| The Worst Journey in the World (Penguin Classics) |  | Author: Apsley Cherry-Garrard
Creator: Caroline Alexander
Publisher: Penguin Classics
Category: Book
List Price: $18.00
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Rating:  15 reviews
Sales Rank: 45,801
Media: Paperback
Pages: 688
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.6 x 5 x 1.2
ISBN: 0143039385
Dewey Decimal Number: 919.8904
EAN: 9780143039389
ASIN: 0143039385
Publication Date: February 28, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
The Worst Journey in the World recounts Robert Falcon Scotts ill-fated expedition to the South Pole. Apsley Cherry-Garrardthe youngest member of Scotts team and one of three men to make and survive the notorious Winter Journeydraws on his firsthand experiences as well as the diaries of his compatriots to create a stirring and detailed account of Scotts legendary expedition. Cherry himself would be among the search party that discovered the corpses of Scott and his men, who had long since perished from starvation and brutal cold. It is through Cherrys insightful narrative and keen descriptions that Scott and the other members of the expedition are fully memorialized.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 15
 Not As Good As I Hoped May 10, 2010
Andrew Kappes (Ventura, CA USA)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I bought this with three other adventure books awhile back. This one was consistently ranked on the top of non-fiction adventure books.
There is no doubt that the Winter Journey that the author went on with 2 others is indeed the Worst Journey in the World. However, in my opinion, I had several issues with the book that I didn't expect based on all the great reviews:
1. I found much of it boring. Many pages are dedicated to the travel on the boat and observations of animals. I understand that this was pioneering scientific work, but not what I was expecting in a adventure book. Roughly half the book is not about adventure, but scientific observations.
2. I found much of it hard to read. This was either due to specific exploration terms or maybe British words that I am not familiar with, but I had a hard time following along. There were several trips made in preparation of the Polar Journey to establish camps for the trip to and from the pole. I didn't find the author clear on which ones were being established and why. I was left wondering what just happened and why.
3. The key aspects were clear: The Winter Journey (Worst Journey in the World), the Polar Journey, and the Search Journey. This was the best part of the book. As I mentioned, this was less than half the book. However, in this part, I found the writing to be poor. I guess it's because it is more of a compilation of journals, then it is a book written by an author. Sadly, I think many of the stories were far worse in reality than the author is capable of portraying due to a lack of being a skilled author.
In all, it was undoubtedly a true tale of two horrible journeys (Winter and Polar). My complaints are in the remaining 300+ pages. This is a scientific book that would prepare you if you were to make the same trip they did. It would be very beneficial in telling you what you should take and what mistakes they made. However, reading this book today, I am not interested in this. I was looking for an adventure book. 200 of the 560 pages mostly delivered on this.
So far, Into Thin Air, is my favorite non-fiction adventure book. It has the advantage of the first person's account being that of an author who knows how to descriptively tell what happened.
 -77F with gale force winds... January 5, 2010
J. F. Leeper (Shoreview MN)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This should not be one's first read of Antarctic journeys but is a 'must read' in the broader collective of work of explorations before modern technology and clothing, media hype, and corporate sponsorship. The book is extremely well-written in a journal style. I'm not sure that the tremendous effort of man-hauling sledges, crevasse crossings and rescues, and facing -77F and gale force winds is sufficiently descriptive. Scott perished but 11 miles from supplies of oil and food and that perhaps best notes him in Antarctic exploration. His somewhat obvious poor choices in the use of motor sledges(for hauling) and ponies (for hauling and food)are underplayed because of the journal style. The early descriptions of killer whales navigating and busting through sea ice in an attempt to eat them, their ponies, and their dogs is noteworthy.
 Stark and stunning November 17, 2009
Joseph Devon (New York, NY)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Having enjoyed books on the subject of Shackleton's attempt at the South Pole, a friend suggested I check out this book concerning Scott's journey. The irony of these two stories is that Shackleton's trip (detailed very well in the book Endurance) was a failure in all regards except for the fact that he brought home every man in his group alive, whereas Scott's journey was successful at reaching the pole but then suffered multiple casualties.
The Worst Journey in the World is an amazing read, but very difficult at times. It's assumed that the reader knows a decent bit about polar expeditions as you are dumped into terminology and basic maneuvers with no explanation. I had very little knowledge of such things and found myself looking up words fairly often and rereading passages to understand what "hoosh" was or what the point of depoting supplies is. The result is that I learned a lot and eventually came to read this book on it's terms, which was highly enjoyable. However a quick crash course on polar exploration in the early 20th century wouldn't have been the worst idea before starting this read.
With all of that out of the way I have nothing left but praise. Making heavy use of the actual journals and diaries of the explorers this book gives the reader a delicious sense of immediacy. The title trip, for example, in which a three man team makes a journey in the dead of the antarctic winter to retrieve some penguin eggs for study, is one of the more gripping accounts I have ever read anywhere. Likewise, the final words and notes from Scott himself, recovered after his death, as he attempts to stumble and slog his way back from the pole during a freak blizzard are heartbreaking.
I highly recommend this book but am also compelled to give warning that it can get a bit technical at times and requires some outside knowledge for decent comprehension.
An unforgettable journey July 12, 2009
Fabric Crazy (Pfafftown, NC United States)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
The story of an unforgettable journey. This book has details of the journeys undertaken in 1910-1912 by the men of this polar expedition. Their courage and "never give up" attitude are a testament of the type of men they were. Reading the account of their adventures from the diaries of several different men gives a more complete perspective than the diary of one man could give. Definitely an exciting book. Leaves you in awe of what they achieved with no more than they had almost 100 years ago. They were true explorers.
Antarctic Thriller June 10, 2009
Thomas Grover (Naples, Florida)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
An adventure story just doesn't get any better than this, and what adds to the readers pleasure is that it is all true. I was fortunate enough to read this while on an Antarctic cruise. The descriptions of Antarctica and the conditions faced by this expedition are terrific. This book is about character, endurance, hope, tragedy, and ultimately, wonder and awe !
Showing reviews 1-5 of 15
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