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  • Erebus: The Story of a Ship

  • By: Michael Palin
  • Narrated by: Michael Palin
  • Length: 11 hrs and 5 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (1,887 ratings)
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Erebus: The Story of a Ship cover art

Erebus: The Story of a Ship

By: Michael Palin
Narrated by: Michael Palin
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Summary

Random House presents the audiobook edition of Erebus, written and read by Michael Palin.

In September 2014 the wreck of a sailing vessel was discovered at the bottom of the sea in the frozen wastes of the Canadian Arctic. It was broken at the stern and covered in a woolly coat of underwater vegetation. Its whereabouts had been a mystery for over a century and a half. Its name was HMS Erebus.

Now Michael Palin - former Monty Python stalwart and much-loved television globetrotter - brings this extraordinary ship back to life, following it from its launch in 1826 to the epic voyages of discovery that led to glory in the Antarctic and to ultimate catastrophe in the Arctic. He explores the intertwined careers of the men who shared its journeys: the dashing James Clark Ross who charted much of the 'Great Southern Barrier' and oversaw some of the earliest scientific experiments to be conducted there; and the troubled John Franklin, who at the age of 60 and after a chequered career, commanded the ship on its final, disastrous expedition. And he vividly recounts the experiences of the men who first stepped ashore on Antarctica's Victoria Land, and those who, just a few years later, froze to death one by one in the Arctic wastes as rescue missions desperately tried to reach them.

To help tell the story, he has travelled to various locations across the world - Tasmania, the Falklands, the Canadian Arctic - to search for local information, and to experience at first hand the terrain and the conditions that would have confronted the Erebus and her crew.

This is a wonderfully evocative and epic account, written by a master explorer and storyteller.

©2018 Michael Palin (P)2018 Random House Audiobooks
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

What listeners say about Erebus: The Story of a Ship

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Excellent. Michael Palin tells this so well.

Loved it. They must have gone through hell on these voyages.
We take it all for granted now of course.

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Riveting read!

Excellent narration by the author Michael Palin and follows the tale of the successes and failures of brave Naval men of exploration during the period of British Empire. Michael builds a colour character picture for each member of the crew who feature ...with his usual characteristic of wit and sensitivity..leading to an exciting conclusion.

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The story of a ship.

'This is living history. Time and decay are at work here and we shouldn't interrupt them.'

This book ends where it begins, with a shipwreck and the bones of its brave men, both of which are enchantingly brought to life between the pages of this book.

Within it are numerous accounts of astounding lives, adventures and heroic deeds. The story of Erebus and her crews is truly remarkable and here it is told with the reverence and wonder it deserves.

I had both audio and hardback, I very much enjoyed Michael's reading and tone throughout.

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A brilliant and epic story

Fantastic historical story of the ship Erebus. Well told and fascinating to the last. Highly recommended.

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Erebus: the story of more than just a ship

I watched the Amazon tv show Terror last year and was intrigued when BBC radio serialised some of Palin’s book, although I missed most of the programmes.
Palin goes into the lives and characters of the people who ended their lives on the expedition in a way only he can. His reading is sympathetic although there are times when his sense of humour surface.
Excellent work, I would recommend it to anyone.

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Fantastic

Attracted to this book after it was book of the week on Radio 4 and certainly wasn't disappointed. Wonderfully well written story enhanced no end by being narrated by Palin himself.

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it's an icebreaker Tomkinson!

Fascinating account of an event that is now far ftom public consciousness. Palin should really write more. Everything he does is well judged and to a high standard.

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Riveting from beginning to end

Just loved this - amazing detail vividly told and brilliantly researched all brought alive by Michael Palin’s narration

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Enthralling Story of Courage and endurance.

Michael Palin tells the story of Erebus from shipyard to final fate in the ice with enthusiasm and detail.
I thoroughly recommend this book to anyone interested in travel , natural history and human endeavour.

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Palin doesn’t disappoint

A brilliantly written and well spoken account of Erebus and Terror. Starts slow but I was riveted by the 4th chapter. A story told in a way only Palin can.

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