Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage

The legendary and harrowing tale of British explorer Ernest Shackelton's 1914 shipwreck on Antarctic ice - and how his leadership rescued his crew

"One of the greatest adventure stories of our time." -New York Times Book Review

In August 1914, polar explorer Ernest Shackleton boarded the Endurance and set sail for Antarctica, where he planned to cross the last uncharted continent on foot. In January 1915, after battling its way through a thousand miles of pack ice and only a day's sail short of its destination, the Endurance became locked in an island of ice. Thus began the legendary ordeal of Shackleton and his crew of twenty-seven men. When their ship was finally crushed between two ice floes, they attempted a near-impossible journey over 850 miles of the South Atlantic's heaviest seas to the closest outpost of civilization.

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.

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Published Apr 28, 2015

416 pages

Average rating: 8.33

202 RATINGS

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The Draughting Table

Historical fiction mostly, with some non-fiction/history, and the occasional novel/fantasy read. Casual book conversation in a quiet pub.

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JJM

Sep 28, 2025

10/10 stars

Host Justin McAfee

Sherlock

Nov 26, 2024

Amazing! Highly educational.

KEK

Jan 24, 2026

8/10 stars

I was intrigued the author had access to the survivors and diaries, etc. His descriptions are so en pointe I could imagine sights and sounds and at times feel I was there. However, his writing style is reminiscent of a different time in the evolution of language, or maybe I’m just being dramatic. On one hand the writing style meant there wasn’t a lot of emotion (or perhaps the survivor interviews and reference materials didn’t convey it), and on the other hand some ENDURANCE was required to slog through the book. As the crew slogged and fought through the experience, perhaps. The roundabout sentence construction meant I was continually highlighting to pull out and keep track of exactly what was occurring both weather-wise and people-wise. You don’t need to say both two days and 48 hours in the same sentence to convey the same length of time. I read the ebook and it was annoying to see photos in the middle of the book that preceded the action. Spoilers not appreciated! Still- highly recommend this book. I’m off to be sad they all mostly had to go to war after this and then check out the recent documentary.

Izzy Winn

Jan 21, 2026

8/10 stars

what an incredible story & adventure. genuinely can’t believe they managed to stay so positive throughout the ordeal, a staggering display of mental strength for sure

safe to say I won’t be taking a trip to the Antarctic anytime soon unless the ship is basically the hulk

Deone

Feb 21, 2025

9/10 stars

This gives great detail and feel for attitudes of the time. I can't relate to the drive or desire for his goal, but it was interesting to read of someone else's. The fact that the crew bought into it surprised me. Their drive to survive - amazing to me. I would not. Amazing that they did - have such a strong desire to carry out what they did.