Customer Reviews
A dramatic true story with a rather sudden end - By: Neil Russell-Bates, 13 Nov 2008 
Not a book I would probably have chosen to read, but it was selected as the monthly read for our book club by an ex-naval officer & I was delighted he chose it. This was, as many have said before, a truly gripping story & I was thankful that from the start I knew that the team had by & large survived their ordeal, otherwise the suspense mught have got too much at times! They really did seem to be up against impossible odds & surviving those conditions with the equipment available to them was just amazing.
Equally amazing was what the book told you about the people & their incredible leader, Shackleton. They sound like the kind of men you would want on your sidein a tight situation & Shackleton's strengthin adversity was super-human. They all had to face immense strain over a sustained period of time, but none more so than Shackleton who took his responsibilities terribly seiously. Why his achievements as an antarctic explorer have been so overshadowed by Scott is a mystery to me.
Despite all this, I have docked Lansing one star for his rather abrupt finish to the book. I would have liked to read more about how Shackleton & his men were received back home, what was it like for them to discover what had been happeningin the 1st World War while they had been doing battle with the elements, did they all carry on exploring, or was it more than enough for some etc. etc. I think another two or three chapters of Epilogue would have been very appropriate & I felt they were missing.
A remarkable tale woderfully written - By: M. S. Ridgeway, 23 Aug 2007 
Endurance is, to say the least, one of the most harrowing stories that I have ever read, not least because it's true. Pointless me using adjectives here to describe this book as they have all, I'm sure, been used before. If you get the book, you'll find it all there, fascination, awe inspiring, triumph, emotion, gripping, suspense, compelling... A powerful & fascinating tale of the bravery & determination of Shackleton & his men to survive agianst all the odds & live to tell the tale.
the ultimate survival story - By: E. MCGARRIGLE, 12 Apr 2006 If this weren't a true story you would consider it too far fetched. The determination to survivein the face of extreme hardship is mindblowing. Shackleton's leadership skills are unparalleled & could be applied to many other areas of life. One of the best books I have ever read - thoroughly recommended.
Brilliant subject, lousy book layout - By: Chris Lawton, 15 Feb 2006 
The subject matter is awe inspiring, to say the least. It's also amazing that Frank Hurley was still taking photos right up to the time they were rescued. Where this book falls down, though, is that there are no list of contents, no index, no list of photographs & no list of maps. The book is badly laid out. Unforgiveable, really.
A superb account.. - By: Mr. A. Whiteside, 14 Jul 2004 This is an excellent book.It is the true story of Ernest Shackleton's journey to cross the Antarctic overland,but you probably knew that already!!
I can't think of a better book on the subject.Crammed with photos taken by Frank Hurley,'Endurance' is a wonderfully researched account of this almost unbelievable story.Full credit must go to the writer of this account Alfred Lansing.He truly does a fantastic job & keeps the story pushing along at a terrific pace.
At times,it seems a work of fiction,such are the many amazing happenings on this trip of a lifetime.Once again,asin 'The Heart of the Antarctic',Shackleton shows that above all else the safety of his men was paramount.
Don't think about getting this book,just go for it!You won't regret it.
