The Log of the "Scotia"

This is an account of early polar exploration written by one of the foremost polar explorers of the age. William Speirs Bruce (1867-1921) was considered the best polar scientist of the period, yet has been neglected by modern readers. He sailed with the Balaena to the Antartic (1892-92), led the 1902-4 Scotia expedition, and completed surveys and scientific explorations in Franz Josef land and on seven expeditions to Spitsbergen. The Log of the Scotia is a narrative account of the 1902-4 expedition. Although fully prepared for printing in 1911 (along with seven systematic scientific reports) Bruce was unable to find enough money to publish it. The Log was put on one side and forgotten. After 80 years The Log has resurfaced, together with Bruce's selected photographs and a complete set of ship's plans, and is published here for the first time. Peter Speak writes an introductory essay on Bruce the man, and there is a full glossary of scientific terms used by Bruce for the non-specialist.