Scott and Amundsen cover art

Scott and Amundsen

Their Race to the South Pole

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Scott and Amundsen

By: Roland Huntford
Narrated by: Tim Piggott-Smith
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About this listen

 This is a brilliant dual biography charting British Robert Scott's and Norwegian Roald Amundsen's race to the South Pole during 1911-12. Huntuford's is the accepted, definitive account of the race and a reassessment of the two men. Thoroughly researched, revealing the adventures and misfortunes that befell them both, he describes the driving ambitions of the era, and the complex, often deeply flawed individuals who were charged with carrying them out.©2006 CSA Telltapes Ltd. (P)2006 CSA Telltapes Ltd. Adventurers, Explorers & Survival Arctic & Antarctica Expeditions & Discoveries Polar Regions Travel Writing & Commentary World

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Critic reviews

"Fascinating, and a well-chosen narrator." ( The Oldie)
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Great account. Perhaps slightly over-zealous bias against Scott at times, but when one considers the opposite bias he has bathed in for over a century, it's quite forgivable.

Fantastic narrator. Clearly spoken and well recorded.

Superb.

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Having read other books of Scott’s expedition, I’d figured for myself he wasn’t a particularly gifted leader or good at planning. However the way Amundsen is idolised and Scott unfailingly criticised over what felt like everything was very annoying. Too many vailed opinions amongst the facts. Structured or narrated in a way that makes it come across as very biased, not sure which. Will probably avoid the author’s other books because of it.

Essential but very annoying read.

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Excellent story. Narrator was very enjoyable to listen to. I was sorry when it ended.

Super Story

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An excellent book that corrects the myth that Scott was an unlucky hero but rather an arrogant, hierarchical, incompetent poor leader who failed to learn any lessons that led to his teams death.

Debunking a myth

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A most enjoyable book and the real story for the race to the South Pole but very tragic for Scott's team.

Truth.

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I have no idea why Roland Huntford hates Robert Falcon Scott so much. Perhaps it’s the imperial Britishness, the famous martyr myth, or maybe Scott’s ghost has been haunting the Huntford house annoyingly. But bizarre irrational hatred weeps through every sore of a sentence in the parts on Scott.
It absolutely ruins this work it’s all such a chore to get through. I just feel pity for the people who read this and take it at face value.
The sections on Amundsen are fine and informative, but even these are tainted by venomous contrasts with Scott. Huntford can’t hide his personal prejudice, you lose count of every vile insult - “inept” and “stupid” must be the most common adjectives in the book. It would be laughable if he didn’t go beyond the bounds of childishness into scurrilous libel, declaring a Scott’s wife was have sex with Amundsen’s mentor the day Scott got to the pole. It’s just sad, and speaks of some kind of projection in the author’s life, you feel.
I am no great fan of Scott, and like Huntford have always admired his rival Shackleton. But this atrocious hit-piece on Scott is lacking in any dignity and objectivity, I’m sure even Shackleton would have found it stomach-turning.
There are many great works out there on both these great explorers, do yourself a favour and don’t put yourself through the bitter scribblings of an obsessive writer.

Laughably poisonous hate-fest against Scott which borders on cranky obsession in its libel

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This audio book masquerades as a story of two great polar legends but quickly becomes a trolling and repetitive dissing of Scott to the extent of being ridiculous.
I gave up, 4 hours in, I couldn’t take anymore. Like Scott my resilience eventually gave in.

A arduous and ultimately unsatisfying listen…

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