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South Pole odyssey: Selections from the Antarctic diaries of Edward Wilson
From the back cover:
“Edward Wilson is one of the great figures of the heroic age of Antarctic exploration. He was a member, as zoologist and doctor, of both of Scott’s Antarctic expeditions, the Discovery in 1901 – 1904 and the Terra Nova in 1910-1913. He was one of those who died with Scott on the return journey from the South Pole early in 1912 and Scott, just before his own death, wrote a tribute that remains Wilson’s finest epitaph – “a brave, true man, the best of comrades and the staunchest of friends.”
SOUTH POLE ODYSSEY is based upon extracts from the diaries that Wilson kept on two historic Antarctic journeys – the i>Discovery expedition and the ultimately tragic expedition with Scott to the pole from the Terra Nova.
These diaries are a fascinating and close personal account of the Antarctic journeys and in particular of that heroic and final march to the pole. The diaries are of first importance to all those interested in the polar regions and the epic scale of human endeavour in exploration.”
“Edward Wilson is one of the great figures of the heroic age of Antarctic exploration. He was a member, as zoologist and doctor, of both of Scott’s Antarctic expeditions, the Discovery in 1901 – 1904 and the Terra Nova in 1910-1913. He was one of those who died with Scott on the return journey from the South Pole early in 1912 and Scott, just before his own death, wrote a tribute that remains Wilson’s finest epitaph – “a brave, true man, the best of comrades and the staunchest of friends.”
SOUTH POLE ODYSSEY is based upon extracts from the diaries that Wilson kept on two historic Antarctic journeys – the i>Discovery expedition and the ultimately tragic expedition with Scott to the pole from the Terra Nova.
These diaries are a fascinating and close personal account of the Antarctic journeys and in particular of that heroic and final march to the pole. The diaries are of first importance to all those interested in the polar regions and the epic scale of human endeavour in exploration.”
- GenresNonfiction
176 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1982
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May 11, 2016
The strangest account of polar exploration I have ever read. Really these are the diaries of Edward Wilson covering three separate journeys during his time in Antarctica.
First what is known as the Discovery exploration, which took Scott, Wilson and Shackleton somewhere around 82 degrees South and became the first extensive land exploration of the continent.
Second and a rather brief part of the book is a hair-raising mission in the dead of winter to retrieve some scientific samples of penguin embryos.
Third part is Wilson's diary of the Terra Nova expedition which took him and Scott to the South Pole.
It's certainly a good read side by side with another's account of those same events. But on its own it is strange because of the detached scientific way Wilson describes their progress, down playing or not even mentioning any mishaps and extreme hardships they were going through. If ever he makes a complaint about his health or their conditions you know it was really really bad.
Still, I very much enjoyed reading his point of view and can very well see why Scott insisted on having Wilson part of his Polar party. He must have been a delightful person.
Just as an example: the mid winter expedition (of only about 60 nautical miles that nearly well killed them) was later described by Wilson's assistant Apsley Cherry-Garrard as "The Worst Journey in the World". And yet on the day that all hell broke loose on them Wilson's diary entry starts by saying: "Quite the funniest birthday I have ever spent."
First what is known as the Discovery exploration, which took Scott, Wilson and Shackleton somewhere around 82 degrees South and became the first extensive land exploration of the continent.
Second and a rather brief part of the book is a hair-raising mission in the dead of winter to retrieve some scientific samples of penguin embryos.
Third part is Wilson's diary of the Terra Nova expedition which took him and Scott to the South Pole.
It's certainly a good read side by side with another's account of those same events. But on its own it is strange because of the detached scientific way Wilson describes their progress, down playing or not even mentioning any mishaps and extreme hardships they were going through. If ever he makes a complaint about his health or their conditions you know it was really really bad.
Still, I very much enjoyed reading his point of view and can very well see why Scott insisted on having Wilson part of his Polar party. He must have been a delightful person.
Just as an example: the mid winter expedition (of only about 60 nautical miles that nearly well killed them) was later described by Wilson's assistant Apsley Cherry-Garrard as "The Worst Journey in the World". And yet on the day that all hell broke loose on them Wilson's diary entry starts by saying: "Quite the funniest birthday I have ever spent."
Displaying 1 of 1 review