Tapescript 26.

I.In today's edition of The Book Programme we're going to talk to Raymond Simpson, historian, and author of Race to the South Pole. Mr Simpson, the irony of the story is that although Captain Scott reached the South Pole one month after the Norwegian explorer Amundsen and died on the return journey, he got all the glory, but Amundsen, by comparison, has been largely forgotten. Do you think this fair?

RSAbsolutely not. Amundsen arrived first because he was better prepared in everyway. He had done all his research and planning before setting off. He had the right clothes; he had sufficient food supplies, and most importantly, he had the right transport, that is, skis and dogs. In contrast, Scott's decision to use ponies instead of skis and dogs was absolute madness. As well as that, his food supplies were very deficient in calories for such a hard journey, and he didn't take clothes that were warm enough for the awful weather conditions. In fact I'd say Scott's planning was so bad it undoubtedly resulted in his death and the deaths of all his men. I also think Captain Scott's personality was partly to blame for the tragedy. He was quite an arrogant man, you know, who didn't listen to advice. I think he was convinced that he'd succeed simply because he was an English gentleman.

ISo why do we remember Scott and not Amundsen?

RSI think we remember him principally because he and his men all died. It was a tragedy, a glorious failure. I think we always tend to remember glorious failures. But also I think we remember him because of his diaries. As you know they were discovered along with the frozen bodies of his men, and personally I think that they were written mainly to try to justify his own bad decisions.

I So you think Scott should be criticized rather than glorified?

RS In many ways, yes. Scott lost the race - and his life - because of his bad preparation more than anything else. He should have done his research better. He should have made sure that his team had the right food and clothes. And above all he shouldn't have taken ponies. They couldn't survive the freezing conditions as well as dogs could - in fact all the ponies died. Scott and his men were struggling on foot with their sledges, while Amundsen and his team had skis and dogs.

I Race to the South Pole is a great adventure tale as well as a story of human courage and incompetence. Mr Simpson, thank you very much

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