The Last Place on Earth — A Review
The true story of Scott and Amundsen’s race to the South Pole
Before reading this book, I knew nothing about Polar exploration. I didn’t care for it. What could be so fascinating about a bunch of men trekking through the snow? Not much, I thought.
And so, having purchased this book in a charity shop, I did what all keen readers will do and allowed it to collect dust on a shelf for the best part of a decade. If it wasn’t for the virus and my subsequent lack of fresh literature, it may have remained there forever.
But unprecedented times require unprecedented actions. Eventually, I gave in and read the thing.
I now realize that my prejudice was unwarranted.
Roland Huntford’s The Last Place on Earth is a historical account of Scott and Amundsen’s race to the South Pole in the early 1900s. Since its release, it has had a profound influence on how this event — the culmination of the classical age of Polar exploration— is viewed by historians.
The historical context is key to the story because it elucidates public perceptions of these two men as they ventured into the great unknown.
Post-Victorian Britain was in decline and needed a hero to shore up its faltering self-image; to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the likes of Nelson and Cook as it crept ever-closer to war with Germany.
In Scott, it found its hero.
Norway, by contrast, was a small nation vying for independence. Success in that realm was contingent upon the respect of the major powers. A Norwegian victory at the South Pole would go a long way toward it.
Amundsen would lead their charge.
In the book, Huntford compares Scott and Amundsen’s preparedness (or lack of), from the gloves they wore to the dogs they used, details which may seem trivial on face value. But in the freezing Antarctic, where one is often blinded by fog and immobilized by blizzards, a small oversight could be the difference between life and death. Thus, I was perfectly happy to learn how Amundsen’s fuel containers were superior to those of his rival. (Yes, I am serious.)
Leadership style was another key factor in the race to the South Pole. Scott, being an officer for the British Royal Navy, demanded strict adherence from his subordinates. Their initiative was quelled, and any unsolicited opinion was seen as mutiny. Amundsen, by contrast, allowed a high degree of autonomy. Huntford draws on a range of evidence, such as memoirs and personal diary entries, to show how the style of leadership had a profound effect on each expedition.
As the book progresses, I got to know the various members of each party. Through them, I came to appreciate (and fear) the hostile conditions which they faced.
As I said before, I knew little about Antarctica before reading this book. And so, page by page, I felt as though I were discovering this vast wilderness along with Scott and Amundsen. Their race to the South Pole is brought to life with a beautiful narrative that drifts like a sled over Polar ice. Huntford fuses the art of storytelling with historical fact, and the result is a tour de force in exploration literature.
I highly recommend The Last Place on Earth to anyone who likes a great adventure story.
