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pp. vii [3] 572, “Since Scott?s death in 1912, he has been the subject of innumerable books?some declaring him a hero, others dismissing him as an irresponsible fool. But in all the pages that have been written about him, the man behind the legend has been forgotten or distorted beyond all recognition. Now, with full access to all family papers and to the voluminous diaries and records of key participants in the Antarctic expeditions, and with the inclusion in the book of excerpts from Scott?s own letters and diaries, David Crane gives us a portrait of the explorer that is more nuanced and balanced than any we have had before. In reassessing Scott?s life, Crane is able to provide a fresh perspective on both the Discovery expedition of 1901?04 and the Terra Nova expedition of 1910?13, making clear that although Scott?s dramatic journeys are the most compelling parts of his story, they are only part of a larger narrative that includes remarkable scientific achievement and the challenges of a tumultuous private life. “