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Scott and Amundsen

Their Race to the South Pole

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Scott and Amundsen

By: Roland Huntford
Narrated by: Tim Piggott-Smith
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About this listen

 This is a brilliant dual biography charting British Robert Scott's and Norwegian Roald Amundsen's race to the South Pole during 1911-12. Huntuford's is the accepted, definitive account of the race and a reassessment of the two men. Thoroughly researched, revealing the adventures and misfortunes that befell them both, he describes the driving ambitions of the era, and the complex, often deeply flawed individuals who were charged with carrying them out.©2006 CSA Telltapes Ltd. (P)2006 CSA Telltapes Ltd. Adventurers, Explorers & Survival Arctic & Antarctica Expeditions & Discoveries Polar Regions Travel Writing & Commentary World

Critic reviews

"Fascinating, and a well-chosen narrator." ( The Oldie)
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An excellent book that corrects the myth that Scott was an unlucky hero but rather an arrogant, hierarchical, incompetent poor leader who failed to learn any lessons that led to his teams death.

Debunking a myth

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Having read other books of Scott’s expedition, I’d figured for myself he wasn’t a particularly gifted leader or good at planning. However the way Amundsen is idolised and Scott unfailingly criticised over what felt like everything was very annoying. Too many vailed opinions amongst the facts. Structured or narrated in a way that makes it come across as very biased, not sure which. Will probably avoid the author’s other books because of it.

Essential but very annoying read.

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This is a good if an uncomfortable and perhaps exaggerated read; the author sets out to dethrone Scott, emphasising how poorly he planned his Antarctic trip compared to the Norwegian Amundsen. To those who grew up knowing of the great hero Scott of the Antarctic, this may be jarring.

Hatchet job on Scott

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A most enjoyable book and the real story for the race to the South Pole but very tragic for Scott's team.

Truth.

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Great account. Perhaps slightly over-zealous bias against Scott at times, but when one considers the opposite bias he has bathed in for over a century, it's quite forgivable.

Fantastic narrator. Clearly spoken and well recorded.

Superb.

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