Nimrod

by Beau Riffenburgh

On New Year's Day, 1908, a tiny overladen ship called Nimrod set out on the last stage of its journey to the Antarctic. The leader of the expedition was Ernest Shackleton who was determined to find fame and fortune by becoming the first man to reach the South Pole. On this expedition, Shackleton would record the greatest achievements of his career and make some of his most momentous decisions. It was to be an epic and dangerous adventure. While one team battled hundreds of miles to plant the Union Jack at the South Magnetic Pole, Shackleton led another team toward the geographic South Pole. Despite being plagued by hunger, cruel weather and unseen crevasses, they persevered to within ninety-seven miles of the Pole. But things were to get even worse

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography, Adventure, Travel, Survival, Historical

Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Beau Riffenburgh is an author and historian specializing in polar exploration. Under the pseudonym Simon Beaufort, Beau has also co-authored 10 novels with his wife, medieval mystery writer Susanna Gregory. Eight of these are about the Crusader knight Geoffrey Mappestone, but the most recent is a modern police procedural, The Murder House (2013). All told, he has written, edited, or contributed to more than 60 books.He is also an American Football coach and author of books on football history.

Reviews

[Jade Cahoon · Rating 3 out of 5]

The middle bits (actual antarctic) was amazing. But a *slog* to get there after a million pages of fundraising....

[Jasmine Fogwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy stories of Shackleton and have read a few. This one was alright, but the telling of it wasn't as well done as others I have read. The author gave a lot of history at the beginning about possible influences in the life of Shackleton and his crew, but they were just that, possible influences. It was a bit hard to get into it. Once the expedition began I found it more interesting.

[Brad Lucht · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not especially well written. The author has an annoying (to me) habit of writing such statements as, "Perhaps this contributed to Shackleton's sense of adventure." He does this over and over again in the first quarter of the book, writing about England as Shackleton was growing up. Just took too long to actually address the expedition. When he did so however, the story moved quickly along, really drawing me in to the story.

[Debra L. McDaniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shackleton's Forgotten Expedition

This book provides great insight into Shackleton's character, as well as others involved in this forgotten expedition. It also provides insight about others directly or indirectly involved in this and other similar expeditions. I now have a better understanding of Shackleton's character (and flaws) and a better appreciation of what he should be remembered for.

[Barry · Rating 3 out of 5]

strangely non-engaging. I didn't feel close to the subject, Ernest Shackleton. An amazing adventure requires more skillful handling. Riffenburgh's prose was not up to the challenge. Still valuable for setting the historical record straight as to who was the most successful Antartic explorer, "Shack" or Scott (it's Shack).

[David Provost · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book to be eminently readable. As a longtime fan of Shackleton, I found that I learned a good deal more about the man than I thought I already knew.

A must for fans of exploration and the Antarctic.

[Richard F · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. If Shackleton's journey to the South Pole (almost) was a slog, then it has been reflected in this book. Which is disappointing to me because it is an incredible story which deserves preserving.

Unfortunately the writing, for me, was too documentary and did not reflect the spirit of Shackleton that it tries to describe.

Although it starts well, describing the first journey alongside Scott and setting up the rivalry between them, for the next few chapters I was on the verge of quitting as I waded through Shackleton seeking jobs, running for parliament and (at least the most interesting of these chapters) raising funding.

I think this could have been a 250 page drama and story of rivalry and deceit, but it wasn't. Not for the lack of material... There were 3 expedition parties to write about and plenty of events which tempted fate within inches.

So I would advise you to skip many of the first half of chapters lest you suffer Shackleton's fate and have to turn back. Seek and stick to the amazing tale of bravery, leadership and spirit that this journey deserves to be known for.

[mike michaelsen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hard for me to follow

I had a a hard time reading this book. I'm glad I did but it didn't flow well for me. Their stamina and determination was phenomenal. Sorry but I can't say it was enjoyable.

[Brace1737 · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 1909 voyage of the Nimrod is brought to life by historian Beau Riffenbrough. It is quite a tale of adventure and courage led by Ernest Shackleton years before his voyage on the Endurance.

Put it on your reading list.

[Susan Arena · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book had too much background detail regarding the British Empire and religion.

[Carolann Hambly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Long winded and.full of supposition . Parts were really interesting. How did Britain actually have an empire? The ineptitude was incredible. Too much animal death because of incompetence.

[Curtiss · Rating 4 out of 5]

A remarkable story of determination, hardship, and both moral and physical courage under extreme conditions, which in the end earned Sir Earnest Henry Shackleton both international acclaim and a knighthood, despite having failed to acheive its ultimate goal of planting the British flag at the South Pole.

Shackleton's decision to turn back 97 miles short of the pole was recognized as exemplifying both his own moral courage and his dedication to preserving the lives of the men in his charge. Shackleton never lost a man during any of his polar expeditions, despite food and supply shortages, blizzards, hazardous terrain, and even the loss of his ship the HMS Endurance during the 1914-1916 Trans-Artarctic Expedition.

Written with a style which emphasizes Riffenburgh's detailed scholarship, the true emotional impact of Shackleton's acheivement comes through in the epilogue where the ultimate fates of each member of the expedition are outlined. Riffenburgh includes Amundsen's tribute to Shackleton as the book's final lines.

But the greatest tribute to Shackleton was when Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator of Sherlock Holmes, while serving in parlaiment during the the debate over the Admiralty's 1912 appropriation request for eight dreadnaught-class battleships instead of the usual four, said, "We can approve the eight Dreadnaughts, IF we can find the eight Shackletons."

[Victor Gibson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book discounted in a bookshop in Nelson, British Colombia and bought it having an interest in both nautical subjects and Antarctic exploration. It is a good read, and the author avoids too much technical detail, although if I read it again I think I might lake a list of the characters so that I always knew which group they were part of.

Beau Riffenburgh makes much of the fact that Shackleton turned back 97 miles form the pole because he was interested in keeping his guys alive. A joke surely! The absolute luck which kept the crew and shore party alive almost proves the existence of a higher being looking after them. The expedition was ill prepared and ill equipped, and the Nimrod was unsuitable for the task it carried out. Even at the start it was overloaded to the point that they were lucky to get to the Antarctic at all. But of course this is detail about the expedition and if this is what heroes are made of, then they were surely heroic, and it was a great read.

[David Alexander McLane · Rating 5 out of 5]

“For scientific discovery give me Scott; for speed and efficiency of travel give me Amundsen; but when disaster strikes and all hope is gone, get down on your knees and pray for Shackleton.”

This book details the British Antarctic Expedition 1907-1909, which reached Farthest South at the time. However, Shackleton and his party turned back 97 miles from the pole, which would later be eclipsed by Amundsen and Scott in their race to the pole three years later.

It is also a biography of Shackleton, putting his Antarctic dreams in the context of the need of a British hero in the aftermath of a string of humiliating defeats in the Boer War and a general decline in the strength of the Empire.

I would recommend this as a companion to Alfred Lansing's "Endurance", as it gives us the framework to understand what made Shackleton the leader he was, and why his popularity eclipsed that of any contemporary Antarctic explorer, despite falling short of his ultimate goal of 90°.

[Christian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book because it isn't just an excellent account of Shackleton's most important expedition but provides the reader with much more insight in the whole context and zeitgeist of this period of initial antarctic exploration. Beau Riffenburgh starts with Ernest Shackleton's childhood and describes in much detail his upbringing and and years as a young man. Victorian Britain and all of its values becomes alive in this book and many of the actions and motivations of characters in the book are easier to understand because the author spends time to introduce us not only to the people but also their circumstances and background. Shackleton really grew on me despite his imperfections. A truly inspiring historical figure and a man that understood how to lead his team through the most difficult challenges. Highly recommended....

[Ken Peters · Rating 4 out of 5]

What at first appeared like a tedious 300+ page historical account of an explorer's failed efforts in a mercilessly cruel environment turned out to be quite the page-turner for the last 100 pages or so. One of Shackleton's claims to fame was that he never lost a team member in any of his Antarctic adventures, and though it looked like many could've perished in several different close calls on this expedition, they all made it out alive despite not achieving their quest for the South Pole. But to be honest, Shackleton should receive little credit, for he was fighting his own battles with the elements while his team members in other places were battling theirs!

[Mike Richards · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this. I've read about Endurance many times but this is the first time I read in detail about the Nimrod expedition. Lots of background and a real feel for Imperial Victorian and Edwardian times. Particularly good on the story of Scott v Shackleton, though the author is certainly somewhat biased. That said it's certainly not uncritical of Shackleton in many areas. The expedition itself is brilliantly detailed and brought to life. The staggering achievements are almost unbelievable and superbly described.

[Joshua Horn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book tells the story of one of the great Antarctic expeditions - Shackleton's attempt to reach the South Pole. It is a story well told. The author gives a lot of context before he gets to his main topic. Some of this is very good - it gives more analysis of the culture than any other book I've read on expeditions of the time. But it does seem almost like a complete biography of Shackleton's life up to his Nimrod expeditition, rather than actually a book on just the expedition.

[Unit of Raine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, detailed, well-researched background on Shackleton's second trip to Antarctica. Lots of background details on the milieu of the era and from the private journals of the men. Shackleton's people skills are unmatched, but I want to shake him on his lack of financial skills.

And the misery of the whole endeavor. I can barely comprehend the misery.

[Matt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the read. Some incredible luck helped these inexperienced explorers survive. When you think of some of the basic technology and medical knowledge these folks did without what they accomplished is quite incredible.

I liked the read overall, clearly be a true Shackleton fan.

Overall a solid 3.5 stars.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the way the author was able to keep this book interesting and moving while not drowning the reader in detail. Fascinating bit of antarctic history, with a good overview of the way the world was at the time thrown in to help the reader be grounded in the story. I was fascinated by the car that was used for moving supplies, never realized that had happened.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A concise account of Shackleton's expedition to the furthest south in Antarctica prior to Robert Falcon Scott's tragic quest. Though most famous for the Endurance journey,The British Antarctic Expedition, 1907-1909 was a true scientific conquest which laid the path for both Admundsen and Scott.

[Neill]

am going to read this because the author is my old American Football coach! am always interested in expolartion anyway

[Terry Weingart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book about extraordinary men.

[Tuck · Rating 4 out of 5]

a must read for any Shackleton-head