Return to Antarctica: The Amazing Adventure of Sir Charles Wright on Robert Scott's Journey to the South Pole

by Adrian Raeside (original_author)

Return to Antarctica marks the 100th anniversary of the Scott Expedition to the South Pole. The South Pole, one of the world's final - and most inhospitable - frontiers, had become the frantic obsession of British naval officer Robert Scott. Despite the heavy odds facing him - not the least of which were a lack of money and necessary equipment, and his own inflated sense of his skill as a leader - Scott gathered together an eclectic group of naval personnel and scientists, including one Canadian, Charles Seymour "Silas" Wright, and in 1910 sailed from London for the Antarctic in the overloaded and leaking ex-sealing vessel Terra Nova . Halfway through the rough passage to the Antarctic, Scott got word that his nemesis - rival explorer Norwegian Roald Amundsen - was also making a run for the Pole. What started out as a stroll to the South Pole became a desperate race between two very determined and different men. Return to Antarctica transports the reader to the very time and place of the Scott expedition through the eyes of Charles Wright, as told by Adrian Raeside, who grew up with his grandfather's personal stories from the expedition. In the Antarctic summer of 2008-2009, Raeside travelled to Antarctica to retrace his grandfather's footsteps and to gain perspective on a daring adventure of a hundred years ago that challenged the explorers' courage, resilience and sanity. Raeside's unique storytelling, supported by startling revelations from previously unpublished accounts, drawings and photographs, does admirable justice to the legacy of the men who literally followed Robert Scott to the end of the Earth.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

336 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2009

Reviews

[George Ilsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author’s grandfather and great-uncle were part of the notorious Scott expedition to Antarctica in 1911. The author tried to add on a layer of memoir by travelling by ship to a couple of the locations — this journey did not contribute very much to the book. I would rather have heard more of the history of the objects Raeside mentions; a fossil and a watch now apparently on his desk.

Very hard to get into this text because the author at first uses a very jokey juvenile tone at odds with the serious exploration. Checked his bio and, well, he’s a famous cartoonist. That creative aspect should have been put aside for this project. As well, there are many sidebars and boxes, some of which merely repeat the text or add something discursive and irrelevant (and sometimes something very interesting—I guess it is hard to know). There were also many printing errors and typos, such as when the sled was described in a photo caption as being “too small” to fit into the house.

However, it was an ambitious heartfelt effort, and gives a voice to a couple of the quieter members of the expedition. I’ve read many books about the golden age of exploration in Antarctica and yet I did learn a few things from this account. There was a personal tone I appreciated, rather than the glorifying tenor of many other versions.

So 4 stars despite the project being slightly unfocused.

[Jean · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of Scott's trek to the South Pole has been told many ways, and this is another interesting view. The book's author is the grandson of Charles (Silas) Wright, who accompanied Scott almost to the pole but was not chosen among the final 4 to be with him on the last leg of the journey. The author not only has Silas's diaries, but also traveled to Antarctica to see the buildings where the polar parties overwintered near the shore. The insights from Silas's diaries give new perspectives on some of the personalities in the party. He also felt strongly that the whole operation was lacking adequate provisions. Since Silas never wrote a book (except about his scientific Antarctic work), this book contains one more person's interpretation of the events surrounding the deaths of Scott and his four companions on their way back from the pole. Every different view is useful in fleshing out the true story of that quest, particularly since the earlier books were highly "edited."

[Jill]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkqHw6...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IwLSGj...

Adrian Raeside is the editorial cartoonist for the Victoria Times-Colonist, and related to three of the individuals who went on this expedition over a hundred years ago.

[Saturn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very fascinating book that goes in-depth on Silas’ experience during the Terra Nova Expedition. Lots of photos I hadn’t seen before!

My new fav fun facts include:
-Silas and Griff Taylor faked cutting ice steps in the footage from A Great White Silence
-The sledging party shown near the end (from same film) comprises of Keohane, Cherry, Atch, Silas
-the sledgerunner bookcase

Loses a star for having incorrect and inaccurate information in some places
The text boxes were fun but they also distracted from the main story, and I felt they could have been utilized better