The Last Viking-The Life of Roald Amundsen-Conqueror of the South Pole-Stephen Bown

I find that reading about exploration is a very good way of restoring some perspective, whilst at the same time allowing a little escapism. Stephen Bown's biography of the great Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen is both highly readable and illuminating.

I was already aware of Amundsen's thorough and meticulous approach to leading expeditions, so the main revelations for me from this book were the complexity of his character and the turbulent and often precarious nature of some aspects of his life.

Much emphasis is placed not just on the Norwegian's rational and diligent methods, but also on the mentality which he brought to his endeavours. In contrast with the "romanticism" of other explorers of that age, one of Amundsen's major priorities appears to have been to achieve an objective, but also to minimize the risks and dangers by leaving very little to chance.

As I worked my way through this biography, I found Amundsen and elements of his philosophy of life to be quite inspiring, especially his attitudes towards personal industry and its connections to motivation, harmony and well-being. Also, his thirst for knowledge and self-improvement serves as a great example, as a means of averting stagnation and complacency.

Although some definite strands can detected, I also found Amundsen's personality to be rather elusive and difficult to pin down. He was above all, either consciously or otherwise, modern in his outlook, pointing the way to the future in many respects. His attention to detail and willingness to embrace new ideas was combined with his gradual utilization of the media and publicity, although apparently he sometimes found the latter distasteful and wearisome.

The author's writing style I found entertaining and absorbing, if sometimes breathless. The enthusiasm for the subject is palpable, and this gives this work an edge, a zest and a vibrancy which elevate it above the ordinary.

One of the most curious facets of Amundsen's life was his perpetual financial difficulty, and it is a galling irony that he, the most competent and masterly explorer of his generation, was regularly in such dire fiscal straits, whilst others were generously bankrolled by governments and public institutions. This side of the story helps to construct the picture of a man whose life and career were not as orderly and perfect as the legend might occasionally suggest. He sometimes had to improvise in order to get the job done.

It is heartening that this book gives prominence to some of the expeditions which are perhaps less famous in the public consciousness as well as, for example, the race to the South Pole. I was particularly fascinated by the chapters which examined Amundsen's experiments with aviation, and his sojourn in Siberia.

I think that Bown presents a balanced and plausible portrayal of a complex and remarkable person. What emerged for me most of all were Amundsen's restless energy and his constant quest to cover new ground and surmount fresh challenges.

Scott of the Antarctic

Like many British children of my generation, I was brought up on the exploits of those men who we were informed were our national heroes.

One individual who fascinated me during my childhood was Captain Robert Falcon Scott, and I remember reading much about his ultimately tragic expedition to the South Pole in 1910-12.  Of course, when we are young we are not fully capable of critical analysis of such things, and tend to accept the "official" version, or the myths and legends expounded by our elders and betters.

Only recently, after studying more material about the ill-fated expedition, did I grasp the sheer dimensions of what those pioneer explorers attempted and achieved, and the human qualities which they exhibited whilst doing so.

What has really been brought home to me is the geographical magnitude of these endeavours, which were of course undertaken with what by 21st century standards was negligible and primitive technology and equipment.  The sacrifices made, and fortitude shown, by the men on Scott's expedition, and other adventures of the same period, are quite humbling to me, and have helped to place some of my mundane everyday concerns into greater perspective.....

Of course, there has been criticism of Scott from some quarters, with accusations of incompetent planning and decision-making.  Be that as it may, for me it does not really detract from the old-fashioned nobility and honour which was displayed, especially in adversity.

Some of the literature which I was exposed to as a child seemed in retrospect to direct mild "hostility" towards Roald Amundsen, the Norwegian explorer who "beat" Scott's team in the race to the Pole.  I can see now that this was an absurd stance to adopt. Although Scott and his men will have been disappointed to "lose" the race, it does not unduly affect my appraisal of events. Amundsen seems to have achieved his triumph via a combination of sound judgement, audacity and also some good fortune.

These days, the nationalities of the protagonists is pretty much immaterial to me, anyway, and the achievements, and attributes, of the people involved is an often inspiring example of the capabilities and potential of the human race in general.  A study of man's curiosity, endurance, courage and wanderlust.

One of the fascinating aspects of the expeditions in the early 20th century is that they represented the last embers of an entire age, before the relentless march of mechanisation and technology.  This is in no way to demean the achievements of those who followed, by the way, and the phrases "romantic age" and "heroic era" are a touch trite.  More than their successors, though, Amundsen, Scott, Shackleton et al, were operating without a net.

The most heart-rending parts of the Scott story are of course the events which occurred on the return journey from the Pole. The stoicism of the party, the self-sacrifice of Lawrence Oates and the apparent dignity with which the remaining men confronted their fate. Revisiting these elements of the story certainly brought a tear to my eye.....