Antarctic Navigation. A novel.

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A novel about Scott’s last expedition, and a modern day female attempt to recreate that expedition

A Very Gallant Gentleman.

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Bull, Colin. Email message to David Stam, August 31, 2005:

The Wicked Mate: the Antarctic Diary of Victor Campbell. An Account of the Northern Party….

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Campbell’s chief Antarctic activity was as first officer to Robert Falcon Scott on the Terra Nova expedition. As leader of the Northern Party (earlier called the Eastern Party), he led his team of six men while stranded for a winter in an ice cave on Inexpressible Island. On returning finally to Cape Evans and learning of Scott’s death, Campbell took command of the Terra Nova expedition.

Untitled remarks at the Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association convention on May 22, 1952

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Cherry-Garrard, Apsley George Benet (1886-1959), British Explorer on Scott’s Terra Nova Expedition, was an unlikely hero for the Heroic Age, a near-sighted, inexperienced ingénue who paid Scott £1000 to participate in and suffer through the Terra Nova expedition. As such he was an always helpful addition to the expedition staff, but his fame rests on his account of The Worst Journey in the World: Antarctica 1910-1913. Two vols. (London: Constable and Co., 1922), listed under the Terra Nova journey.

The Worst Journey in the World. [1910-12]

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Often thought the finest book on Antarctic exploration, this is a dramatic account of Scott's 1910-13 expedition. The expedition was comprised of three actual journeys: the depot journey, during which supplies were laid for the polar trip; the winter journey to Cape Crozier to visit the penguin rookery—the "worst journey" of the title; and the final, tragic attempt on the pole, during which Scott and four others perished. The story of Scott's last expedition is of course a great tale, and Cherry-Garrard uses his considerable skill as a writer to heighten the drama, aided also in his writing by suggestions from George Bernard Shaw.

Travel and Exploration sale. 27 September 1996.

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Item 169: copy of New Testament owned by Oates, given to him in Dunedin by H. R. Falconer, a Seamen’s Missionary, Nov. 1910, and present on the Terra Nova expedition. Items 171-75 are George Marston paintings.

With the ‘Aurora’ in the Antarctic 1911-1914.

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First published in 1919. One of three books based on Davis’s journals, this one of the Australasian Antarctic Expedition is primarily about navigation and seamanship, and very little about other human activities or amusements for diversion. The concluding paragraphs of his “L’Avenir” have the most human touch:

The Quiet Land: The Diaries of Frank Debenham, Member of the British Antarctic Expedition 1910-1913.

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On Debenham’s experience of the Scott expedition and its tragic end. It was he who suggested that excess funds in the memorial Appeal be used for an institute of Polar research and he became SPRI’s first Director, an unpaid position which he held from 1920 to 1946.

The Norwegian with Scott: Tryggve Gran’s Antarctic Diary 1910-1913.

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p. 46: I spent some hours in the hut tonight, listening to our first gramophone concert; it was a delight to hear Caruso, Melba, and Tetrazzini, among other famous stars.

The Race.

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A fictional account of the Scott-Amundsen race for the South Pole, which mentions Scott’s use of the Bible twice: p. 144-6: “His desk was a couple of old crates which he had covered with oilcloth. A Bible lay on the desk, and two other books, paper and pens…. He held a service every Sunday. It was the only time the other ranks also congregated in the officers’ room. It wasn’t a matter of choice. No one was allowed to absent himself. Every man clasped his hands, even though some fingers were covered in frostbite sores. A meeting with God prescribed a sanctity here as back home in England. He read from the Bible in a clear, well-modulated voice, and prayed using ordinary familiar words. Outside the blizzard raged.”

‘One cannot help but liking them’: Terra Nova meets Fram.

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p. 187: Curious eyes ranged over each other's ships. ‘While we are waiting events we have not been by any means idle,’ wrote Priestley on Saturday morning (Priestley: p. 50). Officers and scientists were busy using Terra Nova as a platform for vigorous scientific work for example sounding, hauling the plankton net, taking water samples, and dredging. According to Bruce, ten of Fram's crew including Amundsen lunched on board Terra Nova and ‘were very friendly, but didn't give away much or get much’ (Bruce: 1911c). On a return visit to Fram ‘to have a look round’ according to Browning, Amundsen asked him if there were any spare newspapers on Terra Nova as he had not read any since September. Browning ‘collected all I could get also a few magazines – he was very pleased’ (Browning: 1911). Priestley did not go. Instead, he showed a Norwegian Lieutenant over Terra Nova.

Confessions of A Leigh Hunt.

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No relation to Leigh Hunt, this one founded the NZ Antarctic Club and knew several explorers, and gave lantern lectures to schools about Scott etc.

The Last Great Quest: Captain Scott’s Antarctic Sacrifice.

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Book shows tensions of scientific contributions of polar exploration over against the macho, imperial, jingoistic elements which often symbolized an imperial nation. Jones shows a good balance of respect and criticism for Scott, and situates Scott within the context of his times. His book shows tensions of scientific contributions of polar exploration over against the macho, imperial, jingoistic elements which often symbolized an imperial nation. He is particularly good on the English worship of manliness and pluck, showing how Scott’s reputation gained from the notion that he and his men were somehow superhuman heroes, though suggesting that we know little of how “heroically” Scott and his partners acted.

The Longest Winter: The Incredible Survival of Captain Scott’s Lost Party.

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Based on George Levick’s diary of the experience of the Northern Party on Scott’s second (Terra Nova) expedition of 1910-13, as they were stranded for a winter at Inexpressible Island away from Cape Adare. Levick was medical officer of the 6-man party but also photographer and zoologist. Based on Priestley’s Antarctic Adventure and diaries of G. M. Levick owned by Richard Kossow.

Scott and Amundsen: Duel in the Ice.

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A concise and fairly superficial retelling of the Antarctic story from the Belgica to Scott’s death. It does emphasize, as others often ignore, Amundsen’s reliance on his Polar reading for his preparation.