Scott of the Antarctic: The Definitive Biography

David Crane has given us a magisterial portrait of one of Britains greatest heroes and explorers, acclaimed as the masterpiece on the subject. Reissued for the 100th anniversary of Scotts doomed expedition.

It seems a pity, but I do not think I can write moreFor Gods sake look after our people.

These were the final words written in Scotts diary on 29 March 1912, as he lay dying of exhaustion, starvation and extreme cold, in his tent on his return journey from the South Pole. Since then he has been the subject of many books. Yet in all the pages that have been written about him, the personality behind the legend has been forgotten or distorted beyond all recognition.

David Cranes magisterial biography redresses this completely. By reassessing Scotts life and his substantial scientific achievements, Crane is able to provide a fresh and exciting perspective on both the Discovery expedition of 1901-4 and the Terra Nova expedition of 1910-12. The courage and tragedy of Scotts last journey are only one part of the process, for the scientific enquiry that led up to it transformed the whole nature and ambition of Antarctic exploration.

Written with the full support of Scotts surviving relatives, and with access to the voluminous diaries and records of key participants, this definitive biography sets out to reconcile the very private struggles of the man with the very public life of extremes that he led.