The representations of the Swedish Antarctic Expedition, 1901–03

• Published in: Polar Record
• Main Author: Lewander, Lisbeth
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 2002
• Subjects: General Earth and Planetary Sciences; Ecology; Geography, Planning and Development; Antarctic; Nordenskjöld; Antarc*; Antarctica; Otto Nordenskjöld; Polar Record
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0032247400017496; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0032247400017496

Abstract On 16 October 1901 Otto Nordenskjöld departed from Sweden for Antarctica. According to most accounts published during the twentieth century, the Swedish Antarctic Expedition of 1901–03 planned and executed a substantial scientific programme, and made heroic efforts to overcome the adversity faced. This article investigates whether these descriptions are accurate and complete by examining both the long-established reports of Nordenskjöld's expedition and numerous rarely used primary sources, such as diaries and letters. In comparing these primary sources with narratives from various expedition members, competing versions of aspects of the expedition appear. This article particularly focuses on reports concerning sealing and whaling, and on the representation of the human frailties of the expedition members.