Rating: 
Summary: An Incredible Adventure!
Review: Ernest Shackleton set out in 1914 on an expedition to cross the Antarctic continent on foot. He had 20 odd crew members and a sturdy little ship named "Endurance". He couldn't have found a more aptly named sailing ship if he had tried! What follows in this terrific book is a tale of "endurance" you can hardly believe is true. Put together from diaries, journals and other documents(some never before seen in print),this journey leads you across ice floes, into hurricane driven seas and up and down (sometimes by the seat of their pants)mountain passes before it all comes to an end. Better yet you are made to feel the reality of it by the starkly beautiful photographs of Frank Hurley, the ship's photographer. You see the men on board ship and the ship as it is slowly crushed by the ice. You also see the faces of each man which gives the book an intimacy many others on this same subject do not have. A great book for boys especially!
Rating:
Summary: The ONE Shackleton book to get!
Review: Yes, there have been many books about Shackleton's famous Antarctic expedition: the one that should have become tragic, but amazingly did not. Some of these books are recently published. Why spend your money on this one? Because it offers the best combination of narrative, photographs, and assessment of the expedition's success. Alexander chooses to let the story unfold from the multiple perspectives of those who lived it. You get absolutely outstanding photos (by Frank Hurley, the expedition photographer), diary excerpts (sometimes revealing different perspectives of the same event), and Alexander's sure-handed narrative that never succumbs to sensationalistic "second-guessing." The photos are beautifully integrated with the text, presented at just the right places (and they are graphically sharp and clear). The captions vary, sometimes using Alexander's own observations, sometimes quoting from the diaries of the men who, as Shackleton put it, had "been to Hell" and all returned. If you only have time to read one book about this extraordinary tale of survival, this is the ONE. A worthy purchase, as you will likely find yourself going back to browse after the first reading.
Rating:
Summary: one of the all time great adventures
Review: I've read probably 20 survival type books this past year of which this is one of the very best. Alexander skillfully weaves together diaries, interviews and the great Hurley photographs into an incredible narrative of the Shackleton voyage. The descriptions become more and more incredible, increasing exponentially along with the level of suffering and deprivation. The most incredible part of the voyage is the last stretch: 800 miles over open ocean trying to hit the tiny St. Georgia whaling station in hurricane like conditions. The reader can feel the wet, the cold and the hunger with every turn of the page (perhaps even smell the blubber boiling over the fire).Of course we also learn a lot about leadership -- to me the most moving part of the story was Shackleton's agony over the delayed rescue of the group left behind on Elephant Island. His companions noted that he aged more during these few months than during the rest of the grueling expedition. This book, along with its wonderful photographs is a must read for adventure fans.
Rating:
Summary: An Astonishing and Heart-Stopping Adventure!
Review: (originally written December 26, 1998 as an anonymous review) What might have been a dry re-telling of an ill-starred expedition is transformed instead, thanks to the brilliant Caroline Alexander, into a colorful and often heart-stopping account of an incredible journey of heroism and tenacity. I read "The Endurance" in one hearty, greedy gulp; at times I was trembling and weeping--at other times cheering and joyful. Even those with the most feeble imaginations cannot help but be moved by this testament of Human Will and, yes, "Endurance". The beautiful and sometimes astonishing photographs taken by Frank Hurley, laid out generously throughout the book, remind one that this was, indeed, a true account. My recommendation is this: BUY it, READ it, and TREASURE it, as shall I. You will not be sorry!
Rating: 
Summary: Incredible Voyage
Review: A story of a journey to the South Pole in 1914 which never came close to the stated ojective (to traverse the continent on foot) yet lives in history because of the hardships endured by the crew of a two and a half year period. Author Alexander uses the diarities of the various crew members to illustrate their thoughts and feelings. Most impressive are the photographs taken by the expedition photographer, Hurley. All in black and white, their clarity and composition are remarkable. They deserve to be recognized at the same level as Ansel Adams photographs of the American National Parks. The leader of the expedition, Ernest Shackleton is portrayed as a remarkable leader, aware of just how much he can push his men without being cruel or unfair. His leadership style can serve as a lesson to all who try to manage people under difficult circumstances. I would recommend this book for the crisp pace but above all, the beautiful photographs.
Rating:
Summary: A Legendary Tale of Man Against All Odds
Review: In the quest to cross the Antartic Continent in 1914, brave-hearted soul Captain Ernest Shackleton and his twenty-seven man crew set sail on a perilous, nearly deadly journey. Less than 100 miles from their destination the "Endurance" became hopelessly trapped in an ice floe; slowing breaking apart. Their ordeal of living on this drifting berg for months, only to be stranded on a solid piece of land later for nearly two years is mind-boggling. The personal accounts of the crew members daily treacherous turmoils, coupled with an undefeatable and inspired leader (Shackleford) is devastating. Photographer Frank Hurley supplied some of the most breathtaking and dynamic pictures of the saga of the trip, one can only become overwhelmed with the enormity of the dilema. It is simply too real and too heartbreaking. This beautfully crafted "coffee table" book is one of many released regarding the extraordinary plight of this team against nature. Although author Caroline Alexander borrows heavily from previous accounts and repeats some of the adventures from her earlier "Mrs. Chippy's Last Expediton", "Endurance" is the classic adventure tale of the last Century. A wonderful coolaboration of writer/photographer, this makes a great gift. A 'beyond Hollywood' story that many have never heard, much less seen in this manner makes it extraordinary!
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Summary: Walk, sledge or sail to the photo exhibition...
Review: If you have the opportunity to view the exhibition of Hurley's photos, by all means GO!! If not, the reproductions in this book are of such high quality that you will still be able to appreciate the artistry of Hurley's photographic record. All the more breathtaking to consider the difficulty of preserving these images, and the diary excerpts that accompany them, for us to view today. The exhibition made me weep. The book made me admire and wish to emulate the remarkable leadership displayed by Shackleton.
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Summary: Better than Lansing
Review: After reading this book, I bought and read the "classic" by Alfred Lansing and while it was a very good read, I believe Alexander's book to be the better one. She includes details about the crew and Shackleton and about their post-voyage lives that makes the story much more personal. In addition, she includes details of the journey which were left out of Lansing's book which left me with the impression that Lansing was "protecting" Shackleton against possible negative or critical comments--an entirely unnecessary thing to do given his incredible leadership of this voyage. For example, Lansing's book does not talk about the mental breakdown of several of the men after the boat trip to Elephant Isle nor about McNish's resentment of Shackleton for having to kill Mrs. Chippy. Nor does he mention Shackleton's and the other crew member's claims to have felt a "fourth presence" with them on the last climb over the mountains of S. Georgia. These details, together with the incredible photography included in Alexander's book, make her book the more complete and equally exciting rendition of this incredible voyage.
Rating:
Summary: A Must-Read for Penguin Enthusiasts
Review: Being a big fan of penguins, I thoroughly enjoyed Ms. Alexander's magical and wondrous narrative. Penguins are found only at the South Pole, a region in which this book is conveniently set. There's also some bit about a bloke name of Shackleton: rather dull.
Rating:
Summary: You've read the book, now go see the exhibition!
Review: Caroline Alexander, author of this extraordinary book filled with breathtaking photographs, is guest curator of the traveling museum exhibition "The Endurance: Shackleton's Legendary Antarctic Expedition." As unforgettable as the book is, the exhibition is even more spectacular! The greatly enlarged copies of the photographs, combined with artifacts, diaries, a reproduction of the James Caird lifeboat (frighteningly small) , and personal memorabilia contributed by the families of these explorers make Shackleton's voyage tangible, very much more than something in a book, even one as good as this one. For those interested in seeing the exhibition, it is at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, MA from June 23 - Sept. 10, 2000. It will be at the Field Museum in Chicago from October 7 - Jan. 14, 2001. It will be at the Houston Museum of Natural Sciences from Feb. 10 - May 6, 2001, and it will be at the Burke Museum at the University of Washington (in Seattle) from June 7 - Dec. 31, 2001.
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