Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton CVO OBE, was one of the principal figures of the period known as the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration. His first experience of the polar regions was as third officer on Captain Scott’s Discovery Expedition, 1901–04, from which he was sent home early on health grounds. Determined to make amends for this perceived personal failure, he returned to Antarctica in 1907 as leader of the Nimrod Expedition. In January 1909 he and three companions made a southern march which established a record Farthest South latitude at 88°23'S, 97 geographical miles (114 statute miles, 190 km) from the South Pole, by far the closest convergence in exploration history up to that time. For this achievement, Shackleton was knighted by King Edward VII on his return home. This edition covers Shackleton’s final, and most dramatic Antarctic expedition.
South: The Story of Shackleton's 1914-1917 Expedition
and over 1.5 million other books are available for Amazon Kindle . Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Trade In this Item for up to £2.65
Trade in South: The Story of Shackleton's Last Expedition 1914-1917 for an Amazon.co.uk gift card of up to £2.65, which you can then spend on millions of items across the site. Trade-in values may vary (terms apply). Learn more
|
Book Description
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, and more.
Product Description
Amazon Review
It's all so British. Which polar explorer do we all know and revere? Captain Scott. Which polar explorer had a fixation for Naval class distinctions and refused to contemplate the idea of sledge-dog travel, thereby condemning himself and his companions to an icy death? Captain Scott. If we're looking for heroics, we've been looking in the wrong place. Ernest Shackleton has not received a quarter of Scott's plaudits but he is infinitely more deserving. Having got within 100 miles of the South Pole in 1908, pioneering the route up the Beardmore Glacier on to the polar icecap in the process, Shackleton was left to watch Amundsen and Scott slug it out for the big prize. Looking for a different challenge, he set sail for the Antarctic in the Endurance in the summer of 1914 in the hope of making the first trans-Antarctic crossing. The Endurance was crushed in the pack ice and Shackleton successfully led his 27 men to the edge of the ice. From there he made a sea crossing in three open boats to Elephant Island. After several months he realised there was no hope of rescue, so he set sail with four others on a 600-mile crossing to South Georgia. He was eventually shipwrecked on the uninhabited side of the island and forced into making the first-ever winter crossing. Two days later he strolled into the whaling station at Stromness, having been long since given up for dead and proceeded to personally oversee the rescue of those still stranded on Elephant Island. Not a single person in Shackleton's expedition party was lost. South is Shackleton's own account of this expedition. It tries hard--in the way latter-day Edwardians did--to play up the scientific discoveries but there's no disguising this is basically a classic tale of derring-do. As such it's a wonderful, if understated read, with an unexpected poignancy in the epilogue. When Shackleton returned to Europe, the First World War had been going on for two years. The political and psychological map of Britain had changed for ever and many of the returning explorers found it hard to adjust. This book has been reprinted many times since it was first published in 1919. This edition comes with a workman-like introduction from Peter King, who bizzarely manages to refer to Roland Huntford, author of the brilliant definitive biography of Shackleton, as James Huntford. Where it does score, though, is in the assembly of James Hurley's fantastic photographs of the expedition which are liberally sprinkled throughout the text. If the words don't get you, the pictures will. --John Crace
--This text refers to the
Paperback
edition.
Review
?Best read in the course of a single stormy night... you will be gripped.? ("The New Yorker")
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Browse and search another edition of this book.
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
82 of 82 people found the following review helpful
By N. Butt
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I was not sure what I was expecting from my first free Kindle story. I have to say that I very pleasantly surprised, as Shackleton tells his story in a very matter of fact way that still fails to hide the sheer drama of what happened with his expedition. It would appear that almost every aspect of the expedition went awry from Day One, and yet he comes across as either a compulsive optimist or else a prime example of the 'Keep Calm and Carry On' brigade. He tells his story by the facts, and it is up to the reader to add in the countless days between notable events or to understand the paucity of the food. What he does convey is the sheer enormity of the Antarctic, the remoteness, the simplicity of their equipment and the initiative of his men. It is far more than just a diary of events, and the imagery that it conjures up transforms this into a spectacular tale from an era where we were continuing to push the envelope of what man could achieve. I suppose that some people will also enjoy the opportunity to judge Shackleton as a leader of men, and this book certainly does give an insight into the loneliness of his position, the stark options that he had to choose between and the risks that he led his men into. After reading this book, I intend to re-visit the TV mini series with Kenneth Branagh as I remember this as a very strong portrayal of the expeditionShackleton [DVD] [2002].
28 of 28 people found the following review helpful
By Bean
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is an epic story of a struggle against very harsh conditions by fifty-eight or so Antarctic explorers. As a tale it is very powerfully told because it is related in the manner of a mission report eliminating much of any emotional strain being felt by the author. Shackleton emerges as a superlative leader, surrounded by ordinary men caught up in an extraordinary feat of survival and endurance.
As a Kindle book it would have been greatly improved by the inclusion of maps and any illustrations mentioned in the text.
As a Kindle book it would have been greatly improved by the inclusion of maps and any illustrations mentioned in the text.
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition
Having no prior knowledge of this story, I was left dumbfounded and in awe at the tenacity of these explorers from the turn of the 20th century.
I spent two weeks talking incessantly about Antarctica while reading this book, looking at the continent's amazing geography on Google Maps and imagining how horrific the environment must have been for the crew of the Endurance. The author paints a realistic and objective look at the stuggles of his friends and compadres during their epic journeys and undertakings. The story really touched a nerve with me and I frequently found my head shaking, agog with disbelief at some of the elements that Shackleton jotted down.
This is a completely true tale, making this book one of the most affecting ones I have read for a long time. If you like adventure, history, geography or are just curious about the world I'd highly recommend. What an amazing story.
I spent two weeks talking incessantly about Antarctica while reading this book, looking at the continent's amazing geography on Google Maps and imagining how horrific the environment must have been for the crew of the Endurance. The author paints a realistic and objective look at the stuggles of his friends and compadres during their epic journeys and undertakings. The story really touched a nerve with me and I frequently found my head shaking, agog with disbelief at some of the elements that Shackleton jotted down.
This is a completely true tale, making this book one of the most affecting ones I have read for a long time. If you like adventure, history, geography or are just curious about the world I'd highly recommend. What an amazing story.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 78 reviews
4.3 out of 5 stars
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Inspirational
This is a truly harrowing account from Shackleton of his heroic journey in Antarctica before the age of instant communications and rescue on request. Read more
Published 3 days ago by Sequinsatdawn
4.0 out of 5 stars
Definitely worth a read!
I downloaded this as my first free Kindle book, thinking that it did not really matter too much if I did not enjoy it. Read more
Published 23 days ago by L. Pedley
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing narrative of true heroicism
Once these men sailed out of the Falklands they were on their own - nobody would be coming to rescue them. Read more
Published 25 days ago by C. Poole
1.0 out of 5 stars
South by Ernest Henry Shackleton
Amazon has been VERY disappointing because the special print of this book, done specially for Amazon in England, does NOT have any sketches or maps. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Pen Name
4.0 out of 5 stars
Outstanding
A very moving story of outstanding bravery and the tenacity of man when faced with seemingly insurmountable problems. Better than any of the "Boy's Own" stories of that era.
Published 1 month ago by Kenneth Wolstenholme
5.0 out of 5 stars
When men were men
One of the most amazing true stories of all time. It is difficult to imagine the difficulty of the challenge in those days when today worldwide communication is there for all and... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Robert Brown
2.0 out of 5 stars
I expected a summary, this is his detailed diary
I expected a summary of the adventure but this was a detailed account from his diary. I gave up after reading 10% of it as it is very dry.
Published 1 month ago by Mr T R Gould
5.0 out of 5 stars
The story of Shackleton
Excellent ,great read !!!!!!
Author worked hard to get the feeling of the expedition , we told and well written
Five star *****
Author worked hard to get the feeling of the expedition , we told and well written
Five star *****
Published 1 month ago by paul creighton
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Story of Shackleton's Expedition
Great read. I downloaded this book onto my kindle so it was a great read on my holiday. I recommended this book to all my friends.
Published 1 month ago by V. M. Strever
5.0 out of 5 stars
Unbelievable!
If Hollywood had asked for a story to make into a film they would have said this is too far-fetched. Truth really can be stranger than fiction. Read more
Published 1 month ago by P. Hayward
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
|
