Cautionary Tales South Pole Race: “Mummy, is Amundsen a good man?”

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Roald Amundsen beat Captain Scott to the South Pole. The Norwegian – using dog sleds and skis – made it look easy… fun, even. He was heading home to safety, while the British party – hauling sleds by hand – were struggling to survive out on the ice.

In this case, to the victor went a spoiled reputation. The British grumbled that Amundsen had somehow cheated, or had at least behaved in an underhand manner. These stinging accusations would haunt the adventurer until the day he died in the polar wastes.

The Host

Tim Harford

Tim Harford’s long-running column in the Financial Times, “The Undercover Economist,” reveals the economic ideas behind everyday experiences. His first book, The Undercover Economist, was published in 30 languages and sold…