As Apsley Cherry-Garrard states in his introduction to the harrowing story of the Scott expedition to the South Pole, "Polar Exploration is at once the cleanest and most isolated way of having a bad time which has been devised." Cherry-Garrard's The Worst Journey in the World is a gripping account of an expedition gone disastrously wrong. The youngest member of Scott's team, the author was later part of the rescue party that eventually found the frozen bodies of Scott and three men who had accompanied Scott on the final push to the Pole. These deaths would haunt Cherry-Garrard for the rest of his life as he questioned the decisions he had made and the actions he had taken in the days leading up to the Polar Party's demise. Prior to this sad denouement, Cherry-Garrard's account is filled with details of scientific discovery and anecdotes of human resilience in a harsh environment. Each participant in the Scott expedition is brought fully to life. Cherry-Garrard's recollections are supported by diary excerpts and accounts from other teammates. Despite the sad fate of Scott, the reader will grudgingly agree with the closing words of The Worst Journey in the World: "Exploration is the physical expression of the Intellectual Passion. And I tell you, if you have the desire for knowledge and the power to give it physical expression, go out and explore.... If you march your Winter Journeys you will have your reward, so long as all you want is a penguin's egg."


From Library Journal
Cherry-Gerrard was the only survivor of Scott's last journey to the South Pole, and was a member of the search party that later discovered the remains of Scott and his comrades. His story was originally published in a limited edition in the 1920s but has not been available in the United States since.-- MRCopyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From AudioFile
In 1910-1912, the author, as a young scientist, accompanied explorer Robert Scott on his doomed journey to Antarctica. Rather than go for the Pole with the leader, Cherry-Garrard undertook his own harrowing journey in search of Emperor penguins. Only when Scott and his party failed to return did he go after them and ultimately find their bodies. Robert Whitfield does what he can to enliven the lengthy text full of descriptions and scientific detail. Early on, he vocally recreates shipboard life; he also picks up on Cherry-Garrard's dry sense of humor, stiff-upper-lip approach to adversity, and appreciation for nature, the dogs and ponies on whom the expedition depended, and the polar landscape. Quotes from Scott's journals and other sources pepper the text but might confuse the listener, as they are only credited when finished. Among the book's poignant passages are those critical of the way the expedition was organized and funded. National Geographic's "Adventure" magazine named this as the #1 adventure book of all time. J.B.G. © AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine


Introduction to the British 1994 edition
"A masterpiece. ... When people ask me (I get the question about twice a month), 'What is your favourite travel book?' I nearly always name this book. It is about courage, misery, starvation, heroism, exploration, discovery, and friendship. It vividly illustrates the demands of science and the rigours of travel. It is a record of the coldest darkest days that can be found on our planet. It is written beautifully but not obviously, with a subtle artistry. ... It is rare to find a person who is at once a great traveller, recounting an overwhelming experience, and who is also such an accomplished writer. ... Everywhere his voice is clear, articulate and humane and sometimes startling."--Paul Theroux

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Cherry-Garrard, who accompanied Robert Falcon Scott to the Antarctic on the explorer's doomed quest for the South Pole, recounts the unforgettable journey across forbidding, inhospitable terrain. He was also a member of the search party that ultimately discovered Scott's frozen body along with his last notebook entries. With an introduction by the author, this tale of adventure stands out as a literary accomplishment as well as a classic of exploration.

FROM THE CRITICS

AudioFile