The official blurb
Shackleton’s most famous expedition was planned to be an attempt to cross Antarctica from the Weddell Sea south of the Atlantic, to the Ross Sea south of the Pacific, by way of the Pole. It set out from London on 1 August 1914, and reached the Weddell Sea on January 10, 1915, where the pack ice closed in on the Endurance. The ship was broken by the ice on 27 October 1915. The 28 crew members managed to flee to Elephant Island, bringing three small boats with them. Shackleton and five other men managed to reach the southern coast of South Georgia in one of the small boats (in a real epic journey). Shackleton managed to rescue all of the stranded crew from Elephant Island without loss in the Chilean’s navy seagoing steam tug Yelcho, on August 30, 1916, in the middle of the Antarctic winter.
My Review
This non fiction story is dramatic and engaging. Its a story of outstanding human effort and courage. The early chapters can sometimes be a little dry but never boring. Once the troubles begin, the story shifts into a higher gear, realising that this is non fiction and these things happened to real people just makes the whole thing so much more gripping.
While never inflating his part in things, never allowing his ego to take control we hear and understand what a heroic man Shackleton was. The adventure these men lived through under the incredible leadership of Shackleton is totally absorbing and had me holding my breath more than once. Action, mystery, fear, sadness this book has it all.
Todate, this is my absolute favorite LIbrivox recording.
Reading = 2/3
Production = 2/3
Story = 3/3
Total = 7/9
You can get it at Librivox.
