It describes vividly every step of their journey, the dangers they faced, and the obstacles they overcame, and all the way to the end, it seems unbelievable that they could make it. I highly, highly recommend this classic true tale of survival to anyone who seeks to be inspired by the sheer indefatigable will, courage and nobility that humans can be capable of. At least a dozen times, I could identify specific decisions and things he did that were directly responsible for everyone not dying, often in opposition to what his men wanted. The Endurance put up a mighty battle, but could not handle more and succumbed by getting crushed, then, sinking into the surrounding ice. But most of the crew's experience ranged from blisters that froze solid (feeling like ice pebbles embedded under their skin) to nicotine withdrawal (one man was more upset by his lost tobacco than his near-drowning) to malnourishment.

No, there is no cannibalism, though they do start making cannibalism jokes at the expense of the biggest guy in the group. In Endurance , the definitive account of Ernest Shackleton's fateful trip, Alfred Lansing brilliantly narrates the harrowing and miraculous voyage that has defined heroism for the modern age.

Después de una selección de personal un tanto sorprendente, a ojo, este si, este no, el Endurance partió de Plymouth con rumbo Buenos Aires cinco días después de que Gran Bretaña declarase la guerra a Alemania (primera guerra mundial) con 28 tripulantes (+ un polizón) a bordo.

Shackleton may have been a bit of a fool to sail into the ice floes to start with, but his legacy is known as being a strong leader. Shortly thereafter, Shackleton and 5 others sailed one of the boats 800+ more miles through the terrifying Drake Passage to South Georgia Island. For five months Shackleton and his men, drifting on ice packs, were castaways on one of the most savage regions of the world. Lansing does not stint on the grimy, unpleasant details of day-to-day existence under these circumstances, like having to go outside to empty the communal urine pot in a gale, or taking a dump over the side of a boat that is being tossed about by rough seas (and surrounded by killer whales just in case the poor bastards didn't have enough to think about), or having to kill and eat their dogs, or having to cut off gangrenous toes.I enjoyed every page of this book, and as I always say when I have finished such an historical account, I need to read more non-fiction! They mostly stuck to the facts of the expedition, but it takes nearly an hour before they get to Antarctica. They made their way to the uninhabited Elephant Island, and from there, Shackleton set off in an open lifeboat across the Drake Passage to South Georgia Island, which they hiked across to reach a whaling camp.