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Shackleton's Endurance: An Antarctic Survival Story
Ernest Shackleton's remarkable story is a terrifying adventure with the happiest of endings - another brilliant narrative non-fiction Antarctic adventure featuring an explorer who was a true polar hero
Adrift on the Antarctic pack ice with no means of escape and no hope of rescue, Ernest Shackleton and his men are surely doomed.
In August 1914, Ernest Shackleton and his men set sail for Antarctica, where he planned to cross the last uncharted continent on foot. In January 1915, his ship, the Endurance , became locked in pack ice and later, sank without a trace. To survive, Shackleton and his crew of 27 men must undertake a trial even more extreme than their planned crossing of the frozen continent. Their aim is to make it home against unbeatable odds, with only a life boat to cross the heavy seas of the South Atlantic—and the life-saving power of Shackleton's extraordinary leadership skills.
Adrift on the Antarctic pack ice with no means of escape and no hope of rescue, Ernest Shackleton and his men are surely doomed.
In August 1914, Ernest Shackleton and his men set sail for Antarctica, where he planned to cross the last uncharted continent on foot. In January 1915, his ship, the Endurance , became locked in pack ice and later, sank without a trace. To survive, Shackleton and his crew of 27 men must undertake a trial even more extreme than their planned crossing of the frozen continent. Their aim is to make it home against unbeatable odds, with only a life boat to cross the heavy seas of the South Atlantic—and the life-saving power of Shackleton's extraordinary leadership skills.
288 pages, Paperback
First published May 4, 2021
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57 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
May 21, 2022
This ambitious exploration attempt quickly became an epic survival story of bravery and perseverance. I did feel at times my own perseverance to finish it was tested as the going was laborious about a third in, but breaching the halfway mark was worth it. I do feel a middle grade or high school reader would need to have significant interest in this subject to keep going with this one, not one for the reluctants. Plenty of well-researched detail for an adult reader interested in the subject but without the time for a more lengthy account.
September 5, 2021
This is such an exciting read
August 7, 2021
I have always been fascinated by Shackleton's Antarctic survival and this book did not disappoint. Such vivid descriptions of the hell encountered by the crew. This is a fabulous read! Highly recommended!
January 1, 2025
Such a thrilling book from start to finish! A truly remarkable journey of dedication and perseverance.
June 15, 2021
Antarctic historian Joanna Grochowicz, has published a concise but thorough account of Shackleton's unsuccessful 1914 expedition to cross Antarctica. A brief interview with the author can also be found here.
June 11, 2021
I am really pleased that this incredible survival story is now accessible for our younger teen readers. And it is good. Without a doubt, this biography is well-researched and the style is highly readable.
It lacked the emotional impact, the passion, and engagement that made Alfred Lansing's, Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage, such a seminal work. I found it a little bland in comparison. However, this makes a great addition to our school library and I have ordered the author's other two biographies on Scott and Amundsen to complete this set of explorers.
It lacked the emotional impact, the passion, and engagement that made Alfred Lansing's, Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage, such a seminal work. I found it a little bland in comparison. However, this makes a great addition to our school library and I have ordered the author's other two biographies on Scott and Amundsen to complete this set of explorers.
February 8, 2025
A riveting account of Ernest Shackleton's 1914 'Endurance' expedition aimed at young adults. Well-written and obviously meticulously researched.
Includes historical photographs, hand-drawn maps, illustrations of the characters, and a historical timeline.
Note for school librarians: things get a bit grisly toward the end where we get a bit too much detail about how to butcher a penguin for eating. Younger readers (under 15's) may find this disturbing.
Possible trigger warning: it is mentioned that the characters must shoot and eat their sledge dogs.
Includes historical photographs, hand-drawn maps, illustrations of the characters, and a historical timeline.
Note for school librarians: things get a bit grisly toward the end where we get a bit too much detail about how to butcher a penguin for eating. Younger readers (under 15's) may find this disturbing.
Possible trigger warning: it is mentioned that the characters must shoot and eat their sledge dogs.
April 8, 2025
It is an interesting and fast read. In my view, this book is more for fun than a serious study.
I wonder how accurate the discussions might be among the Shackleton's crew members discussed in the book.
Somehow, my impression is that the research done is not at the highest level (not as good as in the Roland Hantford's book Scott and Amundsen), but I would still recommend reading it. The achievements and hardships of Shackleton and his crew are inspiring.
I wonder how accurate the discussions might be among the Shackleton's crew members discussed in the book.
Somehow, my impression is that the research done is not at the highest level (not as good as in the Roland Hantford's book Scott and Amundsen), but I would still recommend reading it. The achievements and hardships of Shackleton and his crew are inspiring.
March 23, 2022
Brilliant book - written really well. The Shackleton survival story is insane enough as it is, but this book really captures it brilliantly and makes for a gripping read 👌🏼 was pretty awesome to be reading it at the same time as when they found the Endurance wreck - made reading it all the more fascinating
February 28, 2024
This is my second book from the author and it's just as gripping and well researched and written as the first (Amundsens Way). I think narrative non fiction might be my new favourite genre now.
The story itself is gripping, and the feats of human endurance are really incredible. Definitely makes you consider what you call discomforts.
The story itself is gripping, and the feats of human endurance are really incredible. Definitely makes you consider what you call discomforts.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 20, 2024
A truly inspirational story, told perfectly. it was amazingly vivid, i was almost a tears. To endure such difficulties and to survive, then once again reattempt such a journey is beautiful insanity. I especially loved the epilogue and the story of the supply team, it summed up the story perfectly. Thank you for this amazing read. I will be reading this authors other books.
September 25, 2022
This was an excellent account of the Endurance expedition aimed at the younger reader. I've read many versions of this story and would happily give this to a young person starting out on a polar reading journey.
March 20, 2023
I read this to my kids aged 13, 11, and 9. It didn't do a great job of keeping their attention. The book was slow in parts and some rude language. I enjoyed learning more about Shackleton, but there may be a better account out there.
November 6, 2021
amazing to hear what these hero’s went through
how good a life we have
how good a life we have
February 7, 2026
do not read this to 30 yr 7s
March 23, 2023
‘By Endurance, We Conquer’ was the Shackleton family motto, and there could hardly have been a more fitting one for the Anglo-Irish explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton.
Shackleton’s endurance after his ship was sunk in Antarctica’s Weddell Sea is one of the most compelling stories of human survival. Countless books have been written about the subject, but this one has a fresh take: it’s a novel intended for younger audiences.
As she did for Captain Scott, and Roald Amundsen, in her two previous books , New Zealand-born author Joanna Grochowicz uses the same winning formula to tell Shackleton’s story. It’s a rip-roaring read from start to epilogue, with a real immediacy to the narrative.
Shackleton had of course failed to reach the South Pole twice before, and in the Endurance expedition of 1914–16 was setting out on the ‘last great polar challenge’: to traverse the frozen continent. However, after the Endurance was frozen in the ice, then sunk, without anyone setting foot on the Antarctic Continent, he had to turn his mind to simply surviving.
After watching the crushed Endurance slip beneath the sea, the despondent men camped on ice flows, knowing they would have to take to their three inadequate lifeboats when the ice broke up in the coming spring. ‘The sun sits low in the sky, ever watchful.’
The stranded men have to jettison all but necessary items.
‘We won’t be needing this,’ Vincent touches a match to a twist of the paper and lights his pipe. ‘Not a bad use for the encyclopaedia Britannica,’ he grins.
‘You’re a Philistine,’ harrumphs Chippy.
‘I’ve no idea what you’re talking about, old man,’ says Vincent, blowing smoke rings.
‘Look it up under “P”, there might be a picture of you,’ Chippy mutters.
Through such convincing and sometimes humorous dialogue Grochowicz highlights the friendships and fractiousness inevitable when people come under great strain. All the main characters get their due: the near mutiny of Chippy and Vincent, the difficult but important personality of the quartermaster Orde-Lees, the stoicism of second-in-command Frank Wild, the dedication of Australian photographer Frank Hurley, and the brilliant navigation and daring of the New Zealander Frank Worsley. And, not least, the inner turmoil but outer calm of the superhuman Shackleton. No one could wrestle success out of the maw of defeat quite like Shackleton, whose leadership was nothing short of inspired.
Brief flashbacks to Shackleton’s previous Antarctic trips provide context for those who don’t know the background.
There’s palpable tension as the ice disintegrates under the castaways’ camp: ‘the pack ice is loosening, opening and closing like a creature yawning itself awake.’ Then, on the three lifeboats, making for Elephant Island, ‘the cold is penetrating. It strips them of language and the ability to sleep and steals even their memory of what it feels like to be warm.’
The last chapters alternate two stories: Shackleton’s escape, with five others, in the James Caird to South Georgia, 16 days over 1200 miles of the world’s stormiest ocean; set against the squalour, misery and hopelessness of life back on the bleak Elephant Island. Frank Wild has the unenviable task of keeping the men sane. Blackborrow, the young stowaway, has his toes amputated. Orde-Lees frets, rightly, that they must kill more penguins and store the meat if they are not to starve in winter. No one listens to him. Green, the heroic cook, slaves over a blubber stove until the grime makes him blind. Robbed of purpose, he lies, inert, in his moulting, revolting sleeping bag.
We all know the outcome; Shackleton triumphs, losing not a single Elephant Islander. But writing this good brings the whole story richly, wonderfully to life once again.
Shackleton’s endurance after his ship was sunk in Antarctica’s Weddell Sea is one of the most compelling stories of human survival. Countless books have been written about the subject, but this one has a fresh take: it’s a novel intended for younger audiences.
As she did for Captain Scott, and Roald Amundsen, in her two previous books , New Zealand-born author Joanna Grochowicz uses the same winning formula to tell Shackleton’s story. It’s a rip-roaring read from start to epilogue, with a real immediacy to the narrative.
Shackleton had of course failed to reach the South Pole twice before, and in the Endurance expedition of 1914–16 was setting out on the ‘last great polar challenge’: to traverse the frozen continent. However, after the Endurance was frozen in the ice, then sunk, without anyone setting foot on the Antarctic Continent, he had to turn his mind to simply surviving.
After watching the crushed Endurance slip beneath the sea, the despondent men camped on ice flows, knowing they would have to take to their three inadequate lifeboats when the ice broke up in the coming spring. ‘The sun sits low in the sky, ever watchful.’
The stranded men have to jettison all but necessary items.
‘We won’t be needing this,’ Vincent touches a match to a twist of the paper and lights his pipe. ‘Not a bad use for the encyclopaedia Britannica,’ he grins.
‘You’re a Philistine,’ harrumphs Chippy.
‘I’ve no idea what you’re talking about, old man,’ says Vincent, blowing smoke rings.
‘Look it up under “P”, there might be a picture of you,’ Chippy mutters.
Through such convincing and sometimes humorous dialogue Grochowicz highlights the friendships and fractiousness inevitable when people come under great strain. All the main characters get their due: the near mutiny of Chippy and Vincent, the difficult but important personality of the quartermaster Orde-Lees, the stoicism of second-in-command Frank Wild, the dedication of Australian photographer Frank Hurley, and the brilliant navigation and daring of the New Zealander Frank Worsley. And, not least, the inner turmoil but outer calm of the superhuman Shackleton. No one could wrestle success out of the maw of defeat quite like Shackleton, whose leadership was nothing short of inspired.
Brief flashbacks to Shackleton’s previous Antarctic trips provide context for those who don’t know the background.
There’s palpable tension as the ice disintegrates under the castaways’ camp: ‘the pack ice is loosening, opening and closing like a creature yawning itself awake.’ Then, on the three lifeboats, making for Elephant Island, ‘the cold is penetrating. It strips them of language and the ability to sleep and steals even their memory of what it feels like to be warm.’
The last chapters alternate two stories: Shackleton’s escape, with five others, in the James Caird to South Georgia, 16 days over 1200 miles of the world’s stormiest ocean; set against the squalour, misery and hopelessness of life back on the bleak Elephant Island. Frank Wild has the unenviable task of keeping the men sane. Blackborrow, the young stowaway, has his toes amputated. Orde-Lees frets, rightly, that they must kill more penguins and store the meat if they are not to starve in winter. No one listens to him. Green, the heroic cook, slaves over a blubber stove until the grime makes him blind. Robbed of purpose, he lies, inert, in his moulting, revolting sleeping bag.
We all know the outcome; Shackleton triumphs, losing not a single Elephant Islander. But writing this good brings the whole story richly, wonderfully to life once again.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews