Litercurious Book Review
| Title | Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage |
| Author | Alfred Lansing |
| Publisher | Basic Books 2007 |
| Format | Paperback, Kindle, Hardcover, Audiobook |
| Pages | 304 |
| Language: | English |
| ISBN # 10 / 13 | 9780753809877 / 978-0753809877 |
AUTHOR
Alfred Lansing majored in journalism, served in the U.S. Navy, worked as a newspaper editor and later became a freelance writer. Find out more about Alfred here.
WHO IS THE TARGET AUDIENCE
Anyone who loves: adventure, human struggle, epic survival, suspense, history, extreme seamanship, and great leadership will absolutely love this book.
SYNOPSIS
Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage is a true story of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition. The information within the book was taken from the diaries of the expedition members, interviews conducted with the surviving members, and letters.
In 1915, Sir Shackleton attempted to cross the Antarctic overland from west to east. What followed was an epic struggle to survive in sub-zero temperatures, without food and minimal shelter. After his ship “Endurance” got mired in the ice and then later crushed, he and his men were forced to survive on the ice.
The story is of men fighting against nature to survive eighteen months on a drifting ice flow. Starvation, scurvy, frostbite, and illness are just a few of the hardships these men had to suffer through. These men spent endless nights in the freezing rain and snow waiting for spring to come; always hungry, always cold, always freezing, always wondering if they would live through it all.
As the months passed by and situation became more dire, Sir Shackleton kept the men going through sheer determination and leadership. This story is not just of survival but the struggle of Sir Shackleton and his dedication to his men. He is a man that is not easily equaled. His personal fortitude, expertise, and charisma kept the party alive as much as anything else.
Sir Shackleton’s heroism and self-sacrifice is why he decided to attempt a crossing of the South Atlantic Ocean in a lifeboat to reach help for his men. Crossing the South Atlantic in a ship is dangerous, but an 800-mile journey by lifeboat is almost suicidal. The human struggle against the elements of the South Atlantic is another epic chapter in this story.
CONCLUSION
This book is one of the best books I’ve read. The story is well written and I enjoyed every minute of it. The suspense flows right through the book from beginning to end. The reader constantly wants to continue to the next chapter just to see how these men continue to survive. The tale is epic in the extreme. I most heartily recommend this book.
