Overview

This book covers the two most famous expeditions of the heroic age of Antarctic exploration, Robert Falcon Scott's Terra Nova expedition of 1910-12 and Ernest Shackleton's Endurance expedition of 1914-16. For decades after his tragic death on the return journey from the South Pole, to which he had been beaten by five weeks by the Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen, Scott was regarded as a saint-like figure with an unassailable reputation born from his heroic martyrdom in the frozen wastes of the Antarctic. In recent years, however, Scott has attracted some of the most intense criticism any explorer has ever received. Shackleton's reputation, meanwhile, has followed a reverse trajectory. Although his achievements were always appreciated, they were never celebrated with nearly the same degree of adulation that traditionally surrounded Scott.  Today, Scott and Shackleton occupy very different places in the polar pantheon of British heroes. Stephanie Barczewski explores the evolution of their reputations, and finds it has little to do with new discoveries regarding their lives and characters, but far more to do with broader cultural changes and changes in conceptions of heroism in Britain and the United States.

Full Product Details

9781847251923

Table of Contents

Reviews

Normal0falsefalsefalseMicrosoftInternetExplorer4/* Style Definitions */table.MsoNormalTable{mso-style-name: Table Normal ;mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;mso-style-noshow: yes;mso-style-parent: ;mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;mso-para-margin:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom: .0001pt;mso-pagination: widow-orphan;font-size:10.0pt;font-family: Times New Roman ;mso-ansi-language: #0400;mso-fareast-language: #0400;mso-bidi-language: #0400;} [A] compellingnarrative. This is a fine contribution to the literature, one whichserious polar enthusiasts can read with profit and enjoyment. -The Polar Times

. ..Any general-interest library strong in exploration history and Antarctic history in general will find this invaluable. -James A. Cox, Midwest Book Review, May 2008 Antarctic Destinies is a fascinating story of culture and cultural identity. Barczewski raises interesting questions about what it means to be a hero and how heroes are made. [Barczewski's] book is an excellent and thought-provoking addition to the literature on these two compelling men and their incredible expeditions. -David B. Williams, The Seattle Times--Sanford Lakoff Barczewski (Clemson) has written a cultural history of the changing reputations of two Antarctic explorers, Robert Scott and Ernest Shackleton...Barczewski examines even the minutest references to the two explorers in memorials, books, and media...her discussion of Roland Huntford's Scott and Amundsen (CH, Nov'80) as the key to the decline in Scott's esteem is levelheaded and addresses many of Huntford's excesses well. Her conclusions could be summed up in a quote from her text: Heroes' reputations will inevitably change as fashions change. Modern reputations rest on what is valued now, and what society wants to believe of the past in light of those values. Summing Up: Recommended. All academic levels/libraries. -R. M. Bryce, CHOICE, February 2009 Exciting...As Stephanie Barczewski observes in Antarctic Destinies, the meaning of the tales along with their moral lessons and cultural appeal has shifted over the course of a century. -Michael J. Ybarra, The Wall Street Journal --Sanford Lakoff This book makes clear that we pick the heroes that fit our times... On encountering this book there will inevitably be those who say Oh no, not another book about Scott and Shackleton! And I agree that we need no further tales of derring-do on the ice to burde4n our bookshelves. What we do need is what this book provides examination of the cultural currents upon which explorers are borne and that ultimately determine what it all means. --Sanford Lakoff Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name: Table Normal ; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow: yes; mso-style-parent: ; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom: .0001pt; mso-pagination: widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family: Times New Roman ; mso-ansi-language: #0400; mso-fareast-language: #0400; mso-bidi-language: #0400;} [A] compelling narrative. This is a fine contribution to the literature, one which serious polar enthusiasts can read with profit and enjoyment. -The Polar Times Normal0falsefalsefalseMicrosoftInternetExplorer4! /* Font Definitions */@font-face{font-family: Wingdings;panose-1:5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;mso-font-charset:2;mso-generic-font-family: auto;mso-font-pitch: variable;mso-font-signature:0 268435456 0 0 -2147483648 0;}/* Style Definitions */p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal{mso-style-parent: ;margin:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;mso-pagination: widow-orphan;font-size:12.0pt;font-family: Times New Roman ;mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman ;}@page Section1{size:8.5in 11.0in;margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;mso-header-margin: .5in;mso-footer-margin: .5in;mso-paper-source:0;}div.Section1{page: Section1;}/* List Definitions */@list l0{mso-list-id:997877421;mso-list-type: hybrid;mso-list-template-ids:1011883242 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693;}@list l0: level1{mso-level-number-format: bullet;mso-level-text: ?;mso-level-tab-stop: .5in;mso-level-number-position: left;text-indent: -.25in;font Normal0falsefalsefalseMicrosoftInternetExplorer4!--/* Font Definitions */@font-face{font-family: Wingdings;panose-1:5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0;mso-font-charset:2;mso-generic-font-family: auto;mso-font-pitch: variable;mso-font-signature:0 268435456 0 0 -2147483648 0;}/* Style Definitions */p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal{mso-style-parent: ;margin:0in;margin-bottom: .0001pt;mso-pagination: widow-orphan;font-size:12.0pt;font-family: Times New Roman ;mso-fareast-font-family: Times New Roman ;}@page Section1{size:8.5in 11.0in;margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in;mso-header-margin: .5in;mso-footer-margin: .5in;mso-paper-source:0;}div.Section1{page: Section1;}/* List Definitions */@list l0{mso-list-id:997877421;mso-list-type: hybrid;mso-list-template-ids:1011883242 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693;}@list l0: level1{mso-level-number-format: bullet;mso-level-text: ?;mso-level-tab-stop: .5in;mso-level-number-position: left;text-indent: -.25in;fon a painstakingly researched and hugely readable book Reviewed in The Scotsman, 2008 [T]o read Barczewski's account of Shackleton's hazardous enterprise is to be thrilled by his resourcefulness. Every detail is fascinating... Antarctic Dertinies is fascinating proof that, far from being fixed, history is the one subject that is going to be constantly rewritten. Reviewed by Roger Lewis in Daily Express, 2008 A brilliantly innovative way of exploring how society changes. Reviewed in Good Book Guide, 2008 A well researched historiography of the volimunous literature on both of these explorers...fascinating. British Scholar Journal, September 2008. Barczewski's book is a valuable addition...her unusual analysis of our Antarctic heroes provides us with a mirror in which we can see our own failings reflected in our changing cultural ideals. Reviewed by David W.H. Walton in Times Higher Education Supplement, 2008. Normal0falsefalsefalseMicrosoftInternetExplorer4/* Style Definitions */table.MsoNormalTable{mso-style-name: Table Normal ;mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;mso-style-noshow: yes;mso-style-parent: ;mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;mso-para-margin:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom: .0001pt;mso-pagination: widow-orphan;font-size:10.0pt;font-family: Times New Roman ;mso-ansi-language: #0400;mso-fareast-language: #0400;mso-bidi-language: #0400;} [A] compellingnarrative. This is a fine contribution to the literature, one whichserious polar enthusiasts can read with profit and enjoyment. -The Polar Times Robert Falcon Scott and Ernest Shackleton first encountered each other in early March 1901, in the London offices of National Antarctic Expedition, which Scott had been appointed to command...From that moment onwards, Scott and Shackleton became enmeshed in a rivalry that has extended well beyond their deaths to the present day, and seems likely to continue into the future.

This book makes clear that we pick the heroes that fit our times... On encountering this book there will inevitably be those who say Oh no, not another book about Scott and Shackleton! And I agree that we need no further tales of derring-do on the ice to burde4n our bookshelves. What we do need is what this book provides examination of the cultural currents upon which explorers are borne and that ultimately determine what it all means. --Sanford Lakoff

Robert Falcon Scott and Ernest Shackleton first encountered each other in early March 1901, in the London offices of National Antarctic Expedition, which Scott had been appointed to command...From that moment onwards, Scott and Shackleton became enmeshed in a rivalry that has extended well beyond their deaths to the present day, and seems likely to continue into the future.

Author Information

A specialist in modern British cultural history, Stephanie Barczewski is Professor of History at Clemson University in South Carolina, USA, where she has taught since 1996. In 2005 she became Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies in the College of Architecture, Arts and Humanities at Clemson. She is the author of numerous books.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available