Citation

May K, Lewis G. Polar Record 2014; 50(2): 156-164.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014)

DOI

10.1017/S0032247413000041

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

In writing and interviews Roland Huntford has stated that at the end of his life Captain Robert Falcon Scott 'probably' had no reason to wish to survive, and that he 'persuaded' Dr Edward A. Wilson and Lieutenant Henry Bowers to remain in the tent with him when they could have gone forward. This commentary demonstrates that Huntford's interpretation of events shows a serious misunderstanding of the primary sources and historical context; that Wilson and Bowers could not have survived had they gone forward, a fact which Huntford himself understands; and that Scott had extremely strong motivation to wish to return home. © Cambridge University Press 2013.

Language: en

Keywords

survival; historical perspective; error analysis; polar region