Shackleton

For book group this month, we read a YA book--Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World-- about Sir Ernest Shackleton's amazing Antarctic expedition. I also read another account by Caroline Alexander--Endurance: Shackleton's Legendary Antarctic Expedition-- which beautifully reproduced some 170 of Frank Hurley's original photographs of their adventure.





The photographs are truly incredible. They give a real sense of the ice wasteland and the conditions these men faced. They showed the stark beauty (at least, as seen from my balmy Minnesota summer) of the Antarctic. And they captured the men and both their daily routines and special occasions. There were quite a few of the Endurance, the ship that took them south and was ultimately destroyed by the ice. It was a wonderful way to get a glimpse into the mission.




Both authors also draw heavily from the first hand accounts of the men, as recorded in their journals during their travels. These provide the life of the book in their details, chronology, and character sketches. (Alexander does a much better job of bringing the characters and their daily routines to life, while Armstrong focuses more on the chronology of events.) The photographs and the journals preserved an amazing story.





There were a few things that struck me.

1. So many times, they were on the brink of total disaster--these occurred both in the mundane day to day survival in such a harsh climate, as well as in the greatly perilous events such as crossing the open ocean in small boats or trekking across the uncharted mountains and glaciers of South Georgia. But, yet, not one man died during the trip. Simply amazing.

2. Shackleton's amazing leadership: he could diffuse tension, spread his optimism through the group in the face of terrible odds, and maintain unity in a group of diverse men. I loved that the morning after they reached Elephant Island, after a bone chilling, devastatingly awful, open sea voyage, that Shackleton was taking around hot drinks to the men in their tents. He was the one who gave up the sleeping bag for the wool blanket. He was utterly determined that not one man would die, and he was successful. I love the vision of the scene at the end: three filthy men stumble from the mountains into the whaling port on S Georgia island. Shackleton asked to see the Norwegian man in charge, whom he knows. Upon their meeting, Sorlle, the Norwegian captain says, "Well?" Shackelton responds, "Don't you know me?...My name is Shackleton."

3. I would never ever want to be an explorer in any polar region, no matter how amazing the landscape, no matter how many times I could see the Aurora Australis and the multiple species of penguins. I don't think I would even want to read an account of their expedition in the winter.

A question came up. How do we feel about Shackleton the man once we know that he has a mistress? I have mixed feelings about it. He was a remarkable leader and accomplished an amazing feat in this expedition, and I don't think he infidelity to his wife should take away from any of that. He unfailing loyalty to his men stands in contrast to his relationship with his wife. I know nothing about his wife or his mistress, so I am really not in a position to judge the situation. And the fact is, no matter who the hero is, he/she is ultimately mortal and has weaknesses. No hero is without blemish.

I felt a little sad that we spent probably only 45 minutes with the book and the rest of the time socializing. I don't mind the socializing, but I wanted to dig in a bit more.