People frequently recommend Endurance, by Alfred Lansing, for good reason. It's a fantastic story, well told.
I can't remember a recommendation for The Worst Journey in the World by Apsley Cherry-Garrard. This tells the less upbeat story of Scott's failed and fatal attempt at the South Pole, written by someone who was on the expedition. I'm reading it now and would like to put in a plug….along with asking why it isn't more widely recommended. The writing is excellent. Cherry-Garrard was on the expedition as a biologist, and his interest in, and love of, animals radiates. I haven't gotten to the grisly parts yet and I understand that there's horror to come, but horror sells. I don't understand why this book is so little know.
by sandgrubber
1 Comment
Cherry-Garrard’s book is absolutely brutal and beautiful at the same time – maybe that’s why it gets overlooked since people want the “triumph against odds” story rather than the “everything went horribly wrong” one