Endurance: An Illustrated Account of Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage to the Antarctic by Alfred Lansing

Alfred Lansing's classic account of Ernest Shackleton’s daring and heroic Antarctic journey, Endurance: An Illustrated Account of Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage to the Antarctic, details the story of one of the most famous and daring expeditions in history. The Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, led by Shackleton, set out in 1914 to become the first team to cross the Antarctic continent. Although the expedition was ultimately unsuccessful, their story of endurance and courage serves as an inspiring testament to the power of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

The expedition, which was sponsored by the British government and headed by the 36-year-old Shackleton, set sail from London in August 1914. The team, which consisted of an impressive 27 men (including five experienced sailors, seven naval officers, and 15 able-bodied seamen), made their way southward through treacherous seas, often fighting gale-force winds and blinding snowstorms, in a voyage that was expected to last six months.

When the Endurance eventually arrived in Antarctic waters on 5th January 1915, Shackleton’s plan was to approach the coast in a slow and methodical manner, thereby giving the crew time to make any necessary repairs and prepare for the challenges ahead. The ship eventually reached the shore of unseen land, and within a few days, the crew had disembarked and begun their march inland, initially in a southeasterly direction.

However, shortly after leaving the ship, disaster struck. The sea that had been so calm suddenly froze over and the Endurance was totally immobilised. With all the danger and hardship of their advancing environment, the crew suddenly found themselves in a situation far worse than they had ever imagined. They were completely marooned in the middle of a great icy wasteland - without food, without fuel and without hope. Nonetheless, the men of Endurance showed extraordinary determination and resilience, displaying skill, adaptability and courage in the face of seemingly certain death.

The forward camping party team, led by Shackleton, marched for nine days over treacherous terrain and conditions, before arriving at their destination, the abandoned whaling station of Stromness. This was Shackleton’s final push, beyond which the party would have had no chance of survival, yet, incredibly, the team made it, and soon after, Shackleton and his crew returned to their ship, where they had stayed, trapped by ice, for 92 days. In total, the men had spent eighteen months on the Antarctic continent, enduring freezing temperatures, relentless blizzards and constant hunger, before being rescued and eventually returning back to England.

ʔAlfred Lansing’s dramatic and compelling narrative of the astonishing expedition is, quite simply, a masterpiece. Endurance: An Illustrated Account of Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage to the Antarctic depicts not only the incredible courage and strength of the men of the Endurance but also their generous acts of kindness and sacrifice in the face of extreme adversity. Through vivid accounts of the men’s triumphs and defeats, Lansing’s award-winning account offers a thrilling retelling of this unforgettable journey. Lansing’s narrative also provides a deeper insight into the characters themselves, as he explores issues such as leadership, exploration and survival, as well as examining the themes of friendship, courage and team spirit.

Shackleton’s remarkable expedition was a feat of courage and endurance that has been retold time and time again, yet even after a century, the epic journey of Endurance remains hugely inspiring and emotionally gripping, a testament to the power of the human spirit in the face of a seemingly insurmountable challenge. In lasting words of Ernest Shackleton, “We had a tough job and we're not finished yet.”