South Pole 1910-1913: the British Antarctic Expedition

by Christine Dell'Amore

Although it's a piece of history learned by every British student, the Terra Nova Expedition of 1910-1913 remains an epic story unknown to many. In this ultimate showing of life and boundless bravery, Robert F. Scott and his five-man team battled the elements—traveling through subzero temperatures with motor sledges and ponies—in the hope of being the first to reach this uninhabited territory.

Arriving at the South Pole on January 18, 1912, the adventurers were greeted by their worst nightmare: a Norwegian flag. Disheartened and badly frostbitten, they trudged back toward their boat, only to die just eleven miles from the next depot. Featuring a collection of stunning black-and-white photography alongside entries from Scott's harrowing diary, this volume starkly presents this well-documented journey.

Genres: History

136 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

As the the online natural history editor for National Geographic's daily news website, I am the guru for anything animal. (My favorite? It's a tie between the dung beetle and the coyote.)

In my free time, I travel—and often write about my adventures for the Washington Post. I’m happiest roaming abroad—I've been to more than 40 countries and reported from six continents, including Antarctica.

My Antarctica trip led to my first book, South Pole, which chronicles Robert Scott's 1912 expedition to Antarctica. I am also the author of a National Geographic magazine special issue, "Science of the Supernatural Revealed," published in 2015.

I co-founded and help administer the D.C. Science Writers Association's Newsbrief Award, which recognizes excellence in short-form science journalism.

I have a masters degree in journalism with a specialty in environmental reporting from the University of Colorado at Boulder, and an undergraduate degree in environmental science and policy from University of Maryland, College Park.

I love pretty much anything outdoors—especially downhill skiing, hiking, and cycling—and visiting the many historical wonders of my home, Washington, D.C.

You can email me at rueparadis [at] gmail.com.

Reviews

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

South Pole: 1910-1913 focuses on the ultimately tragic journey made by Captain Robert Falcon Scott and his men, as they attempted to reach the heart of perhaps the most inhospitable place on the planet. The book is essentially the abridged version of the expedition, but by no means does it lack any of the adventure of the biographies of these heroic figures.

Perhaps best described as a coffee table book, this beautiful record of Scott’s expedition contains photographs taken on the expedition, as well as a smattering of Scott’s own journal entries. The photographs in particular are wonderful to look at, especially when considering they were taken over 100 years ago in one of the harshest climates on the planet, and with none of today’s technology; they capture perfectly the harshness of the environment and the courage of the men who ventured there.

I hope one day to travel to Antarctica myself and see the huts that still stand today on the frozen ground; the huts that housed some of these men for three years. The historical importance of these structures is beyond value: they are the only human structures standing on any continent that were the first to be built there, but they are also home to the instruments these men used on the expedition, almost as a shrine to these men and a time capsule of early scientific exploration. Recently the Antarctic Heritage Trust completed a restoration of the hut at Cape Evans, a project that took around six years and thousands of hours of manpower. An enormous undertaking in a friendly environment, let alone one which is permanently frozen and virtually isolated geographically – a very admirable feat in my opinion.

So, if you’re like me and passionate about the preservation of human history, you should go check out the Antarctic Heritage Trust website, see what they’re all about and if you’re feeling generous, make a small donation. Otherwise, pick up a copy of this book and (like me), dream about cold places, and times when feats of heroism were truly great.

[Skylar Hatfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am fascinated by polar exploration. The pictures in this book remind the reader how small humans are compared the the natural world we strive to understand and tame. To see these men outfitted so poorly compared to the technical fabrics available to the modern explorer should humble anyone who seeks to brag about current accomplishments in the polar wilds. Every time I read a book about polar exploration, I wonder if the sacrifices made by these people (and especially by their families) are worth the gains made. This book makes a short but interesting argument that Scott's last expedition focused on scientific discovery over record setting. In that vein, maybe these types of journeys are not frivolous and fool hardy. I would recommend reading THE WORST JOURNEY IN THE WORLD which is referenced frequently in this short book. If you are just dipping your toes into the water, this book is short but informative. The photos are the most interesting aspect of the book.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love books that highlight challenges of survival especially in extreme environments. Man vs. Wild vs. Beasts. Classic.