Title: Endurance Shackleton’s Incredible Journey
Author: Alfred Lansing
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc
Date: 1959/1999
Pages: 247
Endurance Shackleton’s Incredible Journey (book review)
Alfred Lansing, the author, compiled the story of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s attempt at crossing the Antarctic continent beginning in August, 1914.
Shackleton had gathered a crew to make a trip of a lifetime that had never been accomplished before by anyone. It was to travel across the Antarctic, the coldest and most remote location upon the earth. As they get close to the Antarctic, their ship is trapped by ice flows and destroyed in October 1915. The men were able to get off the ship onto the ice and save the smaller lifeboats and much of the food and equipment.
This story tells of the horrible struggles they had to go through in surviving in extreme cold and through a winter with no sunlight. Hurricane level winds hit them on a regular basis. Temperatures well below zero were common. Hunting various sea animals to provide for needed food and fat for heat and cooking was a challenge.
Through his amazing courage and determination, he was able to keep his crew alive and they were finally rescued in August 1916. No one on his crew died in the process.
Dr. James Dobson does a talk before and after this story. He points out how believers go through life with no apparent hope, but a belief in God that He will get them through the storms of life.
This book is an easy read. Most of it is descriptive in nature, with some talking that was recorded. In the center there are some pictures that were taken on the expedition.
I highly recommend reading this book. Prior to reading this book, I did not know very much about Ernest Shackleton, other than he tried to cross the Antarctic. Reading their story and some of the horrors they had to live through will bring tears to your eyes and shouts of victory at times. It will also encourage you to live your life for God, even in the midst of the struggles of life.
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