This acclaimed dual biography charts both British Robert Scott's and Norwegian Roald Amundsen's race to the South Pole during 1911–12. Bizarrely, Scott died in his quest and became a tragic hero, whereas Amundsen, the victor, was largely forgotten. Reassessing the two explorers and their methods of exploration, the book examines the driving ambitions of the era, recounts the race in detail, and explores the flaws of and differences between the two men. Tim Pigott-Smith evokes all the power and pathos of this enduringly fascinating slice of history.