Skip to main content
Advanced Search
Pourquoi-pas? dans l'Antarctique
Pourquoi-pas? dans l'Antarctique

Pourquoi-pas? dans l'Antarctique

Author
Date1910
Object number00031398
NameBook
MediumPaper, ink, leather
DimensionsOverall: 288 x 205 x 35 mm, 2.1 kg
ClassificationsBooks and journals
Credit LineANMM Collection
DescriptionA first edition of Jean-Baptise Charcot's journal titled 'Le Pourquoi-pas? Dans l'Antarctique' (Why Not? In the Antarctic) covering his second French Antarctic Expedition of 1908-1910. HistoryJean Baptise Charcot undertook two successful Antarctic expeditions. The first expedition, aboard his self-funded FRANCIS during 1903 - 1905, was declared a resounding success. Although the ship was not in a state to return to France, Charcot and an extensive amount of scientific research returned to an enthusiastic reception. On the basis of this work, a second expedition was planned for 1908 - 1910. This time the ship was LE POURQUOI-PAS? and Charcot, now a national hero, was keen to expand his exploration area. Despite some tense periods where the ship was badly damaged striking submerged rocks and was later hit by ice bergs, this expedition also added to the mapping and understanding of Antarctica enormously. Charcot returned to France with an outstanding reputation that was heightened even further when he received a Distinguished Services Medal for his actions during WW1. In 1911 the Bulletin of the American Geographical Society published an account of Charcot's work in Antarctica and it is interesting to see a contemporary view of the explorer: "Charcot's expeditions are in the very forefront of leading Antarctic explorations. No one has surpassed him and very few have equalled him as a leader of scientific observer. He is absolutely impartial and accurate. When he started, little was known of the western coast of northern West Antarctica except the Gerlache Strait region and a couple of rather vague landfalls further south. Now this coast is practically surveyed from Leige Island in 64° S lat. to Charcot Land in 70°S. lat. One of Charcot's most important discoveries is that of safe harbors at Wandel Island and Petermann Island, as these are available for bases and rallying points for future expeditions.. Whether Charcot and France will take any further part in the exploration of Antarctica remains to be seen. Let us hope so! The LE POURQUOI-PAS? is available and the unknown still looms large on the map. But whatever the future, knowledge and science have been widened by the splendid efforts of the Frenchmen who, with Charcot at their head, have explored the Antarctica." [Balch, Edwin Swift. Charcot's Antarctic Explorations. Bulletin of the American Geographical Society, Vol. XLII, 1911, No. 2.] SignificanceFrance has been exploring the Antarctic since the 1830s when Dumont D'Urville sailed there. Charcot joined the golden age of Antarctic expeditions alsong with those led by Amundsen, Mawson, Scott and Shackelton. He made two successful voyages to the Antarctic prior to WW1.
Later his career took a more oceanographic turn until 1936 when studying Icelandic currents, LE POURQUOI-PAS? blew-up killing Charcot and all but one of the crew.