The Worst Journey in the World
Vol. 1: Making Our Easting Down
The Worst Journey in the World is a graphic novel adaptation of Apsley Cherry-Garrard’s memoir about an ill-fated voyage to Antarctica.
In 1910, Cherry-Garrard signed on as assistant zoologist on Robert F. Scott’s mission to Antarctica. He was one of many scientists, specialists, and crew members aboard. Their ship, the Terra Nova, left from Cardiff, Wales. Their itinerary included several stopovers before their final departure from New Zealand six months later. The crew took advantage of each location, relaxing or gathering wildlife samples. On the final part of their trip, though, a storm and a clogged pump caused problems, requiring daring heroism. The dawning of 1911 brought the first sight of Antarctica, their final destination.
From the first pages, the text hints at an impending tragedy, heightening anticipation. But the book also focuses on the friendships between the men, not just the wonders and dangers they encountered. The characters are engaging and well-defined, with their personalities often established through short but memorable bits of narrative, as with Cherry-Garrard’s observation about Scott’s motivations: “To face a thing because it was a feat, and only a feat, was not very attractive to Scott.”
The stunning and dynamic illustrations recall fine animation, and the book’s outstanding design showcases a variety of font, layout, and composition choices that further enhance the story. The informational pages, references, and detailed footnotes are exhaustive as well.
The Worst Journey in the World is a graphic memoir about an epic exploratory adventure on the high seas.
Reviewed by
Peter Dabbene
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
