Article: Treachery, cannibalism and a forgotten Arctic hero; Orcadian John Rae was the explorer time forgot. While lesser men were knighted, Rae was vilified and consigned to obscurity. But a BBC Scotland docudrama and Orkney historian Tom Muir are helping to set the record straight. GRAHAM KEAL reports.(News)

Byline: GRAHAM KEAL

ORKNEY'S forgotten Arctic hero, John Rae, deserved the kind of honours and accolades reserved for explorers of the frozen wastes such as Shackleton, Franklin and Scott. Now, after more than 150 years of obscurity, a new BBC Scotland co-production finally gives him the recognition he richly deserves.

History's neglect of Rae is down to a bizarre mix of cannibalism, Royal Navy snobbery, English treachery, the unfortunate involvement of Charles Dickens, insulted Inuits, and the driven energy of Lady Jane Franklin, widow of the doomed Arctic ...

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