With Scott in the Antarctic: Edward Wilson: Explorer, Naturalist, Artist

by Isobel Williams, Michael Stroud (Introduction)

Overview

The first full biography of the Antarctic hero who accompanied Robert Falcon Scott on his celebrated expeditions

 

This first full account of the last exploration artist traces his life from childhood to his tragic death. Edward Wilson (1872–1912) accompanied Scott on both the Discovery Expedition of 1901–1904 and the Terra Nova Expedition of 1910–1913. Wilson served as junior surgeon and zoologist on Discovery and, on this expedition, with Scott and Ernest Shackleton he set a new Furthest South on December 30, 1902. He was chief of scientific staff on the Terra Nova Expedition and reached the South Pole with Scott, Lawrence Oates, Henry Robertson Bowers, and Edgar Evans on January 18, 1912, arriving there four weeks after the Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen. Wilson and his four companions died on the return journey. Trained as a physician, Wilson was also a skilled artist. His drawings and paintings lavishly illustrated both expeditions. He was the last major exploration artist; technological developments in the field of photography were soon to make cameras practical as a way of recording journeys into the unknown.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780752452463
Publisher:	The History Press
Publication date:	04/01/2011
Pages:	336
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Isobel Williams is a physician. Michael Stroud is a physician who is an expert on human health under extreme conditions and who partnered with Ranulph Fiennes on polar expeditions. He is the author of Shadows on the Wasteland.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements 7

Introduction Dr Michael Stroud 9

Prologue 11

1 Early Years 17

2 Cambridge 29

3 Edward Wilson, M.B 41

4 Antarctic Recruit 59

5 England to Madeira 75

6 To the Polar Ice 89

7 Entering Antarctica 109

8 Furthest South 133

9 Paintings and Penguins 159

10 The Grouse Challenge 177

11 Terra Nova 203

12 The Winter Journey 233

13 Death in the Antarctic 251

Epilogue 275

Notes on Sources 279

Selected Bibliography 313

Index 315

Editorial Reviews

"Minor editing of repetitive sections would enhance this otherwise brilliant biography of a remarkable explorer. Highly recommended."  —The Historical Novels Review

From the Publisher