Endurance

Shackleton's Incredible Voyage

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Endurance

By: Alfred Lansing

Narrated by: Simon Prebble

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About this listen

This is a new reading of the thrilling account of one of the most astonishing feats of exploration and human courage ever recorded.

In August of 1914, the British ship Endurance set sail for the South Atlantic. In October 1915, still half a continent away from its intended base, the ship was trapped, then crushed in the ice. For five months, Sir Ernest Shackleton and his men, drifting on ice packs, were castaways in one of the most savage regions of the world.

Lansing describes how the men survived a 1,000-mile voyage in an open boat across the stormiest ocean on the globe and an overland trek through forbidding glaciers and mountains. The book recounts a harrowing adventure, but ultimately it is the nobility of these men and their indefatigable will that shines through.

Alfred LansingSimon PrebbleBlackstone Audio, Inc.

Adventurers, Explorers & Survival

Arctic & Antarctica

Engineering

Expeditions & Discoveries

World

Inspiring

Elephant

Scary

Thought-Provoking

Leadership

Resilience

Adventure

Survival

Sailing

Adventurers, Explorers & Survival Arctic & Antarctica Engineering Expeditions & Discoveries World Inspiring Elephant Scary Thought-Provoking Leadership Resilience Adventure Survival Sailing

Critic reviews

"[O]ne of the most extraordinary tales of heroism and determination in the history of exploration....Prebble's narration will bring to life the despair, elation, and sheer will of these men to survive, and to triumph, together." ( AudioFile)

Most relevant

Would you listen to Endurance again? Why?

YES- I will listen many times to this Audiobook, because it draws me.

I have always been fascinated by Polar Exploration from my boyhood, but especially Antarctica. Even the name arouses thoughts and feelings of the ends of the World. As Scott said- "Great God, this is an awful place". And yet it is also incredibly beautiful and very interesting, in terms of its own Geological, Environmental History. Antarctica has been a Global Traveler long before Humans walked the Earth. (SEE LAST SECTION).

I had the old book 'South With Scott'? and I became familiar with Franklin, Greely and of course Nansen and Amundsen's Expeditions, but Shackleton's last epic story has always been my favorite. His way with dealing with men, Crises and other situations, was so different to Scott, although sometimes similar to Amundsen. Not Hierarchical, and yet not Democratic either. He treated men fairly yet he knew how to stop the confrontation with Chippy the Carpenter. Then again he cared for each and every member to a tiny detail, but without each man knowing, or feeling uncomfortable..

I would recommend Endurance not just as a great Audiobook, which it IS, but there are also examples and lessons for our 21st Century lives and situations; and forms of Personnel Management, that are so badly lacking today.

WELL DONE to all concerned in producing yet another Audible success.
Jack.

What other book might you compare Endurance to, and why?

I would have no problem linking this remarkable story, with that of Apollo 13.
The similarities and contrasts are many and varied, but both stories tell of courage and determination to pull victory from the jaws of almost certain defeat - and oblivion.

The fact that an Expedition found itself in serious and immediate danger right at the very end , and even beyond of any possible help. The difference being, with Apollo 13, there was a sense that most of the Earth's Human population WILLED the crew back to Earth and safety; glued to the edge of their seats.
But during 1914-15, only a relative few had any idea of the plight of Shackleton's Expedition members. Or the fact that so many went straight into the Great War after returning home.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The story has so many moments that moved me, including the shooting of the puppies; but another moment has got to be when Shackleton found the his party trapped on the Island whilst he went for help.

Any additional comments?

I recently finished my latest poem about (and dedicated to) Polar Explorers. And I'd like to share it here. I present to you, Lost In The Ice.

LOST IN THE ICE.
A land of frozen mountains and endless ice. will crush all human dreams;
and can we ever know what a Polar region really means.
Antarctica was once a Temperate Zone;
this Global traveler, in times before we were known.

From Scott to Shackleton, Franklin, yes and Greely too;
they set out bravely to inspire me and you.
their journeys always start out filled with hope;
winds are fair, as through the floes they grope.

But their trust in skills - a fickle thing;
takes no account of Nature's bitter sting.
Once in the land where no-one's welcome;
the 'Terror' and 'Erebus' would both succumb

Erebus means the 'Gates of Hell’;
their trials and torment, so hard to tell.
Supported by the newly found science;
foods to test Sir John Franklin's patience.

The ticking time bomb, in lead-lined cans;
a poison chalice, accepted by luckless fans.
The man once known for eating his boot;
left three dead witnesses, on Beachy Island they lie and moot.

The man called Scott and four brave friends;
their numbers dwindle with the wind's changing trends.
"Just eleven miles more", screamed the howling storm's might;
The poor man 'Oates' turns and stumbles, alone into the night.

They found them then, as the Sun returned;
No sign of warmth; or that saving oil had burned.
No sign of leaving Scott, from the blizzard to hide;
the bounds of friendship prevented the will to divide.

Then Shackleton's team, and good ship Endurance;
provided hope, preventing all ideas of prudence.
Trapped in the turning jail of Weddell;
they cling to thoughts of home; in frozen Hell.

Never forgotten, we speak their name;
Laying there, no wrong or shame.
Their quest- to stretch the bounds of discovery;
lost forever, all hopes of recovery.

Perhaps one day if you are able;
picture one such nightmare fable.
out there on the ice they toil and drag;
the ghostly team of bone and rag.

Blackened mouths and painful joints through Haemorrhage;
to stagger forever can be, their only heritage.
They want to rest, to sleep and die;
but lost they are, to ever walk on by.

And what of Nansen and Amundsen in all this?
Different methods they used, it went like this.
When Scott said he'd use ponies and dogs;
Nansen replied- "I'd use dogs, dogs, and dogs".

To write some words, an Epitaph new.
is all that those like me can do.
To do for them some form of justice;
Perhaps one day, they'll get to read this.
BY JACK D HARRISON.
MON 03-07-2017.