Cherry: A Life of Apsley Cherry-Garrard (Modern Library Paperbacks)
Sara Wheeler, author of the acclaimedTerra Incognita, became  fascinated with Antarctic explorer Apsley Cherry-Garrard after readingThe Worst Journey in the World,  his classic account of Captain Robert Falcon Scott's doomed expedition to the  South Pole, of which he was a survivor. "His book was not the disembodied  account of an expedition: it was an intimate reflection of the man behind the  authorial mask. I wanted a glimpse of that man," she writes. What she offers is  much more than a glimpse;Cherryis a fascinating and detailed look at  this complicated and often troubled hero.A man of substantial means and a strong sense of duty, Cherry "recoiled from the  sedate life of the country squire," throwing himself into strenuous adventures  whenever he was not crippled by episodes of severe depression which haunted him  his entire life. After returning from the pole, he traveled to eastern China as  part of a zoological expedition and then served Britain in World War I before  writingThe Worst Journey in the World, whichNational Geographichas called the greatest adventure book of all time. Wheeler covers not only his  many adventures, but the inner workings of the man, such as his bouts with  mental illness, including delusional phases, hypochondria, and severe anxiety,  all of which affected his physical health as well. She also covers his often  complex relationships, including his close friendship with George Bernard Shaw,  who certainly influenced Cherry's writing. Written with the cooperation of  Cherry's widow and full access to his papers and notes, this is the first  authorized biography of this extraordinary man.--Shawn Carkonen--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.