Beryl Bainbridge’s novel

was published in 1991. It was the author’s second historical novel or “faction”, after

A

(1978) and retells Robert Falcon Scott’s famous and fatal expedition to the South Pole, starting with its departure from Cardiff in June 1910 and ending in March 1912. Bainbridge sticks closely to the well-known historical facts and all characters of the story are based on real persons (officers, seamen and scientists). The novel is divided into five chapters and follows the classical pattern of tragic drama beginning

and evolving through

to

. Each chapter is told by one the five members of the select group which actually headed to the South Pole -- Petty Officer Edgar “Taff” Evans, Dr Edward…

2570 words

Citation: Hiltl, Markus. "Birthday Boys". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 01 October 2007 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=6324, accessed 24 November 2024.]