tealin | The Worst Journey in the World (Reply)

There are better ways to beat the heat on a sweltering summer* Sunday, but I attempted it by listening to Edwardian men pushed to the brink in Antarctica.

This week's Classic Serial on BBC Radio 4 was a dramatization of The Worst Journey in the World by Apsley Cherry-Garrard, who was a member of Robert Scott's Terra Nova Expedition to Anarctica. Yes, that Scott expedition. Needless to say he wasn't part of the South Pole party because he wrote this book, but it's a gripping listen nonetheless. If you want to listen to the show, I have good news and bad news. Good news: The link works. Bad news: This is part 2. Good news: You can still enjoy it.

Of the explorers who arrived in Antarctica, Scott has chosen a team of twelve to head toward the pole. He will narrow them down as they get closer, and as we start part two the men are about to learn who will be in the first group of four to be sent back. Only four will be chosen to go all the way to the pole.

They started the trek with ponies pulling the sledges but one by one the ponies weakened and died, so they ate them, and also saved some for the return trip. They then continue pulling the sledges themselves, vying to prove they're the strongest so they will be chosen for the polar party.

Everything else you ought to be able to figure out in context and as the story goes along ... I think ...

In looking up information about the expedition (and pictures!), I discovered that last year there was a film adaptation on BBC 4. A film adaptation starring Mark Gatiss and Lee Ingleby.

That would be ...

THIS Mark Gatiss:

and THIS Lee Ingleby:

I WANT TO SEE THIS. I WANT TO SEE IT NOW. HOW CAN I SEE IT? It doesn't appear to be out on DVD (yet?). WANT. Even though it appears to be drastically different from the radio play. No matter. And no prizes for guessing what happens to Lee Ingleby's character.

*Technically it is autumn but any sunny day over 90°F is summer in my book.