Death on the Ice

“Fortune would be in a hard mood indeed if it allowed such a combination of knowledge, experience, ability, and enthusiasm to achieve nothing.” Robert Falcon Scott

This novel is based on Robert Falcon Scott's attempts be the first man to reach the South Pole. His initial attempt in 1901 on the 'Discovery' with Ernest Shackleton when he achieved the feat of 'furthest South' but was ultimately beaten back by appalling weather before he could reach the Pole and the 1911 expedition when he and four companions reached The Pole, but died on the return journey.

Over the last century Scott has achieved immortality but whereas once he was regarded as a hero his reputation has taken something of a knock with people questioning his competence. show more It is pretty obvious that Scott's second expedition was desperately underfunded and in many respects it is only his drive and determination that it got as far as it did. Ryan is relatively even-handed in his portrayal of the man, sitting on the fence and taking neither side of the argument. Yes Scott is certainly flawed, made some wrong choices, some of his own making but also because some of his companions were less honest with him than they should have been, but he is also a victim of some very bad luck.

Ryan tells the story chiefly from three points of view, Scott's, Ernest Shackleton's and Lawrence Oates who also died on the ill-fated second expedition thus he manages to avoid the trap of over lionising all those who travelled South. This IMHO means that the story, although obviously some thing of a boy's own adventure, appears that realistic and credible. It is also a largely compelling tale and the author's depiction of the terrible privations that the polar explorers are very atmospheric meaning that at times I struggled to put the book down. It's apparent that Ryan has done his research but it must be remembered that this is meant as a novel rather than a biography.

Unfortunately what lets the book down is when it moves away from the central story to Scott's widow Kathleen. Whilst I understand that the author is trying to portray her as being as ambitious as her husband I feel that she comes out very flat and one dimensional. The author is obviously much better at writing about men than women. Overall a good read that may tempt the reader to learn more about Scott and his companions.

"Amundsen won the Pole. But,Scott, he achieved immortality." show less