Wikipedia:Featured article candidates/Amundsen's South Pole expedition/archive1

Amundsen's South Pole expedition

Amundsen's South Pole expedition (edit | talk | history | protect | delete | links | watch | logs | views)

• Featured article candidates/Amundsen's South Pole expedition/archive1

Nominator(s): Brianboulton (talk) 21:41, 9 November 2011 (UTC) and User:Apterygial

Almost 100 years ago a team of Norwegian explorers led by Roald Amundesn became the first to reach the South Pole, narrowly preceding a British expedition led by Captain Robert Falcon Scott. Amundsen's party returned safely, Scott's men died on their return journey. This tragedy overshadowed Amundsen's achievement for decades; many thought that he had stolen an unfair march on Scott by being less than honest about his expedition's objectives. Here is the story of his expedition, on which I and User:Apterygial (with useful assistance from others) have been working for several months. The aim is to have the article as TFA on 14 December, the date in 1911 when Amundsen arrived at the pole. But first it has to clear the FAC hurdle. It has recently undergone a very thorough peer review, and in our view is near enough ready, but...Over to you. Brianboulton (talk) 21:41, 9 November 2011– (UTC)

• Support I was part of the peer review and all of my concerns were answered there. I note that one of the External links (a map at the Fram Museum) is a dead link now. Other than that minor problem, this meets all the criteria and I am happy to support. Ruhrfisch _><>°^° 04:49, 10 November 2011 (UTC)

I've removed the link. I hope we can find the map again, but a preliminary search suggests it may have been deleted, rather than moved. Apterygial (talk) 10:24, 10 November 2011 (UTC)

Ah, Yomangani has helpfully replaced the link with an archive link to the map. Apterygial (talk) 11:07, 10 November 2011 (UTC)

Thanks for your support, and for your earlier attention to the article at peer review. Brianboulton (talk) 16:58, 11 November 2011 (UTC)

• Support I too took part in the peer review; I had my (very minor) quibbles dealt with there to my complete satisfaction. This article meets all the FA criteria, in my view. – Tim riley (talk) 09:22, 10 November 2011 (UTC)

As above, thanks for helpand support. Brianboulton (talk) 16:58, 11 November 2011 (UTC)

Source review - spotchecks not done. Nikkimaria (talk) 16:48, 10 November 2011 (UTC)

• Be consistent in how page ranges are notated - for example, "pp. 140–94" vs "pp. 355–356"
• Be consistent in how works with more than one publication date are notated
• Check for minor inconsistencies like doubled periods. Nikkimaria (talk) 16:48, 10 November 2011 (UTC)

I've fixed these specific problems, and I'll look out for more. Thanks. Apterygial (talk) 01:46, 11 November 2011 (UTC)

• Support—I read it from beginning to end, and I can find nothing significant to fault in the article body. Possibly the statement "...inclined to roll most uncomfortably" may be unclear, but I understood it well enough. If there is an issue, it is perhaps in the lead, which does not quite summarize the body. It might not hurt to expand the lead a little and make sure all of the sections are covered. Beyond that, it is a fine article and I believe it satisfies the FA criteria. Regards, RJH (talk) 22:37, 10 November 2011 (UTC)

Thanks. I believe that the lead covers all the significant aspects of the article, albeit briefly in some instances. If you have a specific suggestion that something needs to be added, we'll see what we can do. Brianboulton (talk) 16:58, 11 November 2011 (UTC)

Okay, well there's no mention of Nansen's role, Framheim, and barely a word about the fund raising efforts or the extensive laying of depots, all of which spanned several sections. The statement "criticised for what some considered a deception on his part" is not explained until near the end of the article. Thank you. Regards, RJH (talk) 23:09, 11 November 2011 (UTC)

Hopefully the lead is clearer now. We're trying to keep it concise, however. Apterygial (talk) 01:58, 14 November 2011 (UTC)

• Support Comments: Reading the article, I feel something is a bit amiss. No doubt the title is "Amundsen's South Pole expedition", and it would be unexpected to see it not revolve around Roald Amundsen. However, there is a lack of post-expedition reactions from and about the members themselves. What rewards did the members (other than Amundsen) receive? Particularly due to the conflicts during the expedition, is there any reliable source accounts of the reactions and fate of Hjalmar Johansen after the adventure (because his article, poorly referenced and such, is presenting something that seems quite critical over the outcome)? Jappalang (talk) 03:17, 11 November 2011 (UTC)

• Thanks. This is a fair point, and I have added information which I trust addresses your concern. The expedition's members received the Norwegian Sydpolsmedaljen (South Pole medal); I have added that information to the "Aftermath" section. Of Amundsen's South Pole companions, I have added a short paragraph to the "Historical pespective" section concerning these four men. I have also included a sentence on Johansen's fate, going no further than what the reliable sources tell us. While I am sure that more material could be added, I am concerned we don't end up moving the focus of the article away from the expedition itself. Brianboulton (talk) 16:42, 11 November 2011 (UTC)

• Is there no secondary source for this? http://snl.no/Sydpolsmedaljen is an online encylopaedia (tertiary source). Regardless, I think the article provides a comprehensive coverage of the expedition. The images are also in the public domain or appropriately licensed. Jappalang (talk) 11:33, 12 November 2011 (UTC)

• I am looking for such a source. It's not mentioned in any of the mainstream English language texts but I remain hopeful. Thank you for your careful comments and your support. Brianboulton (talk) 16:58, 12 November 2011 (UTC)
• I have no objection to using an encyclopedia for a tangential point or two ... but I don't read Norwegian. - Dank (push to talk) 13:20, 13 November 2011 (UTC)

• The entry gives us the basic information that the medal was established in August 1912 by King Haakon and awarded to participants in Amundsen's South Pole expedition with Fram, 1910–12. It then briefly describes the medal and its ribbon. Details of this award seem to be missing from the reference books (I have a large polar library), but as I say, I will keep looking to see if a better citation can be made. Brianboulton (talk) 18:24, 13 November 2011 (UTC)

• Support Followed this through Yoman's input during the PR (its outside my knowledge and the writing was already very strong). A fine achievement. Ceoil (talk) 20:38, 12 November 2011 (UTC)

• Thanks - support appreciated. Brianboulton (talk) 18:24, 13 November 2011 (UTC)

• Support – Fixed a couple of small niggles that were left, but I didn't see anything else to worry about. An excellent read that comfortably meets all of the criteria. Giants2008 (27 and counting) 02:47, 14 November 2011 (UTC)

• Thank you. Good pick ups. Apterygial (talk) 04:30, 14 November 2011 (UTC)

I'd like to see an image review on this article. Ucucha (talk) 18:06, 14 November 2011 (UTC)

Jappalang's review (above) includes the line: "The images are also in the public domain or appropriately licensed." He spent time over images at PR, and fixed some of the licences. Brianboulton (talk) 19:05, 14 November 2011 (UTC)

I'm sorry I missed that. Ucucha (talk) 19:14, 14 November 2011 (UTC)

• Closing note: This candidate has been promoted, but there may be a delay in bot processing of the close. Please see WP:FAC/ar, and leave the {{featured article candidates}} template in place on the talk page until the bot goes through. Ucucha (talk) 19:14, 14 November 2011 (UTC)