A judicious debunking of the Scott myths which had in turn rescued him from mediocrity. Draws on Huntford and many others to show Scott as inept, petulant, and egomaniacal.
p. 107, speaks of the transfer of instruments, records, specimens, and “all valuable books” from the Discovery to the Terra Nova.
p. 108, Jan 17, 1904: After a copious repast we turned into our reindeer sleeping bags which we had laid on the tarpaulin spread on the ice, some to read, some to talk, but most, of course, to enjoy the greatest of Antarctic luxuries—a really good smoke. [W. Clark Souter in Dundee Advertiser, 11 May 1904.]