South with Scott

Description:

A Collins' Bumper Copyright Reward Books. Collins' Copyright Books of Adventure No. 1. Undated edition.

Edward Ratcliffe Garth Russell Evans (1880-1957) was second-in-command on Robert Falcon Scott's famous Discovery expedition to the South Pole in 1910-1913. Evans accompanied Scott on part of the journey to the Pole, but 160 miles from the Pole, Evans, William Lashly, and Petty Officer Crean returned to base. Evans became seriously ill with scurvy, surviving the return journey only due to the care and heroism of Lashly and Crean. Later Evans commanded a cruiser HMS Carlisle, at Hong Kong in 1921-1922. During this time he was awarded a medal for his role in rescuing passengers from the wrecked-vessel SS Hong Moh.

In 1921 Evans published, through Collins, a first-hand account of the Discovery Expedition entitled 'South With Scott'. In the Preface to this abridged edition Evans states, 'It is written more particularly for Britain’s younger generations.' 'The object of this work is to keep alive the interest of English speaking people in the story of Scott and his little band of sailor adventurers, scientific explorers, and companions.' The Preface is dated February 27, 1921, Hong-Kong. Evans acknowledges the assistance of the Paymaster Lieutenant Commander Bernard Carter of H.M.S. Carlise in the production of the book. The author dedicates the book to ‘To Lashly and Crean’.

Attractive colour frontispiece, and title page, evocative of early 20th century polar exploration.

Condition

8vo (210x160mm), original pictorial boards, some wear to edges and corners, light foxing to endpapers, but an exceptionally bright and well-preserved copy. Vg.