Rating: 
Summary: Good, but don't read this as your intro to Shackleton
Review: It's tough to criticize a book written by the man himself and say that other books are somehow better, despite the fact that these writers did not participate in the journey. But unfortunately, that is the case. If you're a real Shackleton fan, you'll want to read this book only as background after taking on works by Caroline Alexander or Alfred Lansing.In comparison, 'South' has the following shortcomings: 1. The writing style is impenetrable & stilted. It has not aged well in the 80+ years since it was put down on paper. 2. The misuse of Frank Hurley's photographs is annoying - they're out-of-focus, oddly chosen and misplaced in sequence in the book. See Alexander's book for a revelation of the power and majesty of Hurley's work. 3. You only get Shackleton's point of view here. Lansing and Alexander pull together the journals of many particpants and you get a real flavor of the men that comprise the crew. Here, you get only Sir Ernest, dispensing some kind words about each member, last name only, no background info. The other books tell you quite a bit about flawed characters like McNish and Lees.
Rating: 
Summary: Poor Shackleton
Review: Poor Shackleton. In all his life it seems he allways came late or second, allmost made it or, as in this story, did not reach his goal at all.
Most amazing in his last expedition is that no lives were lost, though probably encountering the worst circumstances of the expedions I know of.
Most remarkably are the stunning photo's by Frank Hurley. The negatives were either transported over ice and sea, or (no book provided me with that information) were allready developed on the ice. In my copy of this book (printed probably around 1935), but not found in all later editions, one of these negatives is in good quality full-colour, made in 1914!
Rating: 
Summary: Shackleton's thoughts behind the actions are worth reading.
Review: Shackleton's diary and his first hand account of the Endurance journey are the basis of this work. While the other published works on this incredible voyage are also excellent, this book differs in that Shackleton many times speaks of certain subjects (food provisions,ice conditions,weather,etc) in whole, without regard to the story's timeline. This allows the reader to understand the thoughts and reasons behind the actions which were taken. However, I found it does take two readings to fully climb inside Shackleton's head, and this "whole subject" approach can be a little difficult to follow. This non-linear timeline and the fact that the pictures do not correspond to the text are the only reason I gave this book four stars instead of five. As a captain of small ships myself, I take heart in the abilities and courage of those aboard the ill-fated vessel. My problems on my own vessel seem much more manageable, after reading this account, as will anyone's, on land or sea. I did not find the comment of "our faces as black as nig...." to be racist, but a discription of facial color darkened by frostbite and countless days of cooking in enclosed areas. Even if you have other books on this same journey, BUY THIS BOOK.
Rating:
Summary: This is a great book that cries out for a map.
Review: Shackleton's memoir is a treasure - an on-the-spot account of a great adventure. However, the book, for reasons that I cannot explain, lacks a map. From nearly the first page on, the text discusses the journey by presenting direction and distance from key points in the antarctic. Why would the publisher not put in a simple map so the reader does not have to go to another source while reading the book. I suppose one could just read the book as an adventure story and not mind where it is in the world, but why, when a map would add much more to the fun and interest. Since Shackleton refers to the race to the pole, the map could also show Scott's and Amundson's routes. It would not really have taken a great effort to provide it,I would think.
Rating: 
Summary: For Antartic Fanatics only
Review: The first thing to remember about this book is that it was written in 1919. Secondly, it is not a story per se, but a recounting of an expedition (albeit gone horribly wrong) including the obligatory longitude and latitude references and long passages about the weather. That said, even though there were some wonderfully droll passages*, i found this book rather hard going. My husband, who had read it before, told me it improved after the first few chapters, and it did. But when the first expedition was over and we move on to the disaster of the Aurora, it gets very hard to stay awake again. If you are an avid fan of Antarctic Adventures, you have to read this one, as it is a classic. Otherwise, you might find this a little 'hard going'. * I really liked this line about the Killer Whales spotted around the camp - "Shipwrecked mariners drifting in the Antarctic seas would be things not dreamed of in the Killer's philosophy, and might appear on closer inspection to be tasty substitutes for seal and penguin."
Rating:
Summary: A modest, factual account of extraordinary leadership.
Review: This a story of a "failed" cross continental expedition and its aftermath. It gives a continuous account of the unbelievable experiences of Ernest Shacleton and his crew of 27 men from the time their ship, the Endurance, is frozen in pack ice until their final escape some 20 months later. This unbelieveable feat was accomplished without a single loss of life! The character and leadership abilities of Ernest Shackleton are impressive and facinating as he and his crew are pitted against forces of nature beyond the experience of most mortals. I found much inspiration for dealing with life's everday experiences and challenges from reading this account. I have also read Frank Worsley's account of the "open boat" escape and a biography of Sir Ernest Shackleton. I will continue to expand this list of readings as I am able to find more accounts on the subject. The lure of the Antartic and the study of these extrodinary adventures grips me as no other topic has for a long time.
Rating:
Summary: A modest, factual account of extraordinary leadership.
Review: This a story of a "failed" cross continental expedition and its aftermath. It gives a continuous account of the unbelievable experiences of Ernest Shacleton and his crew of 27 men from the time their ship, the Endurance, is frozen in pack ice until their final escape some 20 months later. This unbelieveable feat was accomplished without a single loss of life! The character and leadership abilities of Ernest Shackleton are impressive and facinating as he and his crew are pitted against forces of nature beyond the experience of most mortals. I found much inspiration for dealing with life's everday experiences and challenges from reading this account. I have also read Frank Worsley's account of the "open boat" escape and a biography of Sir Ernest Shackleton. I will continue to expand this list of readings as I am able to find more accounts on the subject. The lure of the Antartic and the study of these extrodinary adventures grips me as no other topic has for a long time.
Rating:
Summary: For anyone interested in the heroic age of exploration
Review: This book is one of the primary sources for "Endurance" by Alfred Lansing. The latter is a distillation of these writings plus the actual diaries of Sir Ernest. I read "Endurance" first and so I was primed for this book. One aspect of the voyage that is not encountered in Lansing's work is the fate of the Aurora, the companion ship to the Endurance whose job it was to lay up the depots for Shackleton on his way across the continent once he reached the Pole. This was an ill-fated journey on which three men died (Shackleton himself didn't lose a man). The Aurora was also locked in the ice and drifted all the way to New Zealand leaving a portion of her crew stranded in McMurdo Sound. It's a great book with tremendous appeal for those of us interested in these fantastic voyages. EKW
Rating:
Summary: You need endurance, but it is worth it.
Review: This book is written by a man of his time. It has few embellishments and could be described as being written in an understatement. Do not look for character developments or a sense of the privations and living conditions during this period. Two other books (to my knowledge) were written by Shackelton's companions and I would commend both to a reader. Worsley's book is a more readable account of this journey; while "Shackelton's Argonauts" (by the photographer Frank Hurley) covers similar ground and includes an account of those who stayed on Elephant Isle.
Rating:
Summary: You need endurance, but it is worth it.
Review: This book is written by a man of his time. It has few embellishments and could be described as being written in an understatement. Do not look for character developments or a sense of the privations and living conditions during this period. Two other books (to my knowledge) were written by Shackelton's companions and I would commend both to a reader. Worsley's book is a more readable account of this journey; while "Shackelton's Argonauts" (by the photographer Frank Hurley) covers similar ground and includes an account of those who stayed on Elephant Isle.
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