The Voyage of the 'Why Not?' in the Antarctic

Dr. Jean-Baptiste Charcot (1867-1936) trained as a medical doctor and scientist. With money inherited from his father (Dr. Jean-Martin Charcot, a noted neurologist) he purchased a ship, the 'Français' and commanded the First French South Polar Expedition, between 1903 and 1905. This book is the journal of the Second French Polar Expedition. The Voyage of the 'Pourquoi-Pas?' (The 'Why Not?') in the Antarctic. 1908 - 1910. It is based on the 1st English translation by Philip Walsh, published in 1911, by Hodder and Stoughton. Included are all the book's 40 photographs, a chart, and one line-drawing.The Expedition discovered and mapped new areas of this then largely unknown continent. In addition to exploration the Expedition carried out an extensive programme of scientific research.Dr. Charcot gives a detailed and engaging account of the dangers and pleasures of day-to-day life on board ship.After the first summer campaign, the ship was moored during the long winter months at Petermann Island. Here they set up scientific observation huts and when the terrible weather allowed, explored the adjacent peninsula. To relieve the tedium and to keep healthy they had weekly ski-races, musical evenings, and lectures. The library was stocked with 3,000 volumes, the cellar had a huge quantity of fine French wines and their preserved-food provisions were supplemented by penguin egg omelettes and seal meat. They even had washing-machines and Saturdays were linen-washing days. They enjoyed numerous so-called fete days, celebrating everything from Bastille Day to the birthdays of patrons and expedition members.At the end of the winter, they returned to the whaling station to fill up the ship's coal bunkers. Dr. Charcot gives interesting descriptions of the activities of the whale-boats and of this gruesome industry. During their second summer season they steamed as far south as time, weather and fuel would allow, making further important discoveries. The Expedition was a great success both for Dr. Charcot and for French national pride. They received a hero's welcome on returning to France in June, 1910. As opposed to many of the early British expeditions there seems to have been less demarcation between the officers, staff and crew members. It becomes obvious through the journal that Dr.Charcot was highly esteemed by all his fellow expedition members, many of whom were also on his first Polar Expedition three years earlier.Dr. Charcot lost his life on board his beloved ship the 'Porquoi-Pas?', when it sank in a storm off the coast of Iceland in 1936.