THE SHACKLETON VOYAGES

Sinopsis del producto

This pictorial anthology celebrates the lile of Ernest Shackleton, a major protagonist in the heroic age of Antarctic exploration at the beginning of the twentieth century. He is best known for his legendary third expeditionEndurance, but Shackleton also undertook three other expeditions, each enthralling in its own way but none achieving the goal it set out to reach. Charm, charismatic leadership and dogged determination ensured Shackleton became a hero in his own lifetime. Each chapter explores a period of Shackleton´s life and is introduced by Roland Huntford´s illuminating text and accompanied by a host of photographs, drawings and diary extracts, many hitherto unpublished. Shackleton´s restless, independent spirit surfaced early and his wit and courage captivated and inspired financial backers as well as his «men» during the bleakest of moments. When he lost the race to the South Pole, first to the Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen in 1911 and then to his arch rival Captain Scott in1912, he set his sights on crossing Antárctica. Once again he failed, but he turned disaster into success by returning with all the men under his command alive. After a couple of ycars of slavish lecturing and writing to pay off his debts in the downbeat post-war years, he raised the funds and enthusiasm for a final expedition – Quest. A romantic to theend, as Quest reached South Georgia, he died of a heart attack, aged only forty-seven. However, his death lacked the glory of Scott´s death; only recently has Shaekleton´s reputation emerged from Scott´s shadow. Shackleton never forgave Scott for invaliding him home after their attempt to reach the South Pole in 1902-3; in part this anger was the driving force behind Shackleton´srepeated expeditions to Antárctica. Shackleton proved he could endure, severe climates and wild, inhospitable terrain, but above all he displayed an exceptional talent for leadership and a fanatical determination which led him, as he put it, «to go on going till one day I shall not come back».

9780297843160

A PICTORIAL ANTHOLOGY OF THE POLAR EXPLORER AND EDWARDIAN HERO

HUNTFORD, ROLAND