From Publishers Weekly
"We are weak, writing is difficult, but... I do not regret this journey," quotes Fiennes from one of the last letters of Capt. Robert Scott, who reached the South Pole in the summer of 1912 and then perished on the return trip. For generations of Englishmen, Scott was a hero. In the late 1970s, however, a bestselling biography called Scott's exploits into question and his reputation suffered. In this finely honed and riveting account of adventure, death and betrayal, Fiennes, who was the first man to reach both poles by land, seeks to reclaim Scott's place in the pantheon of great and honorable explorers. Fiennes details the tortuous conditions and grim reality of Antarctic exploration at the turn of the last century. Throughout the ordeal, Scott showed leadership, compassion and an unquenchable will to live. Alas, these attributes proved insufficient in the face of a blinding blizzard; he starved and froze to death on his journey home. In a gentle and urbane tone, Fiennes frequently cites his own extraordinary experiences to give perspective to Scott's story. In Fiennes's estimation, Scott succeeded where others failed: he respected his men, was the pride of an empire and made a legitimate and lasting contribution to scientific understanding. Four 8-page b&w photo inserts, maps. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
Robert Scott, a British naval captain, entered into legend when the Antarctic exploration party he headed in the polar summer of 1911-12 failed to return home. Fiennes, an accomplished explorer and travel writer, evokes a ringing you-are-there tone in his authoritative reconstruction of that fateful trip in a book that also serves as a comprehensive biography of Scott himself. Scrupulously researched (with the cooperation of the Scott estate) and astonishingly felt--given Fiennes' extensive travel exploration experience, including polar trips--this account follows a fascinating and difficult man, "born delicate, weak chested, moody, quick tempered, and inclined to laziness," who tested himself all the way to his last act: freezing and starving to death on the unsuccessful return leg of his exploratory push to the pole. Fiennes' treatment defines creative nonfiction; of the many books, several of them recent, on Scott's expedition, this one will prove a popular addition to active travel-literature collections. Brad Hooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Entertainment Weekly
"Fiennes' keen observations give Scott's now-familiar story a fresh and unique power."

Book Description
The real story of Captain Robert Scott's legendary Antarctic quest, told by the man whom the Guinness Book of World Records has proclaimed "the world's greatest living explorer," Sir Ranulph Fiennes. During the Golden Era of Exploration, Captain Robert Scott and his competitor Roald Amundsen conquered the unconquerable: Antarctica. This perilous race to the South Pole claimed the life of Scott and became the stuff of legend, as well as endless scrutiny. In this compelling, meticulously researched biography of Captain Scott and his fatal journey, renowned modern-day explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes, holder of 10 expeditionary records, has written what is sure to become the definitive book on this hotly debated subject. Race to the Pole provides a level of immediacy and accuracy that no other account has ever approached. Fiennes gained the exclusive cooperation of the Scott estate, as well as access to the descendants of key players, including those of Amundsen. As an explorer who has led over 30 expeditions, including the first polar circumnavigation of the earth and the first unsupported crossing of the Antarctic continent, he has firsthand knowledge of the grueling feat that Scott and his team undertook, as well as the physical tortures they endured. Infused with the intensity of fiction and exhibiting an exhaustive eye for detail found in the greatest historical biographies, Race to the Pole is a prodigious achievement and certain to become a classic in the literature of exploration.

About the Author
Sir Ranulph Fiennes was the first man to reach both Poles on land and he is the only person to have been awarded two clasps to the Polar Medal for both Antarctic and Arctic regions. In 1993, Fiennes was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for "human endeavor and charitable services." He is the author of many books, including his autobiography, Living Dangerously, and Mind Over Matter, a harrowing account of his Antarctic expedition. Most recently, he set a world record by running seven marathons in seven days on six continents. He is cousin to actors Joseph and Ralph, and lives in Somerset, England.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

During the Golden Era of Exploration, Captain Robert Scott and his competitor Roald Amundsen conquered the unconquerable: Antarctica. This perilous race to the South Pole claimed the life of Scott and became the stuff of legend, as well as endless scrutiny. In this compelling, meticulously researched history of Captain Scott and his fatal journey, renowned modern-day explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes, holder of ten world expeditionary records, has written the definitive book on this hotly debated subject. There is immense fascination with Antarctica, and yet our understanding of South Polar exploration is often clouded by dueling perceptions of the efforts of both Scott and Amundsen. Here, for the first time, Fiennes offers an account of Scott's motivations and aspirations for the Pole, and his historic clash with Amundsen over goals and approaches. Just as fascinating, Fiennes highlights the unpredictably disastrous weather patterns that led to the extreme cold that ultimately doomed Scott's return trip. It is in this gripping account that Fiennes's singular understanding of polar exploration is most apparent.

Race to the Pole provides a level of immediacy and accuracy that no other account has ever approached. As an explorer who has led more than thirty expeditions, including the first polar circumnavigation of the earth and the first unsupported crossing of the Antarctic continent, Fiennes has firsthand knowledge of the grueling feat that Scott and his team undertook, as well as the physical tortures they endured. Infused with the intensity of fiction and exhibiting an exhaustive eye for detail found in the greatest historical biographies, Race to the Pole is a prodigious achievement and certain to become a classic in the literature of exploration.

FROM THE CRITICS

Entertainment Weekly

Fiennes' keen observations give Scott's now-familiar story a fresh and unique power.

Publishers Weekly

"We are weak, writing is difficult, but... I do not regret this journey," quotes Fiennes from one of the last letters of Capt. Robert Scott, who reached the South Pole in the summer of 1912 and then perished on the return trip. For generations of Englishmen, Scott was a hero. In the late 1970s, however, a bestselling biography called Scott's exploits into question and his reputation suffered. In this finely honed and riveting account of adventure, death and betrayal, Fiennes, who was the first man to reach both poles by land, seeks to reclaim Scott's place in the pantheon of great and honorable explorers. Fiennes details the tortuous conditions and grim reality of Antarctic exploration at the turn of the last century. Throughout the ordeal, Scott showed leadership, compassion and an unquenchable will to live. Alas, these attributes proved insufficient in the face of a blinding blizzard; he starved and froze to death on his journey home. In a gentle and urbane tone, Fiennes frequently cites his own extraordinary experiences to give perspective to Scott's story. In Fiennes's estimation, Scott succeeded where others failed: he respected his men, was the pride of an empire and made a legitimate and lasting contribution to scientific understanding. four 8-page b&w photo inserts, maps. Agent, Ed Victor. (Nov. 3) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Library Journal

Fiennes, the first man to reach both Poles on land and the only person awarded two clasps to the Polar Medal for both Arctic and Antarctic exploration, provides a gripping, must-read story of Capt. Robert Falcon Scott's legendary Antarctic expeditions. In his determined research, Fiennes gained the exclusive cooperation of the Scott estate, as well as access to the descendants of key players. Fiennes briefly summarizes Scott's family background before detailing his 1901-03 attempt to reach the South Pole and then presenting a thrilling, masterly explanation of his successful 1910-12 bid (though Scott perished on the return journey). This exhaustive analysis conveys the edge-of-life reality of late 19th- and early 20th-century Antarctic expeditions and discredits Roland Huntford's anti-Scott title, Scott and Amundsen. Fiennes has led over 30 expeditions himself, and his firsthand knowledge of the grueling realities Scott faced sets his work apart from the swelling literature on the explorer. Highly recommended for all academic and larger public libraries. Dale Farris, Groves, Texas Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews