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South: The Story of Shackleton's Last Expedition 1914-1917
In 1914, as the shadow of war falls across Europe, a party led by veteran explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton sets out to become the first to traverse the Antarctic continent. Their initial optimism is short-lived, however, as the ice field slowly thickens, encasing the ship Endurance in a death-grip, crushing their craft, and marooning 28 men on a polar ice floe.
In an epic struggle of man versus the elements, Shackleton leads his team on a harrowing quest for survival over some of the most unforgiving terrain in the world. Icy, tempestuous seas full of gargantuan waves, mountainous glaciers and icebergs, unending brutal cold, and ever-looming starvation are their mortal foes as Shackleton and his men struggle to stay alive.
What happened to those brave men forever stands as a testament to their strength of will and the power of human endurance.
This is their story, as told by the man who led them.
In an epic struggle of man versus the elements, Shackleton leads his team on a harrowing quest for survival over some of the most unforgiving terrain in the world. Icy, tempestuous seas full of gargantuan waves, mountainous glaciers and icebergs, unending brutal cold, and ever-looming starvation are their mortal foes as Shackleton and his men struggle to stay alive.
What happened to those brave men forever stands as a testament to their strength of will and the power of human endurance.
This is their story, as told by the man who led them.
374 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1919
About the author
Ernest Shackleton
71 books109 followersSir Ernest Henry Shackleton (1874-1922) was an Anglo-Irish merchant naval officer who made his reputation as an explorer during what is known as the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration, a period of discovery characterised by journeys of geographical and scientific exploration in a largely unknown continent, without any of the benefits of modern travel methods or radio communication.
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November 13, 2022
The expedition’s goal was to be the first to cross the southern continent.
Instead, Shackleton’s ship, the Endurance, encountered early sea ice and was crushed, marooning him and his crew to face a two year long litany of hardships they could hardly imagine – a 600 mile voyage across shifting ice floes from the Antarctic to Elephant Island; an 850 mile trip across the storm ravaged south Atlantic to South Georgia Island in an open boat a mere twenty-two feet long finishing with a twenty mile hike across treacherous mountains and glaciers to reach civilization in order to rescue the remaining members of his crew who confidently awaited his return still icebound off the shores of the Antarctic.
The description of Shackleton’s awesome leadership and his crew’s exploits are exciting, gripping and almost beyond belief. I had high hopes when I started the book but, sadly, as an adventure memoir, it fell prey to repetitive, clinical writing that probably mirrored the tedium, the boredom and the overwhelming difficulties that its author faced during the actual events.
I did make note of one particular interesting, brief passage that rose above those problems:
“… the ice sheet, undulating over the hidden and imprisoned land, is bursting down a steep slope in tremendous glaciers, bristling with ridges and spikes of ice and seamed by thousands of crevasses. Along the whole length of the coast we have seen no bare land or rock. Not so much as a solitary nunatak has appeared to relieve the surface of ice and snow.”
Unfortunately, despite such an obvious embarrassment of riches when it comes to descriptive narrative possibilities, this was as good as it got.
Recommended for those that love reading adventure memoirs, but it’s not a quick and easy read.
Paul Weiss
Instead, Shackleton’s ship, the Endurance, encountered early sea ice and was crushed, marooning him and his crew to face a two year long litany of hardships they could hardly imagine – a 600 mile voyage across shifting ice floes from the Antarctic to Elephant Island; an 850 mile trip across the storm ravaged south Atlantic to South Georgia Island in an open boat a mere twenty-two feet long finishing with a twenty mile hike across treacherous mountains and glaciers to reach civilization in order to rescue the remaining members of his crew who confidently awaited his return still icebound off the shores of the Antarctic.
The description of Shackleton’s awesome leadership and his crew’s exploits are exciting, gripping and almost beyond belief. I had high hopes when I started the book but, sadly, as an adventure memoir, it fell prey to repetitive, clinical writing that probably mirrored the tedium, the boredom and the overwhelming difficulties that its author faced during the actual events.
I did make note of one particular interesting, brief passage that rose above those problems:
“… the ice sheet, undulating over the hidden and imprisoned land, is bursting down a steep slope in tremendous glaciers, bristling with ridges and spikes of ice and seamed by thousands of crevasses. Along the whole length of the coast we have seen no bare land or rock. Not so much as a solitary nunatak has appeared to relieve the surface of ice and snow.”
Unfortunately, despite such an obvious embarrassment of riches when it comes to descriptive narrative possibilities, this was as good as it got.
Recommended for those that love reading adventure memoirs, but it’s not a quick and easy read.
Paul Weiss
April 26, 2022
The bare facts of this story speak for themselves. In 1914, Ernest Shackleton set out on the Endurance on a mission to cross Antarctica via the pole. But his ship did not even reach the southern continent, instead getting trapped in floating ice during their approach. They drifted helplessly for months, until the ice finally crushed and sank the ship. The crew then set up a camp on the ice flow, floating for several months more, hoping the winds and waves would push them toward land. Eventually they set out on the Endurance’s lifeboats and, after five awful days in horrible seas, the crew of 28 reached the isolated and desolate Elephant Island.
Deciding that rescue was unlikely from such a remote place, Shackleton and five others took one of the lifeboats and, after two weeks, reached the scarcely more hospitable South Georgia, where he had to endure hurricane-force winds and climb an unforgiving landscape in order to arrive at the whaling station on the other side of the island. Once there, he was finally able to summon aid. The three sailors who had been left on the other side of South Georgia (too weak to make the hike) were picked up, and then Shackleton began organizing the far more difficult task of retrieving the 22 men stranded on Elephant Island. Thus commenced months of Shackleton scrambling to find a suitable boat, heading south, and then being repelled by ice—until, finally, on his fourth attempt, Shackleton got through and rescued his crew, with no lives lost.
Yet this eventful tale is only half the story. Meanwhile, on the other side of the continent, the other contingent of the expedition was encountering their own troubles. This is the group known as the Ross Sea Party, who were tasked with setting up supply depots for the second half of Shackleton’s polar crossing. After reaching land and depositing a shore party, that boat (the Aurora) was torn from its moorings by the ice, and drifted for half a year before the ship broke free. Too damaged to attempt a rescue mission for the stranded shore party, the ship had to return to New Zealand before finally rescuing the men in 1917. (The shore party had, meanwhile, dutifully set up the supply depots—obviously unnecessary, since Shackleton did not make his crossing—and in the process lost 3 men to the harsh conditions.)
Clearly, as even this thumb-nail sketch shows, this is an epic story, one of the great survival stories of history. Shackleton has been justly lauded for his leadership, which helped to avert a tragedy and to turn a failure into a triumph. Yet is this book—Shackleton’s own account of the voyage—the best one available? Unfortunately, I rather doubt it. The book often reads like (and, sometimes, literally is) a series of diary entries, written in stiff, clipped prose with no eye for the dramatic. Yes, this does make the book more “authentic,” but at the cost of making a thrilling story a bit dry.
Even so, it was amazing to read about this journey in the light of the Endurance’s recent rediscovery (in the “worst portion of the worst sea in the world”). The boat’s name is not ironic, after all. More alarming is the recent news that temperatures in Antarctica were recorded 70 degrees Fahrenheit (or 40 Celsius) above normal. Perhaps, when we are done altering the climate, we will be able to stroll across Antarctica in jeans and a sweater. On the plus side, unlike Shackleton and his crew, we won’t have to rely on a steady diet of hoosh, seal blubber, and penguin meat.
In any case, I think it does me good to read survival stories such as this. It helps to put my petty problems in perspective. No matter how bad a day I am having, at least I am not stranded on a floating chunk of ice.
Deciding that rescue was unlikely from such a remote place, Shackleton and five others took one of the lifeboats and, after two weeks, reached the scarcely more hospitable South Georgia, where he had to endure hurricane-force winds and climb an unforgiving landscape in order to arrive at the whaling station on the other side of the island. Once there, he was finally able to summon aid. The three sailors who had been left on the other side of South Georgia (too weak to make the hike) were picked up, and then Shackleton began organizing the far more difficult task of retrieving the 22 men stranded on Elephant Island. Thus commenced months of Shackleton scrambling to find a suitable boat, heading south, and then being repelled by ice—until, finally, on his fourth attempt, Shackleton got through and rescued his crew, with no lives lost.
Yet this eventful tale is only half the story. Meanwhile, on the other side of the continent, the other contingent of the expedition was encountering their own troubles. This is the group known as the Ross Sea Party, who were tasked with setting up supply depots for the second half of Shackleton’s polar crossing. After reaching land and depositing a shore party, that boat (the Aurora) was torn from its moorings by the ice, and drifted for half a year before the ship broke free. Too damaged to attempt a rescue mission for the stranded shore party, the ship had to return to New Zealand before finally rescuing the men in 1917. (The shore party had, meanwhile, dutifully set up the supply depots—obviously unnecessary, since Shackleton did not make his crossing—and in the process lost 3 men to the harsh conditions.)
Clearly, as even this thumb-nail sketch shows, this is an epic story, one of the great survival stories of history. Shackleton has been justly lauded for his leadership, which helped to avert a tragedy and to turn a failure into a triumph. Yet is this book—Shackleton’s own account of the voyage—the best one available? Unfortunately, I rather doubt it. The book often reads like (and, sometimes, literally is) a series of diary entries, written in stiff, clipped prose with no eye for the dramatic. Yes, this does make the book more “authentic,” but at the cost of making a thrilling story a bit dry.
Even so, it was amazing to read about this journey in the light of the Endurance’s recent rediscovery (in the “worst portion of the worst sea in the world”). The boat’s name is not ironic, after all. More alarming is the recent news that temperatures in Antarctica were recorded 70 degrees Fahrenheit (or 40 Celsius) above normal. Perhaps, when we are done altering the climate, we will be able to stroll across Antarctica in jeans and a sweater. On the plus side, unlike Shackleton and his crew, we won’t have to rely on a steady diet of hoosh, seal blubber, and penguin meat.
In any case, I think it does me good to read survival stories such as this. It helps to put my petty problems in perspective. No matter how bad a day I am having, at least I am not stranded on a floating chunk of ice.
March 11, 2022
Years ago I read the book, endurance. I liked it then but this time I decided to read the diary of Shackleton, In this time around it did not set well with me.
I realized that they had to hunt and kill seals and penguins in order to survive... I can understand that. But then a penguin walked up to them to see what they were doing, not realizing there was any danger. WHAM! It was not fair, and it was not right, Mainly, because there were others that they could have killed for food.
They also brought dog teams with them,
69 dogs. The dogs never survived. Some were killed because they were sick, but the others were eaten. Life is cruel.
I also had trouble understanding nautical terms. And I did not understand what was going on with the land that they were on, the ice flows, Which ended up on just being islands of ice.
The best part of this book is towards the end of it. 3 men left the others on elephant island to go look for help. They had to survive horrendous weather and when they got to a certain island they had to try to find their way across it in order to find the wailing station. Once there they had to go back to get the men. All of this action was interesting.
Update. Since riding my review they have found Shackleton ship the endurance. It is most interesting to me because this book, my second reading of it, is our book of the month at our book club. It will be interesting to see what all of us have to say about this new Discovery that was on March 5, 2022..
I realized that they had to hunt and kill seals and penguins in order to survive... I can understand that. But then a penguin walked up to them to see what they were doing, not realizing there was any danger. WHAM! It was not fair, and it was not right, Mainly, because there were others that they could have killed for food.
They also brought dog teams with them,
69 dogs. The dogs never survived. Some were killed because they were sick, but the others were eaten. Life is cruel.
I also had trouble understanding nautical terms. And I did not understand what was going on with the land that they were on, the ice flows, Which ended up on just being islands of ice.
The best part of this book is towards the end of it. 3 men left the others on elephant island to go look for help. They had to survive horrendous weather and when they got to a certain island they had to try to find their way across it in order to find the wailing station. Once there they had to go back to get the men. All of this action was interesting.
Update. Since riding my review they have found Shackleton ship the endurance. It is most interesting to me because this book, my second reading of it, is our book of the month at our book club. It will be interesting to see what all of us have to say about this new Discovery that was on March 5, 2022..
December 20, 2023
Against All Odds
A breathtaking account of the unfathomably trying journey undertaken by Shackleton and his crew to Antarctica, between 1914 and 1917. Initially, the plan consisted in landing in the Weddell sea side, to join the second party, who left provisions for the Shackleton party on the second half of the crossing. Yet, almost nothing went according to plan...
Ernest Shackleton recounts the terrible odds faced by both parties, conjuring up some genuinely sublime and awesome moments in the process:
The moment when the Endurance was stuck in the ice pack in February 1915, drifting, then finally crushed by the unbearable pressure exerted on it by the thickening ice, in September 1915.
The camps set on drifting ice, ending with the successful landing on Elephant Island on lifeboats.
Then, a truly astonishing trip, the voyage of the James Caird, a small boat manned by Shackleton and five companions, finally landing in South Georgia island...
The James Caird
...where some extra nautical feats and alpinism is required to finally find help...
South Georgia landscape
...and sail back to Elephant Island, where the rest of the party is waiting for them...
Ultimately, we follow the events happening from the Ross Sea party point of view and their casualties as they dropped supplies for the expected Weddell Sea party.
--------
Also see:
Madhouse at the End of the Earth: The Belgica's Journey into the Dark Antarctic Night
Moby-Dick or, The Whale
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner
The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket and Related Tales
Manuscript Found in a Bottle
At the Mountains of Madness
La Montagne morte de la vie
Besoin de mer
Into the Wild
General map of the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition
A breathtaking account of the unfathomably trying journey undertaken by Shackleton and his crew to Antarctica, between 1914 and 1917. Initially, the plan consisted in landing in the Weddell sea side, to join the second party, who left provisions for the Shackleton party on the second half of the crossing. Yet, almost nothing went according to plan...
Ernest Shackleton recounts the terrible odds faced by both parties, conjuring up some genuinely sublime and awesome moments in the process:
The moment when the Endurance was stuck in the ice pack in February 1915, drifting, then finally crushed by the unbearable pressure exerted on it by the thickening ice, in September 1915.
The camps set on drifting ice, ending with the successful landing on Elephant Island on lifeboats.
Then, a truly astonishing trip, the voyage of the James Caird, a small boat manned by Shackleton and five companions, finally landing in South Georgia island...
The James Caird
...where some extra nautical feats and alpinism is required to finally find help...
South Georgia landscape
...and sail back to Elephant Island, where the rest of the party is waiting for them...
Ultimately, we follow the events happening from the Ross Sea party point of view and their casualties as they dropped supplies for the expected Weddell Sea party.
--------
Also see:
Madhouse at the End of the Earth: The Belgica's Journey into the Dark Antarctic Night
Moby-Dick or, The Whale
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner
The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket and Related Tales
Manuscript Found in a Bottle
At the Mountains of Madness
La Montagne morte de la vie
Besoin de mer
Into the Wild
General map of the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition
April 30, 2014
First it was cold. And then it got really cold. And we're hungry. And it' cold and we're hungry. And phewy, it's really freaking cold. We don't have a whole lot to eat, either. Brrrrrrrrrrrr. Ice. Seals. Cold. Es muy frio. Teeth chattering. Chewing on blubber. Blubber fires. Shivering. Need more food. Did I mention it's cold? Seriously, I'm really cold. Frostbite. Shoulda worn another sweater. Shoulda brought an extra pair of gloves. Shoulda brought some extra cans of Pringles. I could really go for a beefsteak or some Twinkies. Wind! Cold! Ice! Frigid! Awful, terrible, no good, very bad, arctic weather! Cold and hungry and cold and hungry and cold and hungry and cold and hungry and cold and hungry and cold and hungry and cold and hungry and cold and hungry and cold and hungry and cold and hungry and cold and hungry and cold and hungry and cold and hungry and cold and hungry and cold and hungry and cold and hungry and cold and hungry and cold and hungry and cold and hungry and cold and hungry and did I mention cold? It's really COLD!
November 11, 2016
Maps
Introduction
Preface
--South: The Endurance Expedition
Appendix I:
Scientific Work
Sea-Ice Nomenclature
Meteorology
Physics
South Atlantic Whales and Whaling
Appendix II:
The Expedition Huts at McMurdo Sound
Index
Introduction
Preface
--South: The Endurance Expedition
Appendix I:
Scientific Work
Sea-Ice Nomenclature
Meteorology
Physics
South Atlantic Whales and Whaling
Appendix II:
The Expedition Huts at McMurdo Sound
Index
Read
February 26, 2016I doubt there could be a more real life example of the ‘What would you take to a desert island?’ than Shackleton’s trip to the Antarctic. There is an exhibition of the photographs of that trip on at the RGS in London at the moment. One of the photos shows a wall of books, his floating library. The RGS has been able to digitally enhance it, so that we now know exactly what Shackleton took on this unhappy expedition.
Can you judge a book by its cover?
Magazine correctly judged by cover (from The Onion)
The fact is that one often can. And taking that notion a little further, surely we can judge a man by the covers of his books. That’s something, with the advent of electronic book reading, that we will never be able to do again. It is so easy and cheap to download that one can never make assumptions about the relationship of the book to the machine owner. Here, however, of course we are entitled to draw conclusions. The man bothered to take the books to Antarctica. The books mean something.
I’ve arranged the list in order into:
literature
linguistic and general reference
exploration
Between the general reference section and the exploration books I’ve squeezed in two non-fiction books, one by the socialist JB Askew and one by Alfred Dreyfuss.
As for literature, it is interesting to note that it is relatively light on our notion of classics. Most of them are the best sellers or maybe, to convert to our idiom, the Goodreads trending books of his time. There are quite a few murder mysteries or similar.
I’m guessing that those reading this have never heard of:
Gertrude Atherton
Amelie Rives
Montague Glass
Ian Hey
AEW Mason
David Bone
Herbert Flowerdew
John Joy Bell
Louis Tracy
William J Locke
Rex Beach
Robert Hugh Benson
H De Vere Stacpoole
Yet Atherton was compared with Wharton, Rives was the EL James of her day, and William J Locke made the best selling US novels list in five different years. His stories were made into films 24 times, including Ladies in Lavender starring Dench and Maggie Smith in 2004 and four of his books made Broadway as plays. In fact, although not one of my 500+ goodreads friends has reviewed any of these authors, Locke is still well read and loved, judging by the reviews. I confess I did not know his name.
Potash and Perlmutter, the comic rag trade merchants of Monatague Glass, were all the rage amongst New York Jews. Stacpoole is the author of The Blue Lagoon of the film fame (some would say infamy) and Flowerdew used his novels to proselytise on the rights of women:
rest here:
https://alittleteaalittlechat.wordpre...
Can you judge a book by its cover?
Magazine correctly judged by cover (from The Onion)
The fact is that one often can. And taking that notion a little further, surely we can judge a man by the covers of his books. That’s something, with the advent of electronic book reading, that we will never be able to do again. It is so easy and cheap to download that one can never make assumptions about the relationship of the book to the machine owner. Here, however, of course we are entitled to draw conclusions. The man bothered to take the books to Antarctica. The books mean something.
I’ve arranged the list in order into:
literature
linguistic and general reference
exploration
Between the general reference section and the exploration books I’ve squeezed in two non-fiction books, one by the socialist JB Askew and one by Alfred Dreyfuss.
As for literature, it is interesting to note that it is relatively light on our notion of classics. Most of them are the best sellers or maybe, to convert to our idiom, the Goodreads trending books of his time. There are quite a few murder mysteries or similar.
I’m guessing that those reading this have never heard of:
Gertrude Atherton
Amelie Rives
Montague Glass
Ian Hey
AEW Mason
David Bone
Herbert Flowerdew
John Joy Bell
Louis Tracy
William J Locke
Rex Beach
Robert Hugh Benson
H De Vere Stacpoole
Yet Atherton was compared with Wharton, Rives was the EL James of her day, and William J Locke made the best selling US novels list in five different years. His stories were made into films 24 times, including Ladies in Lavender starring Dench and Maggie Smith in 2004 and four of his books made Broadway as plays. In fact, although not one of my 500+ goodreads friends has reviewed any of these authors, Locke is still well read and loved, judging by the reviews. I confess I did not know his name.
Potash and Perlmutter, the comic rag trade merchants of Monatague Glass, were all the rage amongst New York Jews. Stacpoole is the author of The Blue Lagoon of the film fame (some would say infamy) and Flowerdew used his novels to proselytise on the rights of women:
rest here:
https://alittleteaalittlechat.wordpre...
May 23, 2022
Two years of planning for this expedition didn’t mean it was well-planned. As we learn about what happened, Shackleton’s focus on the men’s uncomplaining stoicism and trying to make things rosy for the reader feels like an attempt to hide his poor administration and negligence of huge areas (clothing, shelter, communication) of preparation. And to very little purpose - the scientific goals of the quest and the actual accomplishments, especially during 3 years when the world was at war, made me shake my head about what the men were doing and why they put themselves through it. Not a hero’s journey or even much of an adventure story. Cold, dark, scary and pointless years away from the world.
October 30, 2011
Despite sitting here in October whining to myself about my cold fingers while typing, I have to admit I've got kind of a thing for grueling polar expeditions and the occasional 19th century disastrous sea voyage. I especially have a thing for Mr. Shackleton, the great heroic failure of the Edwardian era. (Not my words, but I don't recall who said them — someone on NPR, I expect).
This book is the detailed accounts of Shackleton's last Antarctic journey. He takes a crew on the Endurance to the Weddell Sea on the South American side of the South Pole, while another crew heads to the Australia side. The plan is for the Australia-side crew to set a series of food and supply depots from the coast to the center of the continent and then retreat, while Shackleton and his crew make their way, by dog- and man-power to the South Pole, and then continue clear across the continent, picking up the pre-laid supplies along the way. Only, as you may know, both teams encounter unbelievable set backs and, well, it all does not work out. And everyone is very cold.
This book is mostly Shackleton reconstructing events from his own logs, and, for the parts where he wasn't there, fromt he journals of his crewmates. He never boasts or makes any of the bravery he exhibited seem like it's anything more than the least he could have done in the circumstances. His telling is, for the most part, calm, detailed and almost scientific in it's rigor (with frequent mentions of exact longitudes and latitudes, weather specifics, animal species sited and ice conditions), but here and there he'll relate long hours of contemplation where he ponders the best thing to do for the men. His decisions are always made for their welfare and, at least as he tells it, favoritism or self-interest never enter into the equation.
Beyond the sheer "adventure" facet, the truly remarkable aspect of the story — why it is so frequently remembered and retold still — is Shackleton's leadership. Despite preposterous odds and the most treacherous of circumstances, he managed to return the entire crew of the Endurance to safety with only a touch of frostbite, after 3 years cut off from the world in Antarctica. And they all, according to the diaries Sir Ernest excerpts in his own book, kept relatively cheery and grateful for him the whole time.
I'm not one of those "leadership" people, who raves on about leadership, in the business sense. Yeah, sure, it's important to have someone competent and inspiring and visionary making big decisions and guiding the works, but I'm not going around yapping about it all the time and pillaging the "leadership and management" section at the bookstore. But I do think this book said something big to me about leadership — about the importance of keeping your cool (no pun intended) and being at once in the trenches doing the dirty work along with everyone else and also able to step back and see the big picture and make the hard decisions. And that people can band together and remain positive in the absolute suckiest of circumstances with the right role models...
Tangentially, here is huge irony with the fact that this voyage took place as WWI broke out — indeed, the Endurance left England the same week (sanctioned by King). Many of the men who Shackleton saved from the horrors of ice, the polar seas in rowboats and foodlessness came back to get promptly mowed down in the trenches of Europe.
Also, tangentially: Frank Hurley, the photographer on the Endurance made some of the most amazing photographs and movie reels in the history of photography (and the fact that they got back to civilization in tact is unbelievable — fragile glass plates and such). He was one of the first people to experiment with early color photographs. They're extremely beautiful and it's quite haunting, really, to see these men, in 1914, in color, in the ice. Edwardian color photography has become a new obsession of mine, really...
In summary, it's a dry read, to be sure, but fascinating, nonetheless.
This book is the detailed accounts of Shackleton's last Antarctic journey. He takes a crew on the Endurance to the Weddell Sea on the South American side of the South Pole, while another crew heads to the Australia side. The plan is for the Australia-side crew to set a series of food and supply depots from the coast to the center of the continent and then retreat, while Shackleton and his crew make their way, by dog- and man-power to the South Pole, and then continue clear across the continent, picking up the pre-laid supplies along the way. Only, as you may know, both teams encounter unbelievable set backs and, well, it all does not work out. And everyone is very cold.
This book is mostly Shackleton reconstructing events from his own logs, and, for the parts where he wasn't there, fromt he journals of his crewmates. He never boasts or makes any of the bravery he exhibited seem like it's anything more than the least he could have done in the circumstances. His telling is, for the most part, calm, detailed and almost scientific in it's rigor (with frequent mentions of exact longitudes and latitudes, weather specifics, animal species sited and ice conditions), but here and there he'll relate long hours of contemplation where he ponders the best thing to do for the men. His decisions are always made for their welfare and, at least as he tells it, favoritism or self-interest never enter into the equation.
Beyond the sheer "adventure" facet, the truly remarkable aspect of the story — why it is so frequently remembered and retold still — is Shackleton's leadership. Despite preposterous odds and the most treacherous of circumstances, he managed to return the entire crew of the Endurance to safety with only a touch of frostbite, after 3 years cut off from the world in Antarctica. And they all, according to the diaries Sir Ernest excerpts in his own book, kept relatively cheery and grateful for him the whole time.
I'm not one of those "leadership" people, who raves on about leadership, in the business sense. Yeah, sure, it's important to have someone competent and inspiring and visionary making big decisions and guiding the works, but I'm not going around yapping about it all the time and pillaging the "leadership and management" section at the bookstore. But I do think this book said something big to me about leadership — about the importance of keeping your cool (no pun intended) and being at once in the trenches doing the dirty work along with everyone else and also able to step back and see the big picture and make the hard decisions. And that people can band together and remain positive in the absolute suckiest of circumstances with the right role models...
Tangentially, here is huge irony with the fact that this voyage took place as WWI broke out — indeed, the Endurance left England the same week (sanctioned by King). Many of the men who Shackleton saved from the horrors of ice, the polar seas in rowboats and foodlessness came back to get promptly mowed down in the trenches of Europe.
Also, tangentially: Frank Hurley, the photographer on the Endurance made some of the most amazing photographs and movie reels in the history of photography (and the fact that they got back to civilization in tact is unbelievable — fragile glass plates and such). He was one of the first people to experiment with early color photographs. They're extremely beautiful and it's quite haunting, really, to see these men, in 1914, in color, in the ice. Edwardian color photography has become a new obsession of mine, really...
In summary, it's a dry read, to be sure, but fascinating, nonetheless.
January 2, 2015
I read this casually, a little at a time. It's one of the great adventure stories of all time, and smashing stuff (get it?) but...here's how it works: it's based on the journals of Shackleton and everyone else in his party - he gives others lots of time too - and the entries can be a little repetitious. Like, y'know, "Still stuck on an iceberg. Cold and hungry."
Shackleton's a surprisingly good writer, though. Clear, engaging and often funny. That livens up the doldrum periods - but also, the effect of the long passages in which nothing dramatic happens is that when something does happen, it happens with extraordinary, direct impact. His account of - minor spoiler, I guess? - the final destruction of the Endurance is just crushing. An incredibly powerful moment. The immediacy of the epistolaryish format, with its you-are-here feel, makes the big moments of the expedition directly heartbreaking.
After his account of the main expedition, he starts completely over with what happened with the other boat, the Aurora. (You will have forgotten they exist by this time.) This is a tough one: it's just as compelling a story - they actually had it worse, if you can believe that, and again it's based on journals so it has that you're-right-there! feel to it, but there's no avoiding the fact that, having slogged all the way through Shackleton's brutal story, you groan a little when you realize you're about to start over.
I guess I'd suggest laying it aside and picking it up later for this part. It is much shorter, at least. And it's much shorter even than it looks, because after the story of the Aurora's landing party (again, this really is great stuff on its own), Shackleton backtracks again, to the people who stayed on the Aurora, and that part is utterly skippable. Nothing whatsoever happens. I read it so you don't have to. Just stop there.
Shackleton's a surprisingly good writer, though. Clear, engaging and often funny. That livens up the doldrum periods - but also, the effect of the long passages in which nothing dramatic happens is that when something does happen, it happens with extraordinary, direct impact. His account of - minor spoiler, I guess? - the final destruction of the Endurance is just crushing. An incredibly powerful moment. The immediacy of the epistolaryish format, with its you-are-here feel, makes the big moments of the expedition directly heartbreaking.
After his account of the main expedition, he starts completely over with what happened with the other boat, the Aurora. (You will have forgotten they exist by this time.) This is a tough one: it's just as compelling a story - they actually had it worse, if you can believe that, and again it's based on journals so it has that you're-right-there! feel to it, but there's no avoiding the fact that, having slogged all the way through Shackleton's brutal story, you groan a little when you realize you're about to start over.
I guess I'd suggest laying it aside and picking it up later for this part. It is much shorter, at least. And it's much shorter even than it looks, because after the story of the Aurora's landing party (again, this really is great stuff on its own), Shackleton backtracks again, to the people who stayed on the Aurora, and that part is utterly skippable. Nothing whatsoever happens. I read it so you don't have to. Just stop there.
January 9, 2020
South... by Ernest Shackleton was published in 1919, long before Lansing’s book Endurance, which was published in 1959. Both books are very similar and tell for the most part the same story, however Lansings delivery is superior, however it was with great interest that I went from Endurance to South; and have no problem with the week I dedicated to Shackelton’s memoir.
“When I look back at those days I have no doubt that Providence guided us, not only across those snowfields, but across the storm-white sea that separated Elephant Island from our landing-place on South Georgia. I know that during that long and racking march of thirty-six hours over the unnamed mountains and glaciers of South Georgia it seemed to me often that we were four, not three. I said nothing to my companions on the point, but afterwards Worsley said to me, ‘Boss, I had a curious feeling on the march that there was another person with us.’ Crean confessed to the same idea. One feels ‘the dearth of human words, the roughness of mortal speech’ in trying to describe things intangible, but a record of our journeys would be incomplete without a reference to a subject very near to our hearts.”
“When I look back at those days I have no doubt that Providence guided us, not only across those snowfields, but across the storm-white sea that separated Elephant Island from our landing-place on South Georgia. I know that during that long and racking march of thirty-six hours over the unnamed mountains and glaciers of South Georgia it seemed to me often that we were four, not three. I said nothing to my companions on the point, but afterwards Worsley said to me, ‘Boss, I had a curious feeling on the march that there was another person with us.’ Crean confessed to the same idea. One feels ‘the dearth of human words, the roughness of mortal speech’ in trying to describe things intangible, but a record of our journeys would be incomplete without a reference to a subject very near to our hearts.”
March 2, 2013
This is an astonishing story of courage, determination, leadership and survival. It's amazing such a story as this is true, but the book gets quite boring in parts.
April 5, 2019
«Después de todo, las dificultades son solamente cosas a las que sobreponerse».
— Sir Ernest Shackleton
•
El 8 de agosto de 1914, una semana después del estallido de la IGM, el Endurance, capitaneado por Ernest Shackleton, dejaba Plymouth y ponía dirección sur. La expedición, formada por 28 hombres, tenía como objetivo atravesar el continente antártico, pasando por el polo, desde el mar de Weddell al mar de Ross.
Sin embargo, todo se torció. El Endurance quedó atrapado entre la banquisa del mar de Weddell y, tras diez meses de lucha, terminó sucumbiendo a la presión del hielo. El 22 de noviembre de 1915, el barco se hundía cortando toda posibilidad de retorno a la civilización. Empezó entonces para los hombres de la expedición una épica lucha por la supervivencia.
Arrastrando los botes salvavidas y todos los víveres rescatados del barco, Shackleton y sus hombres fueron avanzando sobre el hielo en busca de la tierra firme más cercana. Esta terminó siendo la inhóspita Isla del Elefante; un peñón golpeado por los vientos y el hielo en el que terminaron construyendo su campamento. Las posibilidades de que alguien acudiese a su rescate eran prácticamente nulas. La estación ya estaba avanzada y los barcos balleneros tardarían meses en pasar por las proximidades.
Shackleton tomó entonces una valerosa decisión: junto a un puñado de hombres, en bote de apenas siete metros, parcheado con trozos de impermeables y velas, recorrería los 1500 quilómetros que los separaban de la tierra habitada más cercana: Georgia del Sur. •
Supongo que con estos datos podréis imaginar los sufrimientos y las dificultades a las que se enfrentó la expedición del Endurance. He leído este diario, y las notas de Shackleton, con el corazón en un puño, admirando la fuerza y el coraje de estos hombres. Cuando los víveres empezaron a escasear sobrevivieron gracias a la carne de focas y pingüinos que conseguían atrapar. Pasaron meses durmiendo sobre una placa de hielo inestable, temerosos ante el paso de las poderosas ballenas bajo sus pies. El frío extremo, la falta de combustible, la monotonía de infierno blanco...
Me pongo en la piel de estos hombres y me estremezco. Y aún los admiro más al ver la cohesión, el humor y la entereza con la que afrontaron este odisea. Gracias, sobre todo, a la figura de Shackleton, un hombre ejemplar que supo mantener la moral de sus hombres mostrando una actitud ejemplar. Y gracias también al banjo de Leonard Hussey (meteorólogo de la expedición) que animó los espíritus de sus compañeros en las noches más sombrías.
Una lectura magnífica que recomiendo a todos los amantes de los relatos de aventuras marítimas y expedicionarias. Un testimonio único de una aventura excepcional.
— Sir Ernest Shackleton
•
El 8 de agosto de 1914, una semana después del estallido de la IGM, el Endurance, capitaneado por Ernest Shackleton, dejaba Plymouth y ponía dirección sur. La expedición, formada por 28 hombres, tenía como objetivo atravesar el continente antártico, pasando por el polo, desde el mar de Weddell al mar de Ross.
Sin embargo, todo se torció. El Endurance quedó atrapado entre la banquisa del mar de Weddell y, tras diez meses de lucha, terminó sucumbiendo a la presión del hielo. El 22 de noviembre de 1915, el barco se hundía cortando toda posibilidad de retorno a la civilización. Empezó entonces para los hombres de la expedición una épica lucha por la supervivencia.
Arrastrando los botes salvavidas y todos los víveres rescatados del barco, Shackleton y sus hombres fueron avanzando sobre el hielo en busca de la tierra firme más cercana. Esta terminó siendo la inhóspita Isla del Elefante; un peñón golpeado por los vientos y el hielo en el que terminaron construyendo su campamento. Las posibilidades de que alguien acudiese a su rescate eran prácticamente nulas. La estación ya estaba avanzada y los barcos balleneros tardarían meses en pasar por las proximidades.
Shackleton tomó entonces una valerosa decisión: junto a un puñado de hombres, en bote de apenas siete metros, parcheado con trozos de impermeables y velas, recorrería los 1500 quilómetros que los separaban de la tierra habitada más cercana: Georgia del Sur. •
Supongo que con estos datos podréis imaginar los sufrimientos y las dificultades a las que se enfrentó la expedición del Endurance. He leído este diario, y las notas de Shackleton, con el corazón en un puño, admirando la fuerza y el coraje de estos hombres. Cuando los víveres empezaron a escasear sobrevivieron gracias a la carne de focas y pingüinos que conseguían atrapar. Pasaron meses durmiendo sobre una placa de hielo inestable, temerosos ante el paso de las poderosas ballenas bajo sus pies. El frío extremo, la falta de combustible, la monotonía de infierno blanco...
Me pongo en la piel de estos hombres y me estremezco. Y aún los admiro más al ver la cohesión, el humor y la entereza con la que afrontaron este odisea. Gracias, sobre todo, a la figura de Shackleton, un hombre ejemplar que supo mantener la moral de sus hombres mostrando una actitud ejemplar. Y gracias también al banjo de Leonard Hussey (meteorólogo de la expedición) que animó los espíritus de sus compañeros en las noches más sombrías.
Una lectura magnífica que recomiendo a todos los amantes de los relatos de aventuras marítimas y expedicionarias. Un testimonio único de una aventura excepcional.
October 29, 2015
Prior to reading Sir Ernest Shakelton’s harrowing voyage aboard the Endurance I knew few facts other than he obviously survived to pen his memoir.
The expedition to be the first to cross the Antarctic continent from sea to sea over roughly 1,800 miles by way of the South Pole. Planning for the mission began in 1913 and when World War I erupted the scientific voyage was not canceled. It’s historic that on August 4, 1914 King George V kept his appointment to meet with Shakelton and give him the Union Jack flag to prominently display on his trip. Later on the same day Great Britain declared war against the Central Powers and entered the Great War. For many WWI was the great adventure however on August 8th the Endurance departed England and the rugged scientific crew, full of mixed emotions were off on their own unique adventure. The ship was loaded with many provisions along with teams of sled dogs, which set a suspenseful atmosphere similar to a Jack London novel.
Along the way forced implementation of contingency plans became a reality and similar to the youth fighting continents away in WWI the biologists had to deal with their own do or die basic survival instincts. The details will be left for the reader to comprehend. Throughout the ordeal Shakelton and his men provided leadership skills and maintained a clam positive attitude. When the crew finally reconnected with society they were amazed the World War was still raging. Due to their eventual location many teamed up with the New Zealand Field Forces.
The book serves as a great testament to the willpower of mankind. Faced with failure, accomplishments surfaced.
The expedition to be the first to cross the Antarctic continent from sea to sea over roughly 1,800 miles by way of the South Pole. Planning for the mission began in 1913 and when World War I erupted the scientific voyage was not canceled. It’s historic that on August 4, 1914 King George V kept his appointment to meet with Shakelton and give him the Union Jack flag to prominently display on his trip. Later on the same day Great Britain declared war against the Central Powers and entered the Great War. For many WWI was the great adventure however on August 8th the Endurance departed England and the rugged scientific crew, full of mixed emotions were off on their own unique adventure. The ship was loaded with many provisions along with teams of sled dogs, which set a suspenseful atmosphere similar to a Jack London novel.
Along the way forced implementation of contingency plans became a reality and similar to the youth fighting continents away in WWI the biologists had to deal with their own do or die basic survival instincts. The details will be left for the reader to comprehend. Throughout the ordeal Shakelton and his men provided leadership skills and maintained a clam positive attitude. When the crew finally reconnected with society they were amazed the World War was still raging. Due to their eventual location many teamed up with the New Zealand Field Forces.
The book serves as a great testament to the willpower of mankind. Faced with failure, accomplishments surfaced.
November 29, 2018
I love reading about Polar explores and this book just blew me away. This book was Ernest Shackelton’s journal of the Endurance Expidition and his participation of trying to save the crew of another boat called the Aurora.
Some of the stand out members of the expedition were Named Wild and Creen.
This was one of those books that I wanted to finish in one sitting. But work got in the way.
I could keep going on about how great this book is, but you must experience it for yourself.
Some of the stand out members of the expedition were Named Wild and Creen.
This was one of those books that I wanted to finish in one sitting. But work got in the way.
I could keep going on about how great this book is, but you must experience it for yourself.
April 5, 2022
A little over 20 years ago when Caroline Alexander's book The Endurance brought Sir Ernest Shackleton back into the public eye, Signet published his books Heart of the Antarctic and South in new paperback editions. With the recent discovery of Shackleton's ship Endurance by a team led by Mensun Bound, I decided it was time to reread South.
While the book opens with the part of the story everyone knows - how the Endurance became trapped in the Weddell Sea, frozen solid in the unyielding ice that would eventually sink her, how Shackleton's unfailing leadership kept his men organized and optimistic, their difficult voyage in three small boats to Elephant Island, and the almost miraculous trip of one of those boats, under the leadership of Shackleton and Endurance's captain Frank Worsley, to South Georgia across the wildest seas on Earth, followed by the trip of three of the men (Shackleton, Worsley, and Tom Crean) across the uncharted, entirely unexplored interior of South Georgia to the whaling stations on the opposite coast, and the final rescue of all of the men waiting on Elephant Island - Shackleton also tells the other part of the story that isn't nearly as familiar. Shackleton's intent was to cross Antarctica from the Weddell Sea to the Ross Sea, and on the other side of the continent the ship Aurora and a second group of men were set to the job of placing supply depots for the use of the polar team on the final part of their journey. Disaster struck almost immediately. Shackleton does not place blame, but the leadership of the Ross Sea team was not nearly so solid as his own, and before all of the supplies could be put ashore, the Aurora was swept out to sea in a gale and prevented from returning by the ice - with much of the supplies and many men still on board (like Endurance she too spent several months frozen in the pack, but survived). It is to the credit of the Ross Sea team that they did the best they could laying depots that would never be used thanks to the disaster to the Endurance. While it's often pointed out that Shackleton lost not a man, in fact three men died on this part of the expedition - one man who probably died of effects from scurvy on a depot laying expedition, and leader Aeneas Mackintosh and another man who chose to take a shortcut over sea ice which broke up as they were crossing it. Shackleton tells the story of this part of the expedition well, although in not so much detail as the part he was personally involved with.
The book is well done - no typos, and several pages of the classic photographs taken by Australian Frank Hurley. One issue I have is that the book is essentially as presented by Shackleton in 1919. The book definitely needed some additional apparatus - a list of the full names and short biographies of the crew would have been very helpful.
There are a lot of books about this expedition but if you start here and with Frank Worsley's books you'll find a lot of good, gripping reading. And I highly recommend Shackleton's book about his earlier expedition, Heart of the Antarctic, as well.
While the book opens with the part of the story everyone knows - how the Endurance became trapped in the Weddell Sea, frozen solid in the unyielding ice that would eventually sink her, how Shackleton's unfailing leadership kept his men organized and optimistic, their difficult voyage in three small boats to Elephant Island, and the almost miraculous trip of one of those boats, under the leadership of Shackleton and Endurance's captain Frank Worsley, to South Georgia across the wildest seas on Earth, followed by the trip of three of the men (Shackleton, Worsley, and Tom Crean) across the uncharted, entirely unexplored interior of South Georgia to the whaling stations on the opposite coast, and the final rescue of all of the men waiting on Elephant Island - Shackleton also tells the other part of the story that isn't nearly as familiar. Shackleton's intent was to cross Antarctica from the Weddell Sea to the Ross Sea, and on the other side of the continent the ship Aurora and a second group of men were set to the job of placing supply depots for the use of the polar team on the final part of their journey. Disaster struck almost immediately. Shackleton does not place blame, but the leadership of the Ross Sea team was not nearly so solid as his own, and before all of the supplies could be put ashore, the Aurora was swept out to sea in a gale and prevented from returning by the ice - with much of the supplies and many men still on board (like Endurance she too spent several months frozen in the pack, but survived). It is to the credit of the Ross Sea team that they did the best they could laying depots that would never be used thanks to the disaster to the Endurance. While it's often pointed out that Shackleton lost not a man, in fact three men died on this part of the expedition - one man who probably died of effects from scurvy on a depot laying expedition, and leader Aeneas Mackintosh and another man who chose to take a shortcut over sea ice which broke up as they were crossing it. Shackleton tells the story of this part of the expedition well, although in not so much detail as the part he was personally involved with.
The book is well done - no typos, and several pages of the classic photographs taken by Australian Frank Hurley. One issue I have is that the book is essentially as presented by Shackleton in 1919. The book definitely needed some additional apparatus - a list of the full names and short biographies of the crew would have been very helpful.
There are a lot of books about this expedition but if you start here and with Frank Worsley's books you'll find a lot of good, gripping reading. And I highly recommend Shackleton's book about his earlier expedition, Heart of the Antarctic, as well.
May 29, 2012
Back when men were men. At the outbreak of WWI Shackleton had outfitted two ships and crews to try a continental crossing of the Antarctic. He offered to halt the expedition but was ordered to continue by Winston Churchill. Famously, the crossing never took place. What did happen was an increasingly desperate fight to survive by the two ship's crews on opposite sides of the polar continent.
The book is largely made up of extracts from Shackleton's own diary and the diaries of some of the other expedition members, worked together into a strongly coherent narrative. Shackleton charts the problems faced by his (the Weddell Sea) side of the expedition. His ship, the Endurance, became stuck in sea ice in January 1915 where it drifted slowly across the Weddell Sea until it was crushed and sank in November of the same year. Shackleton's crew camped on the moving ice until April of 1916 when their ice floe broke apart and they were forced into the salvaged ship's boats to make a harrowing five day sea voyage to the dry land of Elephant Island.
Shackleton exhibits huge compassion for the suffering of his men. The rationing, the constant extreme cold and atrocious weather, the poor rations (including periods where the men were doing the backbreaking work of hauling sledges, after the deaths of the dogs, on rations of a single biscuit and a mug of cocoa a day), frostbite, boredom, ennui, scurvy, snow-blindness, exhaustion - the range of problems thrown against the men seems almost insurmountable, and yet, through it all, Shackleton keeps his group together working hard for each other's survival.
Parts of the tale are so epically British that you can't help but feel a swell of pride for a nation that produced men like these. "The Endurance sank, but we saved the pennant of the Royal Yacht Club." Signs are important of course, and when throwing away almost of of their personal possessions after the sinking, Shackleton knew the importance of keeping just a few items, the pennant, an encyclopaedia, the men's pipes, that would remain as a tiny measure of normality and home comfort in the dark days ahead.
When everything seemed almost lost at the Elephant Island camp, with some of the men finally submitting to the throes of depression, Shackleton and a volunteer crew launched the ship's boat, the James Caird, a vessel slightly larger than a sailing dinghy and sailed 800 miles to South Georgia, arriving there due to the excellent navigational skills of the Endurance's captain Frank Worsely. This voyage alone, through freezing, storm swept, mountainous souther ocean, would be enough for a heroic survival story, and upon landing on the wrong side of South Georgia the men still have to make a long and dangerous march in order to reach the whaling station and raise help.
The conditions faced by the crew of the Aurora across the continent in the Ross Sea were no less incredible. The crew here followed in the tracks of Captain Scott, laying food and fuel depots for Shackleton's party to find as they crossed the continent. The Aurora was ripped from its moorings and drifted, badly damaged, until the crew nursed it to New Zealand. As Shackleton was organising the rescue for the Elephant Island team, so the Aurora's crew organised a rescue for their comrades on the ice near Ross Island.
South is a tremendous tale of survival against the odds, of what people can do when faced with extremis, when lying down and giving up would have been far easier than struggling on, for day after day, month after month. It is an inspiring read, uplifting in its own way, and illuminates well how these men were the products of the era they lived in - after being rescued every man fit to serve signed up for military service in WWI.
South is currently available for free download from Amazon.
The book is largely made up of extracts from Shackleton's own diary and the diaries of some of the other expedition members, worked together into a strongly coherent narrative. Shackleton charts the problems faced by his (the Weddell Sea) side of the expedition. His ship, the Endurance, became stuck in sea ice in January 1915 where it drifted slowly across the Weddell Sea until it was crushed and sank in November of the same year. Shackleton's crew camped on the moving ice until April of 1916 when their ice floe broke apart and they were forced into the salvaged ship's boats to make a harrowing five day sea voyage to the dry land of Elephant Island.
Shackleton exhibits huge compassion for the suffering of his men. The rationing, the constant extreme cold and atrocious weather, the poor rations (including periods where the men were doing the backbreaking work of hauling sledges, after the deaths of the dogs, on rations of a single biscuit and a mug of cocoa a day), frostbite, boredom, ennui, scurvy, snow-blindness, exhaustion - the range of problems thrown against the men seems almost insurmountable, and yet, through it all, Shackleton keeps his group together working hard for each other's survival.
Parts of the tale are so epically British that you can't help but feel a swell of pride for a nation that produced men like these. "The Endurance sank, but we saved the pennant of the Royal Yacht Club." Signs are important of course, and when throwing away almost of of their personal possessions after the sinking, Shackleton knew the importance of keeping just a few items, the pennant, an encyclopaedia, the men's pipes, that would remain as a tiny measure of normality and home comfort in the dark days ahead.
When everything seemed almost lost at the Elephant Island camp, with some of the men finally submitting to the throes of depression, Shackleton and a volunteer crew launched the ship's boat, the James Caird, a vessel slightly larger than a sailing dinghy and sailed 800 miles to South Georgia, arriving there due to the excellent navigational skills of the Endurance's captain Frank Worsely. This voyage alone, through freezing, storm swept, mountainous souther ocean, would be enough for a heroic survival story, and upon landing on the wrong side of South Georgia the men still have to make a long and dangerous march in order to reach the whaling station and raise help.
The conditions faced by the crew of the Aurora across the continent in the Ross Sea were no less incredible. The crew here followed in the tracks of Captain Scott, laying food and fuel depots for Shackleton's party to find as they crossed the continent. The Aurora was ripped from its moorings and drifted, badly damaged, until the crew nursed it to New Zealand. As Shackleton was organising the rescue for the Elephant Island team, so the Aurora's crew organised a rescue for their comrades on the ice near Ross Island.
South is a tremendous tale of survival against the odds, of what people can do when faced with extremis, when lying down and giving up would have been far easier than struggling on, for day after day, month after month. It is an inspiring read, uplifting in its own way, and illuminates well how these men were the products of the era they lived in - after being rescued every man fit to serve signed up for military service in WWI.
South is currently available for free download from Amazon.
July 21, 2018
Having read Endurance last month, I so appreciated Mallory's recommendation to follow up with Shackleton's own account! I'm glad I read them in this order, as the former read more as a novel, giving a better description of the cast of characters and was organized in a more dramatic fashion. Shackleton, on the other hand, preferred to give away the ending! This first hand account was absolutely enchanting. His descriptions of the phenomena and experiences in the Antarctic were vivid, and the personal insights into their unlikely survival were inspiring. I especially enjoyed the scientific reports in the appendices! I highly recommend this as a follow up to Endurance.
March 7, 2013
I had a really hard time getting into the "floe" of this book. See what I did there? No, seriously, Shackleton's writing is very clinical and matter of fact. Recording every day, watching the ice, food stores, lat and long, temperature...etc...for what seems like an eternity. With no drama or embellishment, which as an avid reader, I love. However, this book at its start was dry. That is the truth. You know what else is the truth? This story. All of it. 100% fact. You can know that going in, and think, huh, people going to the south pole in 1914...yadda yadda. That is until you actually read it. And read every moment of the craziest expedition, tragedy, comedy, suffering, hopelessness and then relief. The explorers in this period were amazing. The things they did, lived through, and experienced with little or no more than a "aw shucks" can-do attitude is breathtaking. This story is harrowing, and wonderful. The Endurance story, the Ross Sea Party story, the Aurora drift, all of it, simply amazing. You think you are cold? You think you are hungry? You think maybe you are bored? Read this book, it will blow you away.
Last note, on top of all the craziness that is traveling to the South Pole by boat and not returning for a couple of years, the end, where Shackleton mentions that EVERY person in the account who did not DIE on the ice went straight into WORLD WAR 1. Boom. That's being Shackleton tough.
Last note, on top of all the craziness that is traveling to the South Pole by boat and not returning for a couple of years, the end, where Shackleton mentions that EVERY person in the account who did not DIE on the ice went straight into WORLD WAR 1. Boom. That's being Shackleton tough.
April 29, 2021
This is indeed an extraordinary story - of bravery, determination, camaraderie and, well, endurance. But I have to say I also had some less optimistic thoughts while reading this account (the second part, about Aurora, was a bit tedious for me, hence the final rating). It just occurred to me that even though it is amazing what humans are capable of, it's also scary. Our need to explore, to know everything, to leave no stone unturned, is both exciting and destructive. At some point Shackleton notes: "Here we saw the first evidence of the proximity of man, whose work, as is so often the case, was one of destruction." All those seals and penguins killed to sustain the explorers, all those dogs that had to be killed or died of exhaustion and starvation... Sometimes I do wish that we could have left some places on Earth be, untouched and undiscovered. But no, we've already dived to the bottom of the Mariana Trench, jumped from stratosphere, and now we're looking at colonising Mars... I guess there's no stopping us as it's our nature to push forward all the time, all in the name of science and advancement. We've not done very well by planet Earth though...
November 25, 2024
Before jumping into this review, I will once again reiterate my love for Shackleton. In 2022, I avidly followed the attempt to find the Endurance and, as a polar history nerd already, got absolutely hooked on the expedition. I still remember seeing that photograph for the first time: the image of the Endurance under the water, how she had been when being crushed by the ice and sinking.
It's hard to overstate what an impact that image had on me. I was in a position where I was extremely unsure about what I wanted to do with my career and felt a bit downhearted about my writing. Seeing that ship with 'Endurance' emblazoned across her stern was such an inspiration to me, doubly so when I read more about Shackleton and his expedition. I knew I had to push on with my writing, and lo and behold, a few months later, completely out of the blue, I got my book deal. So I am *ever* so fond of Shackleton and the Endurance, so much so that I have his motto 'Fortitudine Vincimus' tattooed on my arm. I look at it whenever I am feeling a bit down.
Now onto the review. This account absolutely grabbed me by the throat and did not let me go. I've read a lot about the expedition but reading it from an eyewitness perspective was so engrossing. I've read other reviews that say how Shackleton's writing is quite unemotional but I did not feel so. It is matter-of-fact, sure, but that is partially what makes it so amazing: the kind of stoic recounting that sometimes gives way to beautiful sections of description and makes the joy and relief of some parts even more evocative. The loss of the Endurance is heart-breakingly and gorgeously written, as well as the accounts of the ice and wildlife during the voyage of the open boats and then the solo James Caird.
The shining glory of this book, though, was the unity and brotherhood that wove throughout it. I am not ashamed to admit that it brought me to tears. The idea of Shackleton doing *that much* to save his men was even more touching than I thought it would be. Getting them to the sea after the loss of the Endurance, the open boat journey to Elephant Island, then the next open boat journey to South Georgia, then the crossing of South Georgia to reach help, and his indefatigable efforts to go back and save each man on both islands. One of those events on their own would have been amazing but all of them? Absolutely incredible. This was the bit that got me, after Shackleton managed to get through the sea ice to rescue the men left on Elephant Island:
'One of the party to whom I had said "Well, you were all packed up ready," replied, "You see, boss, Wild never gave up hope, and whenever the sea was at all clear of ice he rolled up his sleeping bag and said to all hands, "Roll up your sleeping bags, boys; the boss may come today"'.
Imagine that faith that he would return. The account is harrowing and harsh but also, most importantly, shows the strength of endurance and what people can do when they have to act, when they have to help their friends and fellows.
I also eagerly devoured the account of the Ross Sea party. This part I didn't know all that much about as it's usually a written as a sidenote to the Shackleton side of the expedition, but is just as important and just as incredible, although with a more tragic note to it.
The appendices attached to this edition were really interesting, as well, covering the scientific elements of the expedition. These explorers, from the time of Franklin to Shackleton, were really at the forefront of science and that was the steering force of these voyages: to understand the world, even at its wildest and most dangerous ends, and advance knowledge, sometimes at great cost. Although Shackleton did not achieve the goal of crossing the Antarctic continent, just as Scott did not achieve his return from the South Pole, these expeditions accumulated a huge amount of data and information that pushed forward science at the time.
In summary, I absolutely loved this. I expected it to be interesting, but I didn't expect to be that touched and inspired by it. Absolutely incredible.
It's hard to overstate what an impact that image had on me. I was in a position where I was extremely unsure about what I wanted to do with my career and felt a bit downhearted about my writing. Seeing that ship with 'Endurance' emblazoned across her stern was such an inspiration to me, doubly so when I read more about Shackleton and his expedition. I knew I had to push on with my writing, and lo and behold, a few months later, completely out of the blue, I got my book deal. So I am *ever* so fond of Shackleton and the Endurance, so much so that I have his motto 'Fortitudine Vincimus' tattooed on my arm. I look at it whenever I am feeling a bit down.
Now onto the review. This account absolutely grabbed me by the throat and did not let me go. I've read a lot about the expedition but reading it from an eyewitness perspective was so engrossing. I've read other reviews that say how Shackleton's writing is quite unemotional but I did not feel so. It is matter-of-fact, sure, but that is partially what makes it so amazing: the kind of stoic recounting that sometimes gives way to beautiful sections of description and makes the joy and relief of some parts even more evocative. The loss of the Endurance is heart-breakingly and gorgeously written, as well as the accounts of the ice and wildlife during the voyage of the open boats and then the solo James Caird.
The shining glory of this book, though, was the unity and brotherhood that wove throughout it. I am not ashamed to admit that it brought me to tears. The idea of Shackleton doing *that much* to save his men was even more touching than I thought it would be. Getting them to the sea after the loss of the Endurance, the open boat journey to Elephant Island, then the next open boat journey to South Georgia, then the crossing of South Georgia to reach help, and his indefatigable efforts to go back and save each man on both islands. One of those events on their own would have been amazing but all of them? Absolutely incredible. This was the bit that got me, after Shackleton managed to get through the sea ice to rescue the men left on Elephant Island:
'One of the party to whom I had said "Well, you were all packed up ready," replied, "You see, boss, Wild never gave up hope, and whenever the sea was at all clear of ice he rolled up his sleeping bag and said to all hands, "Roll up your sleeping bags, boys; the boss may come today"'.
Imagine that faith that he would return. The account is harrowing and harsh but also, most importantly, shows the strength of endurance and what people can do when they have to act, when they have to help their friends and fellows.
I also eagerly devoured the account of the Ross Sea party. This part I didn't know all that much about as it's usually a written as a sidenote to the Shackleton side of the expedition, but is just as important and just as incredible, although with a more tragic note to it.
The appendices attached to this edition were really interesting, as well, covering the scientific elements of the expedition. These explorers, from the time of Franklin to Shackleton, were really at the forefront of science and that was the steering force of these voyages: to understand the world, even at its wildest and most dangerous ends, and advance knowledge, sometimes at great cost. Although Shackleton did not achieve the goal of crossing the Antarctic continent, just as Scott did not achieve his return from the South Pole, these expeditions accumulated a huge amount of data and information that pushed forward science at the time.
In summary, I absolutely loved this. I expected it to be interesting, but I didn't expect to be that touched and inspired by it. Absolutely incredible.
February 13, 2022
Quite simply awesome. And I don't use the word lightly, considering it is very much an overused word. Ernest Shackleton was a hero not only because of what he endured, but because of how he led. As opposed to Robert Scott who made a series of errors (as well as experiencing some genuine bad luck with inclement weather) culminating in disaster in 1912, Shackleton's primary concern above all aspects of his mission were the men under his command. In 1908 - on his earlier 'farthest south' expedition, he turned himself and his men around when within reach of the elusive Pole. He had realised that due to depleted rations and muscles, in the face of extremely adverse weather, if they attained their stated aim of the Pole, they would not return alive. As it was, he had to be hauled on a sledge for the last slog by his two exhausted team-mates, as he was too weakened to carry on unaided...
This book tells the almost incredible tale of how his 1914 expedition failed early in its stated aims, but ultimately triumphed against a series of truly fearsome circumstances in the most inhospitable place on earth. Survival on the ice after the crushing destruction of their ship the Endurance, followed by the break-up of the ice and the harrowing escape over the ice floes into the open waters on board the Endurance's 3 lifeboats until the sanctuary of the bleak Elephant Island. Here is where the story begins anew as 'Uncle' Shackleton and 5 men depart for help leaving behind the remaining expedition team on the remote barren island with a protective shelter of 2 upturned lifeboats and a veneer of sealskins, and a diet consisting of pemmican hoosh, ship biscuit, seal blubber and seal meat when that could be hunted...
If all this hadn't been enough, the rescue party then attempts the crossing of the extreme South Atlantic (acknowledged as arguably the most treacherous open sea on the planet) in the remainng lifeboat - the James Caird. All the while Shackleton keeps his men going with his leadership skills and navigational expertise. His fellow rescue party undoubtedly play their part too in performing this miracle of marine adventure. Several hundred miles away their destination - South Georgia - is found. The journey is not yet over though as Shackleton and 2 others must traverse the unmapped mountainous spine of the island to the relative 'civilisation' of the remote whaling station at Grytviken. This final task proves almost the most dangerous...
The fact that Shackleton's team makes it to safety and in turn returns to Elephant Island to rescue the stranded expedition (by now clearly on the verge of madness and possible cannibalism) - without a single lost soul speaks volumes for his leadership capabilities and also for this generation's incredible resilience in the face of adversity in what Shackleton called 'the White War'. The tale is all the more powerful in the knowledge that many of the brave men on return to a Europe at war in 1916 must tragically go to battle again, and that so many fall in those foreign fields.
One of the most inspiring and exhillirating books you will ever read.
This book tells the almost incredible tale of how his 1914 expedition failed early in its stated aims, but ultimately triumphed against a series of truly fearsome circumstances in the most inhospitable place on earth. Survival on the ice after the crushing destruction of their ship the Endurance, followed by the break-up of the ice and the harrowing escape over the ice floes into the open waters on board the Endurance's 3 lifeboats until the sanctuary of the bleak Elephant Island. Here is where the story begins anew as 'Uncle' Shackleton and 5 men depart for help leaving behind the remaining expedition team on the remote barren island with a protective shelter of 2 upturned lifeboats and a veneer of sealskins, and a diet consisting of pemmican hoosh, ship biscuit, seal blubber and seal meat when that could be hunted...
If all this hadn't been enough, the rescue party then attempts the crossing of the extreme South Atlantic (acknowledged as arguably the most treacherous open sea on the planet) in the remainng lifeboat - the James Caird. All the while Shackleton keeps his men going with his leadership skills and navigational expertise. His fellow rescue party undoubtedly play their part too in performing this miracle of marine adventure. Several hundred miles away their destination - South Georgia - is found. The journey is not yet over though as Shackleton and 2 others must traverse the unmapped mountainous spine of the island to the relative 'civilisation' of the remote whaling station at Grytviken. This final task proves almost the most dangerous...
The fact that Shackleton's team makes it to safety and in turn returns to Elephant Island to rescue the stranded expedition (by now clearly on the verge of madness and possible cannibalism) - without a single lost soul speaks volumes for his leadership capabilities and also for this generation's incredible resilience in the face of adversity in what Shackleton called 'the White War'. The tale is all the more powerful in the knowledge that many of the brave men on return to a Europe at war in 1916 must tragically go to battle again, and that so many fall in those foreign fields.
One of the most inspiring and exhillirating books you will ever read.
August 28, 2014
An incredible story of adventure, endurance and courage - best read in winter when you are protected from the elements and can begin to imagine the cold without suffering it as they did. Having been forced from the safety of their ship by ice which trapped them and is gradually destroying it they cross an uncompromising frozen wilderness to the edge of the ice and the ocean. Then a few of them take a small boat across the stormy seas of the Southern ocean to South Georgia to organise a rescue. How they managed it and succeeded is nothing short of amazing. A time before GPS and aeroplanes when all you could rely on was yourself. Sadly though they all survived many then died fighting in the first world war.
August 31, 2018
"Difficulties are just things to overcome, after all." -Ernest Shackleton
January 12, 2025
Finally gave this a read, during my 6 weeks home. Was lucky to read my grandfather's copy which is the first edition (1919) and has beautiful pictures and maps. Overall good to finally know the details of the expedition. Super impressive... specially the South Georgia island crossing on foot & the capacity to navigate/measure position from the sun and other instruments. Tough people out there!
"The task was likely to be long and strenuous, and an ordered mind and a clear program were essential if we were to come through without loss of life. A man must shape himself to a new mark directly the old one goes to ground"
"Here were men, their home crushed (...) and giving their attention to such trifles as the strength of a brew of tea"
"I would go ahead for two miles or so to reconnoiter the next day's route"
"Many of the men longed for the rain and fogs of London"
"Loneliness is the penalty of leadership, but the man who has to make the decisions is assisted greatly if he feels that there is no uncertainty in the minds of those who follow him, and that his orders will be carried out confidently and in expectation of success"
"The trappings of civilization are soon cast aside in the face of stern realities, and given the barest opportunity of winning food and shelter, man can live and even find his laughter ringing true"
"Not think I had ever before felt the anxiety that belongs to leadership so keenly"
"I practically left the whole situation and scope of action and decision to his own judgement, secure in the knowledge that he would act wisely"
"I had to be ver firm in refusing to allow anyone to anticipate the morrow's allowance"
"We had reached the naked soul of men"
"The task was likely to be long and strenuous, and an ordered mind and a clear program were essential if we were to come through without loss of life. A man must shape himself to a new mark directly the old one goes to ground"
"Here were men, their home crushed (...) and giving their attention to such trifles as the strength of a brew of tea"
"I would go ahead for two miles or so to reconnoiter the next day's route"
"Many of the men longed for the rain and fogs of London"
"Loneliness is the penalty of leadership, but the man who has to make the decisions is assisted greatly if he feels that there is no uncertainty in the minds of those who follow him, and that his orders will be carried out confidently and in expectation of success"
"The trappings of civilization are soon cast aside in the face of stern realities, and given the barest opportunity of winning food and shelter, man can live and even find his laughter ringing true"
"Not think I had ever before felt the anxiety that belongs to leadership so keenly"
"I practically left the whole situation and scope of action and decision to his own judgement, secure in the knowledge that he would act wisely"
"I had to be ver firm in refusing to allow anyone to anticipate the morrow's allowance"
"We had reached the naked soul of men"
October 9, 2021
This sounded so promising but didn't find it gripping at all, found it to be boring. Wasn't able to connect with the events and people mentioned in this non fiction and simply couldn't care about them. Think I just didn't gel with the writing and didn't quite invite me in enough to care. Might have loved it and been more invested if I would have gotten on with the writing
March 17, 2024
Let this review serve as a reminder to myself that as I read about the Endurance Expedition, I vowed never to complain again. About anything, really.
Also, Shackleton is a terrific leader, and I was fortunate to engage in an inflight discussion on this subject with a coworker on the way to our leadership training.
Also, Shackleton is a terrific leader, and I was fortunate to engage in an inflight discussion on this subject with a coworker on the way to our leadership training.
August 29, 2010
This book was very slow paced and detailed, and took me a long time to read, especially the first third. The story was amazing, but I can’t decide if they were amazingly brave and perseverant, or just a bit stupid. Not their survival, but putting themselves at such risk in the first place. When they ended up stranded, no one seemed remotely surprised.
The person who recommended this book to me mentioned looking at leadership traits, so I was thinking about that as I read this book.
Team building:
He was constantly thinking about his men, and how to keep their spirits up, and how to keep them working together as a team.
Perseverance:
Of course they did everything to survive as they struggled together, but I especially liked how Shackleton kept trying to rescue his men after he made it to civilization in South Georgia. He knew his men would die if they waited until the “right” ship was available. He kept scouring his resources, trying everything he could. Three attempts failed. The ship with which he finally rescued them could not even get near the ice floe, luckily, finally, for a short time, the island wasn’t surrounded by it; he could get in and rescue them.
Sacrifice:
He never asked his crew to do anything he wasn’t willing to do. He placed himself when possible between his men and the danger. For example, when they camped on a beach he made sure he was closest to the water, so when the waves encroached on the camp, he was the first one drenched, he was able to wake everyone up and move the camp.
Another thing I learned is that humans can survive the most horrific conditions. Cold, frostbite, starvation, scurvy, chafing and infections, grease, soot and constant filth. The story of their survival is incredible, it was definitely worth reading.
The person who recommended this book to me mentioned looking at leadership traits, so I was thinking about that as I read this book.
Team building:
He was constantly thinking about his men, and how to keep their spirits up, and how to keep them working together as a team.
Perseverance:
Of course they did everything to survive as they struggled together, but I especially liked how Shackleton kept trying to rescue his men after he made it to civilization in South Georgia. He knew his men would die if they waited until the “right” ship was available. He kept scouring his resources, trying everything he could. Three attempts failed. The ship with which he finally rescued them could not even get near the ice floe, luckily, finally, for a short time, the island wasn’t surrounded by it; he could get in and rescue them.
Sacrifice:
He never asked his crew to do anything he wasn’t willing to do. He placed himself when possible between his men and the danger. For example, when they camped on a beach he made sure he was closest to the water, so when the waves encroached on the camp, he was the first one drenched, he was able to wake everyone up and move the camp.
Another thing I learned is that humans can survive the most horrific conditions. Cold, frostbite, starvation, scurvy, chafing and infections, grease, soot and constant filth. The story of their survival is incredible, it was definitely worth reading.
September 1, 2013
If you're familiar with Shackleton's story, you likely want to read this just for the sake of completion. Just know that it's not going to be the page-turner you would have hoped for. For anyone unfamiliar with Shackleton's story and curious to learn more, I'd recommend you start with another source.
The subject matter is fascinating yet Shackleton's writing lacks emotion. He was obviously writing this for his contemporaries to prove that his expedition had not been a complete failure. He rightly emphasizes that scientific knowledge was expanded. (It's sad really that scientific exploration alone couldn't have been their goal with less emphasis originally placed on the glory of reaching an arbitrary goal of crossing the continent before anyone else.) But in writing with this audience in mind, Shackleton glosses over some of the conflicts that I think modern audiences would be more interested in reading about. He also has this odd ability to describe amazing life-and-death moments in such a dry way that they don't feel nearly as exciting as they must have actually been.
The subject matter is fascinating yet Shackleton's writing lacks emotion. He was obviously writing this for his contemporaries to prove that his expedition had not been a complete failure. He rightly emphasizes that scientific knowledge was expanded. (It's sad really that scientific exploration alone couldn't have been their goal with less emphasis originally placed on the glory of reaching an arbitrary goal of crossing the continent before anyone else.) But in writing with this audience in mind, Shackleton glosses over some of the conflicts that I think modern audiences would be more interested in reading about. He also has this odd ability to describe amazing life-and-death moments in such a dry way that they don't feel nearly as exciting as they must have actually been.
May 20, 2020
The story of Sir Ernest Shackleton C V OSir Ernest Shackleton’s Imperial Trans-Antarctic expedition (1914–1917) is still considered one of the single most dramatic, thrilling, and exhausting adventures during the so-called Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration.
In “South!”, Shackleton tells the whole story in his own words.
The goal of the expedition was to perform the first land crossing of the Antarctic continent. But when Shackleton’s ship, The Endurance, became locked in ice – and subsequently were crushed and sunk – the goal of the expedition became sheer survival. Download the public domain version of the book at greatestadventurers.com: https://greatestadventurers.com/sir-e...
In “South!”, Shackleton tells the whole story in his own words.
The goal of the expedition was to perform the first land crossing of the Antarctic continent. But when Shackleton’s ship, The Endurance, became locked in ice – and subsequently were crushed and sunk – the goal of the expedition became sheer survival. Download the public domain version of the book at greatestadventurers.com: https://greatestadventurers.com/sir-e...
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