography of Scott by someone who has experienced the deprivations, the stress and the sheer physical pain that Scott lived through; he has suffered all but the final tragedy endured by the much maligned Scott. He is determined to put the record straight. As well as being the definitive biography of Scott, written with the full and exclusive cooperation of the Scott Estate, this book traces the way that Scott's reputation has been attacked and his achievements distorted."<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />If you don't want to read the book but ant to know more about Scott, read the Wikipedia entry for him:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Falcon_Scott<br /><br /><br />C.V.O.;
Commander of the Royal Victorian Order<br />K.C.B.;
Knight Commander of the Bath<br />
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