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Book Review: First on the Antarctic Continent by C.E. Borchgrevink
Title: First on the Antarctic Continent: Being an Account of the British Antarctic Expedition, 1898–1900
Author: C.E. Borchgrevink
Published: George Newnes, 1901
Rating: 2.5 of 5
Page Count: 400
Total Page Count: 536,670
Text Number: 1965
Read Because: these boys are just so cold, borrowed from Open Library
Review: The first "British"(-funded) Antarctic expedition, and the first to overwinter on land, among other accomplishments, as told by the commander. This is imminently skippable and, yet like most polar memoirs, fascinating, albeit rarely for intended reasons. This expedition is remarkable for being poorly planned, and the location poorly chosen, which makes other expeditions look more successful by contrast. Given the inimical setting, Borchgrevink's slipshod focus on research and slew of manufactured adventures feel almost comically blithe, although his tone isn't as insufferable as I was lead to believe; it's only in contemporary context (the Southern Cross expedition was considered a competitor to the upcoming Discovery expedition) and in the differences of opinion in Bernacchi's memoir that "insufferable" makes sense. Do skip this one unless reading also Bernacchi, mostly because Bernacchi is funnier with this as a counterpoint.
Author: C.E. Borchgrevink
Published: George Newnes, 1901
Rating: 2.5 of 5
Page Count: 400
Total Page Count: 536,670
Text Number: 1965
Read Because: these boys are just so cold, borrowed from Open Library
Review: The first "British"(-funded) Antarctic expedition, and the first to overwinter on land, among other accomplishments, as told by the commander. This is imminently skippable and, yet like most polar memoirs, fascinating, albeit rarely for intended reasons. This expedition is remarkable for being poorly planned, and the location poorly chosen, which makes other expeditions look more successful by contrast. Given the inimical setting, Borchgrevink's slipshod focus on research and slew of manufactured adventures feel almost comically blithe, although his tone isn't as insufferable as I was lead to believe; it's only in contemporary context (the Southern Cross expedition was considered a competitor to the upcoming Discovery expedition) and in the differences of opinion in Bernacchi's memoir that "insufferable" makes sense. Do skip this one unless reading also Bernacchi, mostly because Bernacchi is funnier with this as a counterpoint.