Travel to Polar Regions

Shackleton

Format: Paperback
Author: Roland Huntford
ReleaseDate: May, 1998
Publisher: Carroll & Graf Publishers
Rating:

The Great Antarctic Explorer
It's long, about 700 pages of text about Sir Ernest Shackleton from birth to death at 47 years, and complex, with dozens of major characters. "Shackleton" is a superb biography by a well know writer on polar exploration.

Shackleton was a failure at nearly everything he did. His business ventures never panned out; he was an uncaring and indifferent husband; his expeditions never achieved what he hoped; he made enemies who stabbed him in the back. His virtues, the author tells us, were those of the Irish including a compelling personality and a gift of gab. He was, first and foremost, a leader of men under adversity. In society, he was always a bit of a bounder; in Antarctica he inspired trust and awe among the members of his expeditions.

Shackleton and his rival, Sir Robert Scott, exemplified the best English tradition of the inspired amateur. They really didn't have the skills to explore the Antarctic and they seemed impervious to learning much. Their expeditions were one mishap after another and only Shackleton's leadership and drive saved him and his men from death on the ice. Scott was not so lucky -- or competent. The hardships suffered by the Antarctic explorers are almost inconceivable to us today. We are better clothed for a walk in the park on a snowy day than they were for facing the worst weather this planet can devise. Therein is much of the fascination with the story: men against the elements -- and the elements have the advantage.

Huntford tells the stories of Shackleton's three Antarctic expeditions in the early 20th century in impressive and fascinating detail. Through it all runs Shackleton's secret fear that his heart may not be equal to the task and that he might, as happened on his first expedition, collapse and disgrace himself.

Smallchief

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Excellent in all respects!!!
Shackleton is a compelling figure, but this is not an exercise in hero worship. This is one of the best biographies I have read in years. Shackleton is presented with all his faults and flaws. He's a leader extraordinaire, but he's not much of a husband and even less a financier. Extremely enjoyable even if you know the outcome of Endurance's voyage. .

Best Shackleton Bio!
He is the most authoratative and insightful reporter there is on the subject. I've read a pile of books about Shackleton and polar exploration and no author I've read compares to Roland Huntford. This book is a fascinating story of a great explorer who didn't do so well at being the husband and father. That could be said for a lot of his contemporaries, who were heroic in the ice but a misfit at home. I love Huntford's books and only wish there were more of them to read. .

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