The book not only grabbed hold of me and refused to let go. That might be understandable. My wife would have said, "That's a little-boy adventure yarn". It is. It also grabbed her and wouldn't let go. Her 85 year old father, somewhat housebound; started the whole chain with his recommendation of it. Truth is, as they don't say; more exciting than fiction.
By February, 1916 the ice flow began to break up. "Their flow which had once measured a mile in diameter, was now less than 200 yards across." They were 68 miles from an island they hoped would save them and surrounded by treacherous seas at 61 degrees 56' South 53 deg. 51' West--seas dangerous for ships. They set sail in 3 small, open boats in what became a voyage far further than anyone could imagine as possible for the best of seamen. Therein lies the incredible saga of this group who survived through amputations, hunger, bodies frozen with sea water and one heart attack to finally have a small group walk across an uncharted mountainous island to a lone whaling station 1 and 1/2 years after their shipwreck and long after they had been given up. Then the exhausted Shackleton begs ships from numerous navies until he finally returns for his crew in an almost unparalleled saga of the bravery we all want to be able to show and only a handful ever manage.
This is to almost ignore the author, Alfred Lansing, who wrote in the 50's from diaries and logs written on any paper handy and who was able to interview many survivors of the ordeal. His language is simple, straightforward, and descriptive. It is immensely readable and, in spite of enough detail to draw a believable picture of conditions usually called "indescribable"; it flows from page to page and sucks you into the story as well as Spielberg draws you into his adventure films.
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Article comments
1 - Mike Kole
The Shackleton expedition is a great story. There is another book out there that is loaded with pictures and would make an excellent campanion to this. The title escapes me. The images are mind-blowing.
2 - Scott
There is also a documentary, narrated by Liam Neeson, which is great to watch. I think there was also an episode of PBS' "Nova" dedicated to Shackleton. Very interesting and great story about survival in one of the most remote and harsh places in the world.
3 - Joe
Shackleton's story was pretty well picked over in the last couple of years, to include a film with Kenneth Brannagh in the role of Sir Ernest. I've read several books about Shacklton and the Endurance and one that I'd recommend that gets away from the standard fare is called Shackleton's Forgotten Men. It's about the other crew that set out across Antarctica to set up depots to assist Shackleton's exploration of the continent. It's a pretty interesting read and gives another example of the amazing level of loyalty Shackleton was able to inspire.