Crane, David Scott of the Antarctic ISBN 13: 9780007150717

Scott of the Antarctic - Softcover

9780007150717: Scott of the Antarctic
View all copies of this ISBN edition:
 
 
Talking about one of Britain's greatest explorers, this biography reassesses Scott's life and his substantial scientific achievements. It aims to provide a different perspective on both the Discovery expedition of 1901-4 and the Terra Nova expedition of 1910-12, and also aims to reconcile the private struggles of the man with his public life.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

Review:

‘Moving...a balanced and gripping account...David Crane has written a fine biography of Scott, the flawed but timeless hero, and I read it all with pleasure.’ Guardian

‘He [Crane] has freed himself from the tyranny of the card index to let Scott live again as a man.’ Daily Telegraph

‘Compelling...impressive...moving...’ Sunday Telegraph

‘Crane’s exhilarating biography avoids the excesses of either approach, humanising the man without diminishing his epic endeavour. As the end nears, Crane turns to the men’s dignified accounts of their ordeal. It is as Scott prophesied: no heart could remain unstirred.’ Observer

‘The most balanced biography yet. Like Scott’s own writings, Crane’s stylish prose is a sheer pleasure.’ New York Times

From the Author:
Q and A with David Crane
How did you feel when you visited the Antarctic?
I was adamant that I didn’t go down to the Antarctic until I had been working on the book for a couple of years. I had been up to the Arctic the previous summer to get some experience of ice travel, but logistics and finance meant that the only way of getting to McMurdo Sound was courtesy of a Russian ice-breaker, which goes down twice a year as a cruise ship. It’s a curious mixture of unreconstructed Soviet technology and aesthetics with extraordinary five-star cuisine. It was wonderful in lots of ways but, at the same time, felt slightly obscene being down there on those terms. It’s a curious paradox – you’re going to what is probably the least-visited place in the world and you happen to be there on the same day as a hundred other people. And because you are also ruthlessly chaperoned every inch in case you go down a tiny crack in the ice, you end up thinking you could have had a more dangerous time in Oxford Street. I got slightly mutinous about the whole thing, which detracted from the pleasure of seeing the historic huts. Clearly they do touch people profoundly, but I was surprised to find that they didn’t move me in the way I had expected.

In terms of writing the book, though, I actually found the trip that three of us made to the Arctic much more useful. We flew up to the north of Baffin Island and just took off across the sea ice with skidoos and a sledge for four or five hundred miles, and if that hardly constitutes a Scott-like experience, it was a lot closer to it than a cruise ship and Viennese cooking in McMurdo Sound.
Scott said he never tired of the Antarctic landscape. Could you see what he meant?
Yes, Antarctic or Arctic, what is immensely impressive is the absence of any human scale by which to judge height or distance. It’s astonishing. No matter how many times you’ve read about it, you can’t grasp it until you realise you are looking at one mountain in one direction and another in the other and they might be 250 miles apart.

It’s also witlessly beautiful, if you see it under the right climatic conditions. It’s interesting that because of Ponting and Hurley we see the heroic age of polar expeditions in black and white, but actually it was the colour that seduced the explorers. The variations seem infinite. Hitting the pack for the first time is possibly the only boundary left on the planet – that absolute sense that you are entering a different world – and the colour is so exciting. I don’t think you could ever get blasé about that. What really impressed me about Scott, after I’d seen it for myself, was his ability to convey what an Antarctic landscape looked and felt like. He had this curious mixture of sensibility and scientific accuracy, which is so rare. Go up Observation Hill even now and you’ll see things through Scott’s eyes.
Did you in any way identify with Scott?
Absolutely not. I would rather saw off my foot than go to the South Pole. The only bits that don’t interest me are the bloody marches to the Pole – it’s one damn foot after another. On that Arctic journey I mentioned I was with two experienced sailors and it was fascinating to see at first hand just how essential all those skills I lacked are for survival on the ice. If I had been tempted by any kind of identification with Scott, a day with those sailors out on the ice was enough to make me realise that, if I was going to identify with anyone, it would have to be with the complete idiots who messed up everything. I went very badly snowblind for days and had to abandon my skidoo. I was brought back on one of their sledges in absolute agony. It was quite instructive in that sense. Ten minutes of that soon disabuses you of any vainglorious ideas that you might have been there with Scott and Shackleton, or that they might have wanted to have you.
What was the most moving moment in your research?
Oh, that’s a very easy answer. It was late in the afternoon at the Scott Polar Research Institute in Cambridge. It was ten minutes before it closed and I knew I didn’t have time for a big file of letters so I asked to see Wilson’s prayer book. I gave whatever the catalogue number was and this folder arrived. In it was the volume given to Wilson by his wife. It had lain with his body until the search party found him and brought it back. It’s a small, black book with beautifully neat pencil marks in the faintest, smallest hand. There are Wilson’s notes and annotations, certain passages of the psalms underlined, and lines in the margin. It is one of those unbearable documents. It’s very, very moving. At the beginning he’s written – I can’t remember the exact words, but good Protestant theology – that because Christ has died for us there is nothing more we need to do. That is the faith in which he died and by which he lived. To have in your hand the physical evidence of that faith is wonderfully touching. The literature of polar exploration is so dominated by either the Boys’ Own angle or questions of science that this offers an important corrective. Wilson’s prayer book wakes you up to a different culture, a different world, a different concept of humanity.
I like the way your book is peppered with references to English literature. Was this a self-conscious decision or do they just crop up?
It’s utterly un-self-conscious. I don’t go looking for a literary parallel, but don’t seem to be able to avoid them. It makes me realise how much one mediates one’s apprehension of the outside world through literature. That seems, at least, to be how I think, though probably it’s just laziness. It’s interesting too, that you hear literary echoes with Scott all the time. Take his Voyage of the ‘Discovery’, when he’s talking about the last sight of their families in England as they say farewell. It’s a beautifully gradated passage, but you know damn well – whether he does or not – that it’s a Captain Harville talking in Persuasion that lies behind it. You can tell, in fact, from day to day what Scott’s reading, whether it’s Shakespeare or Wordsworth. Little phrases keep creeping through. In his love letters to Kathleen he talks of being in the suburbs of her love. This is either a memory of reading Julius Caesar when he was twelve or he has just re-read it. England’s literary tradition is clearly there in everything he writes.
If you were to meet Scott and could ask him one question, what would it be?
You know what they wrote when the news came of Shelley’s death? ‘Now the atheist Shelley knows whether or not there is a God.’ There must be some such big question one ought to be able to ask Scott. He said in his last letter to his wife that he regretted nothing, but I suppose I would like to ask him whether, if he’d known the cost – not to himself, but to the four men who died with him – would he have pushed on? I suspect the answer would be yes. There are two kinds of explorers: the one who comes back a day early and the other who pushes on a half-day more, and Scott distinctly belonged to the second category. He should have been all right too, but his luck was seriously out. It’s curious that the only sense you ever get of any foreboding is the way in which he seems to erase himself from his son’s future. Even before he’s reached the Antarctic, his letters have that tenor, as if he never actually sees himself as part of his son’s life. But I think once he was in the South his self-confidence returned. A supplementary question would be: ‘When did you first realise you weren’t going to get back?’ I suspect he knew early on the return journey from the Pole that things were going to be pretty parlous.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

  • PublisherHarper Perennial
  • Publication date2006
  • ISBN 10 0007150717
  • ISBN 13 9780007150717
  • BindingPaperback
  • Number of pages496
  • Rating
Buy Used
Condition: Very Good
The book has been read, but is... Learn more about this copy

Shipping: £ 4.80
From United Kingdom to U.S.A.

Destination, rates & speeds

Add to Basket

Other Popular Editions of the Same Title

9781400031412: Scott of the Antarctic: A Life of Courage and Tragedy (Vintage)

Featured Edition

ISBN 10:  ISBN 13:  9781400031412
Publisher: Vintage, 2007
Softcover

  • 9780375415272: Scott of the Antarctic: A Life of Courage And Tragedy

    Alfred..., 2006
    Hardcover

  • 9780007150687: Scott of the Antarctic: A Life of Courage and Tragedy in the Extreme South

    Harper..., 2005
    Hardcover

  • 9780007450442: Scott of the Antarctic: The Definitive Biography

    Harper..., 2012
    Softcover

  • 9780007219650: Scott of the Antarctic: A Life of Courage, Leadership and Tragedy in the Ice

    Harper..., 2005
    Softcover

Top Search Results from the AbeBooks Marketplace

Stock Image

Crane, David
Published by HarperPerennial (2006)
ISBN 10: 0007150717 ISBN 13: 9780007150717
Used Paperback Quantity: 7
Seller:
WorldofBooks
(Goring-By-Sea, WS, United Kingdom)

Book Description Paperback. Condition: Very Good. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged. Seller Inventory # GOR001593760

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy Used
£ 2.20
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: £ 4.80
From United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

David Crane
Published by Harper Perennial 04/09/2006 (2006)
ISBN 10: 0007150717 ISBN 13: 9780007150717
Used Softcover Quantity: 1
Seller:
AwesomeBooks
(Wallingford, United Kingdom)

Book Description Condition: Very Good. This book is in very good condition and will be shipped within 24 hours of ordering. The cover may have some limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far. Money back guarantee if you are not satisfied. See all our books here, order more than 1 book and get discounted shipping. . Seller Inventory # 7719-9780007150717

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy Used
£ 3.36
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: £ 4.49
From United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

David Crane
Published by Harper Perennial 04/09/2006 (2006)
ISBN 10: 0007150717 ISBN 13: 9780007150717
Used Softcover Quantity: 1
Seller:
Bahamut Media
(Reading, United Kingdom)

Book Description Condition: Very Good. Shipped within 24 hours from our UK warehouse. Clean, undamaged book with no damage to pages and minimal wear to the cover. Spine still tight, in very good condition. Remember if you are not happy, you are covered by our 100% money back guarantee. Seller Inventory # 6545-9780007150717

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy Used
£ 3.36
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: £ 6.98
From United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

Crane, David
ISBN 10: 0007150717 ISBN 13: 9780007150717
Used Softcover Quantity: 1
Seller:
Better World Books Ltd
(Dunfermline, United Kingdom)

Book Description Condition: Very Good. Ships from the UK. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in excellent condition. May show signs of wear or have minor defects. Seller Inventory # GRP65435307

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy Used
£ 4.61
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: £ 8
From United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

David Crane
Published by Harper Perennial (2006)
ISBN 10: 0007150717 ISBN 13: 9780007150717
Used Paperback Quantity: 2
Seller:
Greener Books
(London, United Kingdom)

Book Description Paperback. Condition: Used; Good. **SHIPPED FROM UK** We believe you will be completely satisfied with our quick and reliable service. All orders are dispatched as swiftly as possible! Buy with confidence! Greener Books. Seller Inventory # mon0001393906

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy Used
£ 3.35
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: £ 9.99
From United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

David Crane
Published by HarperPress (2012)
ISBN 10: 0007150717 ISBN 13: 9780007150717
Used Paperback Quantity: 1
Seller:
Brit Books
(Milton Keynes, United Kingdom)

Book Description Paperback. Condition: Used; Good. ***Simply Brit*** Welcome to our online used book store, where affordability meets great quality. Dive into a world of captivating reads without breaking the bank. We take pride in offering a wide selection of used books, from classics to hidden gems, ensuring there is something for every literary palate. All orders are shipped within 24 hours and our lightning fast-delivery within 48 hours coupled with our prompt customer service ensures a smooth journey from ordering to delivery. Discover the joy of reading with us, your trusted source for affordable books that do not compromise on quality. Seller Inventory # BB00128926B

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy Used
£ 3.29
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: £ 11.97
From United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

Crane, David
Published by Perennial (2006)
ISBN 10: 0007150717 ISBN 13: 9780007150717
Used Softcover Quantity: 1
Seller:
Russell Books
(Victoria, BC, Canada)

Book Description Condition: Good. Seller Inventory # FORT743382

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy Used
£ 8.16
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: £ 7.92
From Canada to U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Seller Image

Crane, David
ISBN 10: 0007150717 ISBN 13: 9780007150717
Used Softcover Quantity: 1
Seller:
Christison Rare Books, IOBA SABDA
(Port Elizabeth, South Africa)

Book Description 196 x 127 mm; laminated pictorial wrappers; pp. (xiv) + 637, incl. index, + (i) + 32; plates; maps; facsimiles; photographs. Occasional minor fox spot. Very good condition. "Lionised by the British public as the embodiment of selfless heroism and chivalry, Captain Scott's achievements in the field of exploration have spawned countless books. But in all the pages written about him the personality behind the legend has been distorted beyond all recognition. David Crane's fresh and exciting biography redresses this imbalance by allowing Scott's voice to echo through its pages. Whether describing the monumental landscape of Antarctica in all its fatal, icy beauty, or giving an account of the challenges he faced in his personal life through his heartfelt letters and diaries, Scott emerges from this definitive biography as an extraordinary figure, a superlative leader of men in possibly the harshest environment on the planet.". Seller Inventory # 10734

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy Used
£ 5
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: £ 14.57
From South Africa to U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Seller Image

Crane, D.
Published by Harper (2006)
ISBN 10: 0007150717 ISBN 13: 9780007150717
Used Paper covers Quantity: 1
Seller:
Acanthophyllum Books
(Holywell, FLINT, United Kingdom)

Book Description Paper covers. Condition: Fine. No Jacket. New edition. Scarcely used. Weight: 1 Language: English. Seller Inventory # 29744

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy Used
£ 6
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: £ 14
From United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds
Stock Image

David Crane
Published by Harper Perennial (2006)
ISBN 10: 0007150717 ISBN 13: 9780007150717
Used Paperback Quantity: 1
Seller:
HALCYON BOOKS
(LONDON, United Kingdom)

Book Description Paperback. Condition: Very Good. ALL ITEMS ARE DISPATCHED FROM THE UK WITHIN 48 HOURS ( BOOKS ORDERED OVER THE WEEKEND DISPATCHED ON MONDAY) ALL OVERSEAS ORDERS SENT BY TRACKABLE AIR MAIL. IF YOU ARE LOCATED OUTSIDE THE UK PLEASE ASK US FOR A POSTAGE QUOTE FOR MULTI VOLUME SETS BEFORE ORDERING. Seller Inventory # mon0000773182

More information about this seller | Contact seller

Buy Used
£ 3
Convert currency

Add to Basket

Shipping: £ 18
From United Kingdom to U.S.A.
Destination, rates & speeds

There are more copies of this book

View all search results for this book