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There was book in my school library about the Franklin expedition. There was something haunting and fascinating about the old drawings/paintings of one of the s

There was book in my school library about the Franklin expedition. There was something haunting and fascinating about the old drawings/paintings of one of the ships locked in the ice, pictures of the incredibly well-preserved sailors, and the failed trek across the ice which ended in cannibalism. It is probably a relatively unknown story (at least in the US - this article suggests that resonates with Canadians), but there's something that draws you to it. Actually, the polar expeditions produced a lot of incredible stories. You've got Shackleton's legendary return to civilization, and what I think is one of the more heroic and tragic pieces of writing, Robert Falcon Scott's Message to the Public: "We took risks, we knew we took them; things have come out against us, and therefore we have no cause for complaint, but bow to the will of Providence, determined still to do our best to the last. ... Had we lived, I should have had a tale to tell of the hardihood, endurance, and courage of my companions which would have stirred the heart of every Englishman. These rough notes and our dead bodies must tell the tale, but surely, surely, a great rich country like ours will see that those who are dependent on us are properly provided for." It's rather strange that such a desolate environment could produce such interesting stories.

trusche 12y ago
> Men wanted for hazardous journey. Low wages, bitter cold, long hours of complete darkness. Safe return doubtful. Honour and recognition in event of success. http://discerninghistory.com/2013/05/shackletons-ad-men-wanted-for-hazerdous-journey/ http://discerninghistory.com/2013/05/shackletons-ad-men-want...
- trhway 12y ago
  can't wait for the same ad for the trip to Europe. Though i hope at least low wages and bitter cold willn't be part of the package this time. Bitter cold replaced by high radiation though.
eru 12y ago
Funny enough, Amundsen who prepared much better and actually succeeded doesn't get nearly the same amount of press that the Scott does. It seems true heroes fail.
- smacktoward 12y ago
  Part of this is just because people prefer a dramatic story, and "we prepared ourselves to overcome X, and then we found X and overcame it" is less dramatic than "we encountered all sorts of unexpected difficulties! and had to struggle to overcome them!" The other part is a peculiarly English cultural tendency, particularly pronounced during the Victorian and Edwardian eras, to raise up for veneration losers who went down with style -- not just Scott, but figures like Gordon of Khartoum (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_George_Gordon http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_George_Gordon) as well. There was a strong strain in the culture boys were raised in during that era that stressed chivalry and a particular sense of good sportsmanship as being much more important than whether one actually wins or loses. There's a poem from 1892 called Vitaï Lampada (http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Admirals_All/Vita%C3%AF_Lampada http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Admirals_All/Vita%C3%AF_Lampad...), written by Sir Henry Newbolt (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Newbolt http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Newbolt), that is frequently pointed to as the best expression of this ethos: There's a breathless hush in the Close to-night -- Ten to make and the match to win -- A bumping pitch and a blinding light, An hour to play and the last man in. And it's not for the sake of a ribboned coat, Or the selfish hope of a season's fame, But his Captain's hand on his shoulder smote -- 'Play up! play up! and play the game!' The sand of the desert is sodden red, -- Red with the wreck of a square that broke; -- The Gatling's jammed and the Colonel dead, And the regiment blind with dust and smoke. The river of death has brimmed his banks, And England's far, and Honour a name, But the voice of a schoolboy rallies the ranks: 'Play up! play up! and play the game!' This is the word that year by year, While in her place the School is set, Every one of her sons must hear, And none that hears it dare forget. This they all with a joyful mind Bear through life like a torch in flame, And falling fling to the host behind -- 'Play up! play up! and play the game!' There is a line of historical thought that argues that this philosophy had a profoundly negative impact on British military thinking during the first half of the 20th century, with boys who grew up soaking in an emphasis on "playing the game" over winning becoming generals who presided over disasters like the horrific charnel-house offensive at the Somme in 1916 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Somme http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Somme). There's a very good book (http://www.amazon.com/The-Rules-Game-Jutland-British/dp/0719561310 http://www.amazon.com/The-Rules-Game-Jutland-British/dp/0719...) that examines this exact question through the lens of how the Royal Navy fought the Battle of Jutland, if you're into this sort of thing.
cambion 12y ago
I think the book you're thinking about is this one: http://www.amazon.com/Buried-In-Ice-Time-Quest/dp/0590438492 http://www.amazon.com/Buried-In-Ice-Time-Quest/dp/0590438492 I too found that in my school's library.
- aaron-lebo 12y ago
  That's quite the blast from the past. Thanks.
johan_larson 12y ago
What is our generation doing that is as bold as the Franklin expedition?
- yitchelle 12y ago
  Maybe someone like James Cameron when he ventured to the deepest part of the ocean. For me, this is the a fascinating place, with many unknown living creatures swimning about.
graeme 12y ago
This excellent Canadian history comic may shed some light on things: http://harkavagrant.com/index.php?id=24 http://harkavagrant.com/index.php?id=24 Though I expect few Canadians know about the Franklin exhibition.
krakensden 12y ago
I've been reading "The Last Place on Earth", and the author is quite disdainful of Scott, who he views as a dilettante who never prepared properly, refused to learn from his mistakes, and who was never involved in an expedition that didn't run out of food. The last bit is definitely true- he died after four or five days in a blizzard, ten miles from resupply. After heroics coming back from the pole with men collapsing from malnutrition.

trusche 12y ago

> Men wanted for hazardous journey. Low wages, bitter cold, long hours of complete darkness. Safe return doubtful. Honour and recognition in event of success. http://discerninghistory.com/2013/05/shackletons-ad-men-wanted-for-hazerdous-journey/ http://discerninghistory.com/2013/05/shackletons-ad-men-want...

trhway 12y ago
can't wait for the same ad for the trip to Europe. Though i hope at least low wages and bitter cold willn't be part of the package this time. Bitter cold replaced by high radiation though.

eru 12y ago

Funny enough, Amundsen who prepared much better and actually succeeded doesn't get nearly the same amount of press that the Scott does. It seems true heroes fail.

smacktoward 12y ago
Part of this is just because people prefer a dramatic story, and "we prepared ourselves to overcome X, and then we found X and overcame it" is less dramatic than "we encountered all sorts of unexpected difficulties! and had to struggle to overcome them!" The other part is a peculiarly English cultural tendency, particularly pronounced during the Victorian and Edwardian eras, to raise up for veneration losers who went down with style -- not just Scott, but figures like Gordon of Khartoum (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_George_Gordon http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_George_Gordon) as well. There was a strong strain in the culture boys were raised in during that era that stressed chivalry and a particular sense of good sportsmanship as being much more important than whether one actually wins or loses. There's a poem from 1892 called Vitaï Lampada (http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Admirals_All/Vita%C3%AF_Lampada http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Admirals_All/Vita%C3%AF_Lampad...), written by Sir Henry Newbolt (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Newbolt http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Newbolt), that is frequently pointed to as the best expression of this ethos: There's a breathless hush in the Close to-night -- Ten to make and the match to win -- A bumping pitch and a blinding light, An hour to play and the last man in. And it's not for the sake of a ribboned coat, Or the selfish hope of a season's fame, But his Captain's hand on his shoulder smote -- 'Play up! play up! and play the game!' The sand of the desert is sodden red, -- Red with the wreck of a square that broke; -- The Gatling's jammed and the Colonel dead, And the regiment blind with dust and smoke. The river of death has brimmed his banks, And England's far, and Honour a name, But the voice of a schoolboy rallies the ranks: 'Play up! play up! and play the game!' This is the word that year by year, While in her place the School is set, Every one of her sons must hear, And none that hears it dare forget. This they all with a joyful mind Bear through life like a torch in flame, And falling fling to the host behind -- 'Play up! play up! and play the game!' There is a line of historical thought that argues that this philosophy had a profoundly negative impact on British military thinking during the first half of the 20th century, with boys who grew up soaking in an emphasis on "playing the game" over winning becoming generals who presided over disasters like the horrific charnel-house offensive at the Somme in 1916 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Somme http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Somme). There's a very good book (http://www.amazon.com/The-Rules-Game-Jutland-British/dp/0719561310 http://www.amazon.com/The-Rules-Game-Jutland-British/dp/0719...) that examines this exact question through the lens of how the Royal Navy fought the Battle of Jutland, if you're into this sort of thing.

cambion 12y ago

I think the book you're thinking about is this one: http://www.amazon.com/Buried-In-Ice-Time-Quest/dp/0590438492 http://www.amazon.com/Buried-In-Ice-Time-Quest/dp/0590438492 I too found that in my school's library.

aaron-lebo 12y ago
That's quite the blast from the past. Thanks.

johan_larson 12y ago

What is our generation doing that is as bold as the Franklin expedition?

yitchelle 12y ago
Maybe someone like James Cameron when he ventured to the deepest part of the ocean. For me, this is the a fascinating place, with many unknown living creatures swimning about.

graeme 12y ago

This excellent Canadian history comic may shed some light on things: http://harkavagrant.com/index.php?id=24 http://harkavagrant.com/index.php?id=24 Though I expect few Canadians know about the Franklin exhibition.

krakensden 12y ago

I've been reading "The Last Place on Earth", and the author is quite disdainful of Scott, who he views as a dilettante who never prepared properly, refused to learn from his mistakes, and who was never involved in an expedition that didn't run out of food. The last bit is definitely true- he died after four or five days in a blizzard, ten miles from resupply. After heroics coming back from the pole with men collapsing from malnutrition.