I may be some time

[louiselux]

edfrank talks about 'I May Be Some Time', by Francis Spufford here. I'm halfway through it - it's a fascinating, scholarly book about our obsession with polar exploration, the roots of it and also the reflections of it in literature, from Captain Cook's first voyage to South Georgia onwards. But it's also about the journeys themselves and the men who undertook them. It's utterly manly, and in fact I'm keenly looking forward to the chapter that discusses that aspect of it. daegaer, I think you might need to read this book.

In other news - urrgh.

Comments

[lisa-bee.livejournal.com]

That book looks really interesting. I really don't know much about the Polar expeditions, though it's really interesting--is I May Be Some Time a good read?

And, urrgh? You okay?

[louiselux.livejournal.com]

It's a very good read - I do find it quite slow going at some points - the sort of thing that makes me stop and think for a while to make sure I've understood it all. But it's so interesting and full of details and stories. If you're interested at all in polar exploration, literature or history, all mixed up into one, then you'll enjoy this.

And thank you! I'm fine:-) Just v busy and lacking in sleep.

[daegaer.livejournal.com]

Ooh, yes I think I need to read that. I've read some of Shackleton's second book, but he's so exceedingly manly that when on of the ponies plunges down a cravasse, nearly taking an expedition member with it - that's all he says. Nothing about how anyone felt, just the bare facts.

And allow me to second your urrgh.