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Desperate Journeys, Abandoned Souls
From Robinson Crusoe and The Swiss Family Robinson to Alive! and Adrift, tales of maroons, castaways, and other survivors have captivated readers of all ages. In Desperate Journeys, Abandoned Souls, Edward E. Leslie brilliantly recounts the most remarkable stories of survival from the 1500s to the present, including those of Alexander Selkirk, the model for Robinson Crusoe; Margurite de la Rocque, marooned off the Labrador by her uncle for the crime of fornication; the "Poor Englishman," who lived for a year on a barren rock in the North Atlantic; the crew of the whaleship Essex, immortalized in Moby Dick; Joseph Knowles, the fraudulent "Yankee Tarzan"; Antoine de Saint-Exupéry; several World War II survivors; and many others.
Leslie not only tells the tales of survivors but also investigates their moral dilemmas, their personalities, and their influence on society, literature, and art. Beautifully written, impeccably researched, and impossible to put down, Desperate Journeys, Abandoned Souls is an unforgettable exploration of a subject of perennial fascination.
Leslie not only tells the tales of survivors but also investigates their moral dilemmas, their personalities, and their influence on society, literature, and art. Beautifully written, impeccably researched, and impossible to put down, Desperate Journeys, Abandoned Souls is an unforgettable exploration of a subject of perennial fascination.
586 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1988
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
April 14, 2013
This book includes a lot of well-researched stories, but it's hindered by inconsistent writing and an annoyingly broad focus. The writing is actively confusing at times, sometimes enough to send me running to other sources for clarification.
There are a lot of dry recitations of fact mixed with the occasional literary allusion. The introductions or summations of each chapter, though, include awkward attempts to contextualize the stories that seem almost laughably out-of-place when compared with the book's overall tone. (For example, Chapter 9's declaration that "All our dead heroes have been done in by Marxist historians and psychoanalytic biographers.")
I'm interested in tales of shipwreck victims and castaways, so I pushed through those parts. But when the author skipped over to mountain men, I started skimming. The stories in these latter sections don't seem as carefully chosen or organized. There's an account of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's plane crash, and it comes right after an account of Joseph Knowles, a man whose survival exploits are widely regarded to have been faked.
The final part of the book consists of one very long chapter listing lots of short survival anecdotes jumbled together in chronological order, almost as if the author agrees with me that the book has already moved past its most interesting content.
There are a lot of dry recitations of fact mixed with the occasional literary allusion. The introductions or summations of each chapter, though, include awkward attempts to contextualize the stories that seem almost laughably out-of-place when compared with the book's overall tone. (For example, Chapter 9's declaration that "All our dead heroes have been done in by Marxist historians and psychoanalytic biographers.")
I'm interested in tales of shipwreck victims and castaways, so I pushed through those parts. But when the author skipped over to mountain men, I started skimming. The stories in these latter sections don't seem as carefully chosen or organized. There's an account of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry's plane crash, and it comes right after an account of Joseph Knowles, a man whose survival exploits are widely regarded to have been faked.
The final part of the book consists of one very long chapter listing lots of short survival anecdotes jumbled together in chronological order, almost as if the author agrees with me that the book has already moved past its most interesting content.
August 3, 2018
As you may have surmised from the subtitle Desperate Journeys, Abandoned Souls is a compendium of stories of unfortunates who were stranded in remote locations around the globe. In case you were under the illusion that being marooned was in any way similar to events portrayed in Gilligan’s Island, this book will quickly disabuse you of the notion. More often, stranding involves suffering, a desperate struggle to survive (sometimes successful, often not) and frequently … and I’m sure you saw this coming … urophagia, which is more commonly referred to as ‘the drinking of one’s urine’ (which was usually one of the milder forms of misery).
The individual situations were varied – some were shipwrecked, others were abandoned by pirates, some were deserters, while others were exiled as criminals. Some were alone and others in a group. Needless to say, the latter was preferable since groups benefit from the combined skills of the individuals, serve to relieve loneliness and offer the opportunity of cannibalism should things become truly dire.
The first part of the book describes shipwrecks, and most were more likely to wash up on lifeless rocks than the ‘desert isles’ of literary fame. The second half covers land based stranding of mountain men, polar explorers, plane crash victims, military men and plain old adventure seekers. The examples are numerous and the book goes on and on … and on.
Although I did find the relentless misery described in the book a bit oppressive at times, it is well researched and written and I found it to be an interesting, if not always pleasant read.
By way of criticism:
Leslie makes much of the fact that people turn to prayer when circumstances become dire. But of course it is a well-known psychological phenomenon that superstition thrives where uncertainty prevails. People don’t carry a lucky charm, mutter an incantation or engage in some ritualistic behavior in cases where an outcome is certain. For example – no one prays that an object will drop when it’s released from their hand. Gravity makes this inevitable. They do so when the outcome is uncertain as a means to gain psychological control over a situation even though the superstitious behavior has no effect whatsoever on the outcome.
Leslie seems to imply that those who voluntarily put themselves into dangerous situations are either suffering from an illusion of invulnerability or perhaps a mild form of mental illness. But, here’s what I’d say. Humans are only able to realize their full potential by pushing the limits of what it thought possible. Sometimes it’s difficult to know where the line exists between calculated risk and recklessness and tragedy can result. That’s a shame. But there are also dangers associated with playing it safe, not the least of which can be a lifetime of mediocre pursuits.
The individual situations were varied – some were shipwrecked, others were abandoned by pirates, some were deserters, while others were exiled as criminals. Some were alone and others in a group. Needless to say, the latter was preferable since groups benefit from the combined skills of the individuals, serve to relieve loneliness and offer the opportunity of cannibalism should things become truly dire.
The first part of the book describes shipwrecks, and most were more likely to wash up on lifeless rocks than the ‘desert isles’ of literary fame. The second half covers land based stranding of mountain men, polar explorers, plane crash victims, military men and plain old adventure seekers. The examples are numerous and the book goes on and on … and on.
Although I did find the relentless misery described in the book a bit oppressive at times, it is well researched and written and I found it to be an interesting, if not always pleasant read.
By way of criticism:
Leslie makes much of the fact that people turn to prayer when circumstances become dire. But of course it is a well-known psychological phenomenon that superstition thrives where uncertainty prevails. People don’t carry a lucky charm, mutter an incantation or engage in some ritualistic behavior in cases where an outcome is certain. For example – no one prays that an object will drop when it’s released from their hand. Gravity makes this inevitable. They do so when the outcome is uncertain as a means to gain psychological control over a situation even though the superstitious behavior has no effect whatsoever on the outcome.
Leslie seems to imply that those who voluntarily put themselves into dangerous situations are either suffering from an illusion of invulnerability or perhaps a mild form of mental illness. But, here’s what I’d say. Humans are only able to realize their full potential by pushing the limits of what it thought possible. Sometimes it’s difficult to know where the line exists between calculated risk and recklessness and tragedy can result. That’s a shame. But there are also dangers associated with playing it safe, not the least of which can be a lifetime of mediocre pursuits.
June 6, 2022
I'm not a fan particularly of survival stories; I've never read a book solely devoted to that subject before. When I saw this one, I thought- well, why not? It might be interesting.
I was surprised how much I got involved in all the various narratives about people who survived (and many who did not) a wide variety of life-and-death situations from all around the world's oceans, deserts, mountains, etc.
It was expanding to read about people who have faced such extreme and dangerous situations- the kinds of things you hope you'll never get within telescope range of. Their determination, ingenuity and just plain luck sometimes under such grueling and painful circumstances is amazing.
I felt that the author's introductions, additions and concluding statements added important elements to the narratives as well. Good job!
Since this book comes in at just over 500 pages, which makes it ideal for starting a fire in subzero temperatures, there are a lot of stories in this volume. I recommend reading a limited amount of them at a sitting lest you overwhelm yourself and need rescuing.
I was surprised how much I got involved in all the various narratives about people who survived (and many who did not) a wide variety of life-and-death situations from all around the world's oceans, deserts, mountains, etc.
It was expanding to read about people who have faced such extreme and dangerous situations- the kinds of things you hope you'll never get within telescope range of. Their determination, ingenuity and just plain luck sometimes under such grueling and painful circumstances is amazing.
I felt that the author's introductions, additions and concluding statements added important elements to the narratives as well. Good job!
Since this book comes in at just over 500 pages, which makes it ideal for starting a fire in subzero temperatures, there are a lot of stories in this volume. I recommend reading a limited amount of them at a sitting lest you overwhelm yourself and need rescuing.
August 3, 2007
An astonishing and gripping book, especially for devotees of "survival" tales. Shipwrecks, maroonings, plane crashes, natural disasters of every stripe -- here are tales of well-known survivors, such as Alexander Selkirk (whom Robinson Crusoe was based upon), but also chapters on others I'd never heard of, such as Philip Ashton, who escaped from a pirate crew in the Caribbean. (Pirates, buccaneers, a mariners of all sorts loom large in many of these accounts, most of which are nautical in genesis.)
Leslie's style is rather erudite and might disappoint some who would like pithier accounts of survivors. But for those who relish the unfolding of a tale with some historical background, this book hit the spot. He does a good job of recounting desperate situations, with plenty of details of the privations of diet, severe effects of climate, and, most harrowing of all, the psychological toll on the sufferers. My one wish was for some maps, as the geography of several of the tales eluded me.
Leslie's style is rather erudite and might disappoint some who would like pithier accounts of survivors. But for those who relish the unfolding of a tale with some historical background, this book hit the spot. He does a good job of recounting desperate situations, with plenty of details of the privations of diet, severe effects of climate, and, most harrowing of all, the psychological toll on the sufferers. My one wish was for some maps, as the geography of several of the tales eluded me.
February 3, 2022
This book was recommended to me by a friend based on a brief conversation about survival. It's always iffy when someone you know recommends a book for you to read because you don't know their taste in books. But I do like and trust this friend well enough so I bought it.
It was definitely an interesting read although I had to take breaks from reading it because I like to read late at night and I had some nightmares. I often have nightmares so I won't blame this book but its subject matter is not light.
As an anxious person, I was gripped when reading certain parts, envisioning myself in these horrid situations, wondering how I would react. I would probably die far sooner than most people, ha ha.
I like the variety of stories but one thing that irked me was when a photograph of the survivor towards the end of a story gave away the ending, showing that they did survive and so on. It was anti-climactic. I know it's an issue of book design and typography, but showing a photo where they did in my edition, ruined the endings.
The stories are fascinating and this book is a real page-turner for the most part.
It was definitely an interesting read although I had to take breaks from reading it because I like to read late at night and I had some nightmares. I often have nightmares so I won't blame this book but its subject matter is not light.
As an anxious person, I was gripped when reading certain parts, envisioning myself in these horrid situations, wondering how I would react. I would probably die far sooner than most people, ha ha.
I like the variety of stories but one thing that irked me was when a photograph of the survivor towards the end of a story gave away the ending, showing that they did survive and so on. It was anti-climactic. I know it's an issue of book design and typography, but showing a photo where they did in my edition, ruined the endings.
The stories are fascinating and this book is a real page-turner for the most part.
July 28, 2011
I was absolutely fascinated by this book; morbidly fascinated. "Desperate Journeys, Abandoned Souls" is a collection of true tales of dire straits. Every manner of accident and trauma is documented here: shipwrecks, castaways, plane crashes, car accidents, mountaineering mishaps, cannibalism, and more. It is a chronicle of the amazing drive of the human spirit to live. The “abandoned souls” in this book all displayed an amazing determination to survive their ordeals. On numerous occasions I found myself wondering if I would have ended it all well before I got to their “desperate” ends.
No spoilers here, but I couldn’t put this book down. The short story style worked well for me. I listened to this as an audio book, and I was able to enjoy one story or two on my way to and from work. Toward the last chapters of the book I was beginning to wonder how many more terrible stories could there be left in the world, but just as fatigue would set in some incredible tale would open and I would be hooked all over again. It was a great book; I highly recommend it.
No spoilers here, but I couldn’t put this book down. The short story style worked well for me. I listened to this as an audio book, and I was able to enjoy one story or two on my way to and from work. Toward the last chapters of the book I was beginning to wonder how many more terrible stories could there be left in the world, but just as fatigue would set in some incredible tale would open and I would be hooked all over again. It was a great book; I highly recommend it.
July 26, 2012
I really disliked Edward Leslie's book "Desparate Journeys, Abandoned Souls: True stories of castaways and other survivors." I liked some of the castaway stories... and I would have enjoyed the book if stuck to telling the those stories in a more straightforward manner. But Leslie launches into other random stuff -- poetry and philosophical discussions about cannibalism-- that dragged away the enjoyment the book had for me. I also found the individual stories difficult to follow... he starts to tell you about one survivor, then jumps into information about someone else, then goes back to the original person. It makes it very hard to follow the stories or keep the people straight. Sadly, this book takes an interesting topic and makes it tedious.
March 11, 2014
Henry James would call this tome a "loose, baggy monster," for it is both wordy and compendious. Part of the problem--as the author himself states--is that people in extremis such as here are described have the same three fundamental problems: water, food and heat. So, soon there is a human sameness in the coping ... through the centuries.... On the bright side, Alexander Selkirk--the inspiration for Robinson Crusoe--was interesting. So I stopped reading there, after leafing through to what my future held.
August 13, 2009
Leslie functions through a method of story telling where he gives away his powerful punch-line, each time, right up front. This becomes wearisome by dissolving reader anticipation; however, the strength of his content does begin to overshadow this shortcoming. "Risk and Recreation: A Chronology" is undoubtedly the strongest aspect and worth the read entirely. A good composite of interesting survival stories.
October 16, 2008
The first two thirds are an incredibly fascinating look at shipwrecks and survival and cannibalism, with just enough scholarly thought and original source material and lesser known tales to make it interesting, but not boring. And then it all kind of fell apart and lost focus in the last third, around the time they reached WWII. Disappointing, and that's why it only gets three stars.
January 11, 2017
Could've done without the annoying editorializing, but the stories themselves are awesome enough.
Edit: Now that they've made two movies (Revenant and Unbroken) in the 12 months immediately after reading this book, I'm reminded how great the stories are.
Edit: Now that they've made two movies (Revenant and Unbroken) in the 12 months immediately after reading this book, I'm reminded how great the stories are.
November 18, 2018
Eye, mouth and mind opening 😲🤤👀
I'd read numerous suggestions that this was a book of remarkable stories, I was not disappointed. The lengths which man can go to, for good or bad, continues to astound me.
Not for folks of a delicate disposition.
I'd read numerous suggestions that this was a book of remarkable stories, I was not disappointed. The lengths which man can go to, for good or bad, continues to astound me.
Not for folks of a delicate disposition.
June 15, 2022
A little urban legendy for something with the nonfiction designation.
November 5, 2022
Do not you ever think that you are in trouble !
POSTED AT AMAZON 2002
This book is a must for every reader who likes survival stories.
Selected here events (on the land and sea) are absolutely astonishing and ranging in time from 16th century to modern times. Tragedy of whale ship "Essex" is included.
Great research and great writing Mr. Leslie, I congratulate you for this !
POSTED AT AMAZON 2002
This book is a must for every reader who likes survival stories.
Selected here events (on the land and sea) are absolutely astonishing and ranging in time from 16th century to modern times. Tragedy of whale ship "Essex" is included.
Great research and great writing Mr. Leslie, I congratulate you for this !
April 6, 2018
Fascinating.
October 1, 2018
Would have really enjoyed more psychological theory of the survivors as a part of the book, prefer it actually over the final chapter of survival brief stories.
February 16, 2020
Excellent collection of the true stories of castaways and other survivors.
July 17, 2020
I love survival tales and this is a great collection of them.
May 8, 2021
Stirring accounts of survival and death ...I feel exhausted after reading what these people went through...amazing stories of the survival instinct...
October 25, 2011
I bought this book for a long journey (12+ hours by plane, train and on foot). I thought it would give me some perspective on my own travel woes, but most of the accounts in it are too old to relate to modern travel. I assumed that the desperate journeys would include some made in relatively modern times, but they don't. The newest accounts are from around WWII.
It is an interesting book because it relates how bad travel really was before modern times. Getting from one place to another often cost people their lives or at the least a long stretch in places they would rather not be.
So this is indeed a good book if you want to read about desperate journeys taken back when, but you won't hear about desperate journeys taken recently. I still need to find a book that covers that subject.
It is an interesting book because it relates how bad travel really was before modern times. Getting from one place to another often cost people their lives or at the least a long stretch in places they would rather not be.
So this is indeed a good book if you want to read about desperate journeys taken back when, but you won't hear about desperate journeys taken recently. I still need to find a book that covers that subject.
May 2, 2009
This book details the challenges of shipwrecked, marooned, abandoned, or otherwise isolated individuals and groups. Certainly, most of us will never have to make some of the choices presented to these survivors. It is harrowing to consider what people have been forced to resort to, how they grapple with their choices and their predicaments, and how they reintegrate into society. The author does a good job of putting us at the scene in most cases.
I liked the first 2/3 of the book, but was not so captivated by the last 1/3. I must admit that I ended up not finishing it. After nearly 18 hours of narration, I had pretty much gotten the message. I was ready for a change to something a bit more lighthearted.
Read this on audio from Audible.com
I liked the first 2/3 of the book, but was not so captivated by the last 1/3. I must admit that I ended up not finishing it. After nearly 18 hours of narration, I had pretty much gotten the message. I was ready for a change to something a bit more lighthearted.
Read this on audio from Audible.com
January 29, 2015
The book is a collection of survivor tales ranging across historical periods and although arranged in a popular format and bereft of any documentation is a really enjoyable read. Like the tales of captives (that pulled me into the 7 years of graduate work) the stories are fascinating. There is something bare about those forced by circumstances to come to terms with themselves and their environments. Man against himself. Leslie brings alive the stories devoting each chapter to a particular castaway always leaving me wanting to know more about each individual. He taps into the romantic in each of us longing for tales of the sea, tall ships and a world of lost islands.
April 8, 2016
I'm surprised that I haven't written a review of this book before. It's absolutely one of my favorite non-fiction books. It's utterly wonderful in both its historic and geographic scope and in its attention to detail. The author breaths a depth of life into each of his subjects that goes beyond sensationalism at their stories, but looks at their motivations, failings, integrity and weaknesses. I'm re-reading the chapter on Hugh Glass and I am just as impressed as I was my first time through.
Read with a glass of clear, cool water.
Read with a glass of clear, cool water.
April 24, 2008
The book is at it's best when focusing on the little known accounts. When it takes the time to take you by the hand and lead you through the shape of the cultures existing around and leading to the plight. The last section is thus the weakest since it is a marathon run through from WW2 to the then present. The previous three, and the sheer glut of wide accounts through out, makes it hard to believe there wasn't any story in here to move the reader at some point.
December 17, 2008
This book is has it all. Well, I mean it has tales of cannibalism on the high sea, drawing lots, desert islands, lost planes, trekking through jungles. Lots of great stories. I read it again last week to take my mind off the financial collapse! Forget books on smart investing and read this book instead.
April 29, 2009
An unbelievably fascinating book about shipwrecks and maroons, and what people will go through (and do!) to survive ... Material for a dozen screenplays here ... Absolutely recommended for your desert isle reading ...
October 17, 2010
Just okay. Some of the stories were insightful, others a bit slow and boring. The overall trend from frequent decade-long maroons to virtually no unexplored/uninhabited places on earth is a rather interesting conversion.
September 14, 2011
I enjoyed this book. I am always interested in "survival-against-all-odds" stories - what makes some people survive and others don't? Each story is true and well-told. This book packed adventure, travel and truth into each individual story.
July 6, 2013
Who can resist the title? The great titles continue inside: 'His Hair was Weedy and His Beard was Long'; 'The Calming Effect of Rum and True Religion'; 'The Utility of a Fashionable Hat'; 'The Ownership of a Plank'.
I remember I enjoyed this thoroughly.
I remember I enjoyed this thoroughly.
June 16, 2007
These true stories are enthralling. The one about Antoine de Saint-Exupary's plane crash in the desert is unforgettable.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews