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A review by storyorc
Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
tense
slow-paced
3.5
The sort of story that would be called inspiration porn if it wasn't a true account. Also stands in shining opposition to the popular feeling that humanity goes to the dogs in times of scarcity and crisis.
My only unease lies in how vividly the story is told. Either the old sailors were very thorough poets in their diaries and interviews, or a good helping of artistic license was employed. It does not make the story any less worth hearing but the question of authenticity did linger in my mind during the listening.
Lansing does criticise the men on occasion though so it is not wholly rosy. I left with an unfavourable impression of Shackleton's ego even as I had to admire his practicality and grit. Worsley comes out of it looking best in my opinion but the crew was full of characters.
Perhaps a short tangent about the Endurance's sister ship, the Aurora, which was charged with setting supply caches for the aborted polar trek and did not escape quite so luckily, would have added some balance too.
Extremely vivid and thrilling though, even when read in the summer heat, and really makes you feel the spirit of adventure. The details of their ingenuity and seamanship are a wonderful bonus.
My only unease lies in how vividly the story is told. Either the old sailors were very thorough poets in their diaries and interviews, or a good helping of artistic license was employed. It does not make the story any less worth hearing but the question of authenticity did linger in my mind during the listening.
Lansing does criticise the men on occasion though so it is not wholly rosy. I left with an unfavourable impression of Shackleton's ego even as I had to admire his practicality and grit. Worsley comes out of it looking best in my opinion but the crew was full of characters.
Perhaps a short tangent about the Endurance's sister ship, the Aurora, which was charged with setting supply caches for the aborted polar trek and did not escape quite so luckily, would have added some balance too.
Extremely vivid and thrilling though, even when read in the summer heat, and really makes you feel the spirit of adventure. The details of their ingenuity and seamanship are a wonderful bonus.