South

By: Ernest Shackleton

Narrated by: Geoffrey Howard

Length: 12 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's summary

His destination Antarctica, his expectations high, veteran explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton set out, on the eve of the First World War, in pursuit of his goal to lead the first expedition across the last unknown continent. Instead, his ship, the Endurance, became locked in sea ice, and for nine months Shackleton fought a losing battle with the elements before the drifting ship was crushed and his crew marooned.

Shackleton's gripping account of his incredible voyage follows him and his men across 600 miles of unstable ice floes to a barren rock called Elephant Island. It records how, with a crew of four, he crossed 850 miles of the worst seas in a 22-foot-long open boat and how, after landing on South Georgia Island, they then had to traverse over 20 miles of mountainous terrain to reach the nearest outpost of civilization. Shackleton recounts, too, the efforts of his support party aboard the Aurora, who in temperatures of -50 degrees and winds of 80 m.p.h. still managed to drop off supplies on the opposite side of the continent, little suspecting the fate of the Endurance and the ordeal of its crew.

An astonishing story that explores the limits of unparalleled human courage, Shackleton's South ranks among history's greatest adventures.

©1970 Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton (P)2000 Blackstone Audiobooks

Survival in the South

South is a remarkable story of survival under conditions where I wouldn’t have thought survival was possible. From enormous ship crushing ice flows, to starvation and scurvy, to sailing across the open ocean in a modest rowboat, these explorers fought the elements in extreme isolation without help for 2 years and scarcely lost a man!

unimaginable!

THIS is my 3rd accounting of the Endurance I have read/ watched/ heard. I had by far the most insight into the adventure. I listened to this when it was 90 degrees outside and the telling is so vivid I could literally FEEL the cold and WET.

Fantastic, but...

An incredible journey and poetic in its matter-of-fact retelling. The narration is a bit stilted and unnatural, though. Not the worst narration, but definitely lacking. I got used to it, or perhaps, numb to it. So, it didn’t detract from the story itself too much.

Stirring Account

The story is absolutely amazing. I read the book years ago, and now listened to the audible book twice. It is well worth the time I’ve spent on it. What an admirable leader Ernest Shackleton was.

Gripping, moving, brilliant story

I listened to this one in the car on my way to and from work each day. As the end approached, I would sit in my car and listen - I couldn't bring myself to turn off the player. I even cried, twice. I never cry.

Leadership

“South” is one of the greatest examples of leadership as told by that leader. Narration is good also. If you are aspiring to be a leader or a better leader this is a must listen.

Great for its age. We're for read if you want to hear what happened after.

Just like all books ranged before the last century. The book is rambling and without much narrative flow. Yet the story is so epic. That's totally rei read the endurance And I really want to hear what happened after. If you read endurance I suggest reading the last chapter It gives a summary of where did all the characters go.

Very detailed, recommend The Endurance though

I listened to this after finishing The Endurance, that has a more rounded tale from multiple points of view. This book has a second part that tells of the journey of the Aurora, and it’s all very interesting. But the first part is the more successful with no loss of crewmen, and the second part that details the less successful part of the south expedition even ends with war records for the poor guys that went from one nightmare to another. Overall The Endurance was a book that left me impressed by the power of human will and South was a book that made me sad by the sacrifices demanded in exploration.

Great Story but chewy to get through at times

If you want to know all of the details of Shackleton’s survival than look no further. It’s a very technical read, not the best “storytelling” in terms of entertainment but a truly remarkable and interesting story.

Incredible

The story is so riveting. The fortitude shown by these explorers seems super-human. It’s even more amazing when you realize it takes place over a hundred years ago…
Well done Gents.