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Shackleton's Epic: Recreating the world's greatest journey of survival
A new edition to mark the centenary Ernest Shackleton's epic 1916 journey across 1300 kms of hostile ocean in a tiny, leaking boat and unmapped ice and snow to reach a rescue station by British-Australian explorer Tim Jarvis, who recreated 'Shackleton's Epic' in 2012 Sir Edmund Hilary called it the greatest survival story of all time. In 1916, just months into Ernest Shackleton's third expedition to the South Pole, his ship, the Endurance, became trapped in pack ice and sank. With winter setting in and supplies running out, Shackleton faced a terrible should he and his crew stay on a tiny inhospitable stretch of Antarctic island and die waiting? Or should they make an almost certainly doomed journey, and sail in a lifeboat across 900 miles of the world's wildest ocean then trek over unmapped glaciers to reach help. Showing astonishing courage, Shackleton and a small band of men set off in an open boat. Even more astonishingly, they survived.
Almost a century later, explorer and environmental scientist Tim Jarvis set out with a crew of five to replicate Shackleton's journey, using the same equipment, eating the same unpalatable food and facing the same hostile ocean conditions. Shackleton's Epic is the story of that trip -- the wretched lows and the occasional highs and the mental and physical toughness required to survive in one of the last wildernesses on earth. Moving between the past and the present, this is a must-read book for all Shackleton fans and lovers of epic adventure.
'Jarvis's tribute to Ernest Shackleton's Antarctic expedition had had a danger and heroism ... worthy of the original.' -- GUARDIAN (UK)
'... bone-chilling and breathtakingly frightening ... a well-written, compelling read.' -- KIRKUS REVIEWS
'a ripping yarn' -- BRISBANE NEWS
'serves to show just how brave, skilled, resourceful and optimistic the original [explorers] had been ... victory over adversity' -- HERALD SUN
Almost a century later, explorer and environmental scientist Tim Jarvis set out with a crew of five to replicate Shackleton's journey, using the same equipment, eating the same unpalatable food and facing the same hostile ocean conditions. Shackleton's Epic is the story of that trip -- the wretched lows and the occasional highs and the mental and physical toughness required to survive in one of the last wildernesses on earth. Moving between the past and the present, this is a must-read book for all Shackleton fans and lovers of epic adventure.
'Jarvis's tribute to Ernest Shackleton's Antarctic expedition had had a danger and heroism ... worthy of the original.' -- GUARDIAN (UK)
'... bone-chilling and breathtakingly frightening ... a well-written, compelling read.' -- KIRKUS REVIEWS
'a ripping yarn' -- BRISBANE NEWS
'serves to show just how brave, skilled, resourceful and optimistic the original [explorers] had been ... victory over adversity' -- HERALD SUN
- GenresBiographyNonfiction
364 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 1, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 14, 2017
Completing this book in two sittings, it is one of the rare times I'm actively looking toward watching the related film.
Jarvis writes with honesty and clarity, and manages to balance well an account of the journey he and his men are undertaking, and the echo of Shackleton's original journey.
Of course, they're absolutely mad. Why on earth would you seek to re-build an impractical vessel to sail through treacherous seas, to land at a precise point (regardless of its unsuitability), and then traverse a glacier? I found myself wondering what skills I could take to the team and what role I would fill. I really need to learn celestial navigation.
The book itself is well constructed. Particularly once you consider the uneven balance of time and investment that happens from when the idea is conceived; through planning and approvals; assembling the team and equipment; and ultimately the duration of the expedition itself. Much of this is documented, without it becoming overly mundane. If you're in it just for the adventure, you have to get through the preparation first. In knowing that something broke, something was too heavy, somebody didn't do what they said they would do.. you relate to the journey as comparable to any other undertaking. These details make it all so human. Everything that could easily stop the expedition before it even begins are petty annoyances to be overcome.
And the film crew, oh the film crew! Jarvis' diplomacy of language is palpable.
Jarvis comes across as a modest leader, with an admiration for Shackleton you hear him aching to emulate. He hopes, truly hopes, that he can be the man he admires. He's not shy of trying to identify and align those qualities. By all accounts, I'd say he's on the right track.
A remarkable adventure, and an excellent read.
Shackleton's Epic will bring you pleasure if you love the thought of adventure, if you're excited about challenging the boundaries of your world, if you understand that a physical challenge is the visible manifestation of a mental challenge; and if you too know what it's like to discover that your mind and body will endure more than you ever thought possible.
Jarvis writes with honesty and clarity, and manages to balance well an account of the journey he and his men are undertaking, and the echo of Shackleton's original journey.
Of course, they're absolutely mad. Why on earth would you seek to re-build an impractical vessel to sail through treacherous seas, to land at a precise point (regardless of its unsuitability), and then traverse a glacier? I found myself wondering what skills I could take to the team and what role I would fill. I really need to learn celestial navigation.
The book itself is well constructed. Particularly once you consider the uneven balance of time and investment that happens from when the idea is conceived; through planning and approvals; assembling the team and equipment; and ultimately the duration of the expedition itself. Much of this is documented, without it becoming overly mundane. If you're in it just for the adventure, you have to get through the preparation first. In knowing that something broke, something was too heavy, somebody didn't do what they said they would do.. you relate to the journey as comparable to any other undertaking. These details make it all so human. Everything that could easily stop the expedition before it even begins are petty annoyances to be overcome.
And the film crew, oh the film crew! Jarvis' diplomacy of language is palpable.
Jarvis comes across as a modest leader, with an admiration for Shackleton you hear him aching to emulate. He hopes, truly hopes, that he can be the man he admires. He's not shy of trying to identify and align those qualities. By all accounts, I'd say he's on the right track.
A remarkable adventure, and an excellent read.
Shackleton's Epic will bring you pleasure if you love the thought of adventure, if you're excited about challenging the boundaries of your world, if you understand that a physical challenge is the visible manifestation of a mental challenge; and if you too know what it's like to discover that your mind and body will endure more than you ever thought possible.
August 15, 2016
Two thoughts kept running through my mind as I read this: (1) that’s amazing! & (2) what a bunch of nucking futters! How self-centred do you have to be to risk your health, wealth and the family home to show that you can do something that’s already been done?
I read Shackleton’s South at school and found it exciting, glorious, inspiring and all the other reactions a teenager is prone to. Shackleton undertook his journey to save his men’s lives. At root, Jarvis undertook his because we – via broadcasters – want to be entertained, for without TV money there would have been no expedition. And that thought never quite went away as I read this. (OK, there’s some redeeming climate science material in there, but most of it on just 2 pages at the end.)
That aside, Jarvis undoubtedly writes well. He achieves that air of offhanded brilliance that British explorers do especially well as he lays out the issues the team faced, without ever getting bogged down in self-pity. And the photos really bring the situation to life … reopening the book at random now I feel a couple of degrees colder just looking at them.
The right editor could have made this even better. Jarvis carefully explains the seafaring leg of his journey, where the terms and practices were unfamiliar to him, but once he hits South Georgia he throws out references to nunchucks, bergymeisters and other mountaineering jargon without mercy.
A good tale of an amazing achievement … but I hope I never meet one of these damaged individuals in real life.
I read Shackleton’s South at school and found it exciting, glorious, inspiring and all the other reactions a teenager is prone to. Shackleton undertook his journey to save his men’s lives. At root, Jarvis undertook his because we – via broadcasters – want to be entertained, for without TV money there would have been no expedition. And that thought never quite went away as I read this. (OK, there’s some redeeming climate science material in there, but most of it on just 2 pages at the end.)
That aside, Jarvis undoubtedly writes well. He achieves that air of offhanded brilliance that British explorers do especially well as he lays out the issues the team faced, without ever getting bogged down in self-pity. And the photos really bring the situation to life … reopening the book at random now I feel a couple of degrees colder just looking at them.
The right editor could have made this even better. Jarvis carefully explains the seafaring leg of his journey, where the terms and practices were unfamiliar to him, but once he hits South Georgia he throws out references to nunchucks, bergymeisters and other mountaineering jargon without mercy.
A good tale of an amazing achievement … but I hope I never meet one of these damaged individuals in real life.
January 7, 2020
I’m not a sailor and I’m not a climber but I do enjoy these expedition stories every now and again for entertainment. Putting aside the amazing feat that is sailing a whaling boat 800 Kms old school style, and the passion and resolve required to imagine and conceive such a project, this book is probably going to be most enjoyed by subject matter enthusiasts.
I sympathize with Tim’s frustration with the video crew wanting everything to be dramatic, but for the arm chair types like myself, it was a bit too clinical and matter of fact. In particular, I could not get a grasp of the arduous overland trek, other than the frustration of waiting out the weather.
This book is pretty low resolution too so I found myself wanting some really good graphics and a couple of ‘hero’ photos,
I enjoyed the read, but for arm chair adventurers I would probably look to the original expedition for thrills and spills.
I sympathize with Tim’s frustration with the video crew wanting everything to be dramatic, but for the arm chair types like myself, it was a bit too clinical and matter of fact. In particular, I could not get a grasp of the arduous overland trek, other than the frustration of waiting out the weather.
This book is pretty low resolution too so I found myself wanting some really good graphics and a couple of ‘hero’ photos,
I enjoyed the read, but for arm chair adventurers I would probably look to the original expedition for thrills and spills.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews