Shackleton's Boat Journey

In the summer of 1914 Ernest Schackleton's ship Endurance became trapped in Antarctic ice in 53 degree below zero weather. The following winter, the ship was crushed and sank, leaving the crew to camp on the ice while eking out subsistence under unimaginable conditions. In April of 1916, the ice broke apart beneath their feet, and twenty eight men piled into the lifeboats they had rescued from the wreck of the Endurance.These hair raising events are not part of the story of Shackleton's Boat Journey, but simply the preamble, described in less than a page, that sets the stage for the real action that is to follow.The tale is told by F.A. Worsley, the Captain of the Endurance. And what a saga it is, as the entire crew barely makes it to Elephant Island and from there an advance party navigates across the raging, freezing ocean in a tiny boat, all the way to South Georgia Island, from which the balance of the crew are eventually rescued, without one man being lost.What these men endured is beyond belief, yet Worsley recounts it humbly, with understatement, and with considerable grace. Here is an example of his prose:"Squall by squall the wind grew fiercer and the sea heavier. Through a rift in the clouds the moon shone out on the stormy sea and for two minutes revealed the ghostly white uplands and glaciers of the island. Another squall blotted everything out. We heard whales blow right alongside. They may have been killers, but, whatever they were, a push from one of them would have capsized us. If they were killers we would have had a quicker end. Soon to our great relief they left us for some nobler quarry than dirty smelly little men in Burberry overalls".It is amazing that in the midst of a Herculean struggle for survival the author was able to take note of beauty in what must have been a living hell, and to describe it so elegantly. Here for example, is his description of icebergs, "All the strange fantastic shapes rose and fell in a stately cadence, with a rustling, whispering sound and hollow echoes to the thudding seas, clear green at the water line, shading to a deep dark blue far below, all snowy purity and cool blue shadows above".This combination of gripping action and poetic insight makes for a richly rewarding read.Highly recommended.

I really enjoyed this book. Reading Worsley’s actual words when he was in the thick of things puts you right in the center of the action. Fascinating. I am in awe of these men and all they had to endure in order to survive.

This book is an interesting first hand account of the Shackleton expedition and their journey by small boat to South Georgia Island. As a narrative by the captain of the Endurance, it can make for laborious reading, as it is not written as a spell-binding novel. As well, it requires some basic foreknowledge of the Shackleton expedition; their mission and the result. The Endurance sinks on the first page of this book, so there is really no background information about the expedition. If you know nothing about Shackleton, you probably should read a more comprehensive history before you read this book. If you already know a bit about it, though, this narrative provides an interesting look at their boat journey from the perspective of the captain. The details of the journey are clearly understated, but you can still gain a glimpse of the horrors of the voyage by reading between the lines. This was a nearly impossible journey, completed by tough and capable men who triumphed against the odds. The story is awe-inspiring and powerful, just make sure you have some background knowledge before you read it.

Often reading about polar explorers means only getting the view of the lead character, usually the "Boss" or the "Owner" of the expedition. These characters are in themselves well worth reading, but their fame often over shadows the other central figures who the expeditions could never have been made without. Worsley is such a figure. I enjoyed Worsley's relating of his own experience, modestly told, easy to read, and supplying the viewpoint of one of those central characters which puts so much more into the understanding of what the explorers were like as human beings. Shackleton often gets recognition for the great feat of the boat journey, as he should; he was an inspiring leader, but it was Frank Worsley's navigation in incredibly difficult conditions that got them to South Georgia.

An engrossing first person narrative by one of the 6 men that accomplished the amazing, hair-raising 800 mile voyage from Elephant Island to S. Georgia Island in an open life boat, in order to accomplish the rescue of Shackleton's men left standed on the former island after the almost-2-yr survival in the ice floes of the Antactic when the ship had become trapped then crushed & sunk. I have read many different accounts of the whole heroic venture of the Endurance, her crew, and selfless & inspiring leader--Sir Ernest Shackleton. Each account gives a different perspective, & it is interesting to be able to put them all together for a fuller picture of the whole mission. Along with it also goes the story of the Ross Sea Party that had their own drama unfolding on the other side of the Continent at the same time. The entire saga is amazing and thoroughly engrossing!Adding to the whole experience are the phenominal pictures taken and preserved by the expedition photographer, Frank Hurley--boy do these ever add to the drama! An amazing epic!

Having heard and read about Shackleton’s voyage of discovery to Antarctica in 1914, on his ship ‘Endurance’, I thought it would be interesting to read a detailed account of his rescue mission sailing in an open topped rowing boat across the Southern Ocean between Elephant Island and South Georgia in the most appalling conditions imaginable. That he, and five of his crew members, including his incredibly talented captain, Frank Worsley, actually succeeded in making the crossing and secured the rescue of all the men left on Elephant Island is incredible and nothing short of a miracle. This is a must read and tells of when men really were men.

This is written from Wormsley’s diary, l would say it is one of the greatest feats of navigation and gives an insight as to the courage and fortitude of these men. To sail almost 800 hundred miles in the most treacherous freezing storm tossed sea In a 22ft boat, then climb over 6000ft unchartered mountains to affect a rescue of his fellow marooned crew.

Very focused on what is effectively the rescue mission and the boat journey to South Georgia.It is very succinct and a short read but captures the the drama and hardships of such an expedition perfectly.This is the Captains own story if you want to know more about The Boss ie Shackleton then I recommend Caroline Alexanders book which as is her way a very extensively researched account of both Shackleton the man and the mission.However I rate Worsleys' book as compulsive reading.

This was recommended by a fellow traveller in Norway. It's written by the captain of the ship Shakleton sailed in and details how selflessly and fairly he treated his crew. Shackleton is a bit of a hero in Norway as, unlike many more successful explorers of the time, he didn't lose a single man. Well written and extremely atmospheric.

A really gripping true story. It is hard to believe that anyone could make this sort of trip.The trip was made to save his shipmates and himself from certain death so it had to be done, but the skill in navigating such distances in an open boat in the storms and the cold must be appreciated, I was a former navigator so I can appreciate the skill required to hit such a small island, miss it by a couple of miles and that would have been the end.Then there is the physical effort required to do it, unbelievable. All this with no satellite radios, no GPS, the sailors of today do not know how lucky they are. A good read.