Spirit of Endurance: The True Story of the Shackleton Expedition to the Antarctic

After reading Alfred Lancing's book of almost the same name (see the previous review), I had an irresistible desire to learn more about the heroic adventures of this Antarctic explorer. For anybody else suffering from Shackleton Fever -- this book is a good choice. Written in association with the American Museum of Natural History, this beautiful volume chronicles the whole expedition in glorious detail and contains dozens of magnificent reproductions of Hurley's original expedition photographs. To reach this book, the plates traveled a long and perilous journey, rescued from shipwreck, dragged across ice flows, through lifeboats, sometimes buried in the snow, or cached in special locations, carefully soldered together to keep out moisture. Frank Hurley was a talented photographer, and his detailed photos give a new dimension to an already engrossing story. Ms. Alexander's account is more detached than that of Lancing -- appropriate for a documentary work. The change in emphasis brings in new details that made the epic even more exciting the second time, and the professionalism of her writing made the book a pleasure to read. -- Auralgo

The current polar explorer Ann Bancroft said she was first inspired to visit Antarctica after the breathtaking pictures and reports of Shackleton's attempts to cross that continent. As she attempts to become part of the first women's team to traverse Antarctica she is passing by Shackleton's Glacier and must be remembering his team and their efforts. The actual photographs of Shackleton's ship in the book Spirit of Endurance and the reproduction paintings of each adventure and challenge they faced draw the reader into the tale. Students are fascinated by the hardships the men encountered and endured. The decision regarding the fate of their sled dogs was as heartbreaking to the reader as it must have been to the men of Endurance. The remarkable heroism and perseverence of Shackleton and his crew is an inspiration to the adventurers in all of us.