The Magellan Index

Explorers' reputations are notoriously volatile things. But no one has had quite the ups and downs of Robert Falcon Scott, the British naval officer who lost the race to the South Pole in 1911 and froze to death on his way home.

LOSER Norwegian Roald Amundsen beats Scott to the pole on Dec. 14, 1911. Scott makes it there a month later

HERO After a grueling march back, Scott dies in his tent, only 11 miles from a depot equipped with food and oil. Hailed as a symbol of British courage

SCREWUP In Scott and Amundsen, a 1979 study, a British historian uncovers Scott's ineptitude with animals and cold. Rep heads due south

VICTIM In a new history of Scott's expedition, Dr. Susan Solomon tries to redeem his rep, blaming his misfortune on an unusually harsh Antarctic autumn

NEW STAGE? Coming to London's West End next month: Antarctica, a play about six men who split off from Scott's party and made it home without him. Uh-oh