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Shackleton

Explorer. Leader. Legend.

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Shackleton

By: Ranulph Fiennes
Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
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Brought to you by Penguin.

The enthralling new biography of Ernest Shackleton by the world's greatest living explorer, Sir Ranulph Fiennes.

To write about Hell, it helps if you have been there.

In 1915, Sir Ernest Shackleton's attempt to traverse the Antarctic was cut short when his ship, Endurance, became trapped in ice.

The disaster left Shackleton and his men alone at the frozen South Pole, fighting for their lives.

Their survival and escape is the most famous adventure in history.

Shackleton is an engaging new account of the adventurer, his life and his incredible leadership under the most extreme of circumstances. Written by polar adventurer Sir Ranulph Fiennes who followed in Shackleton's footsteps, he brings his own unique insights to bear on these infamous expeditions. Shackleton is both re-appraisal and a valediction, separating the man from the myth he has become.

Praise for Sir Ranulph Fiennes:

'The World's Greatest Living Explorer' - Guinness Book of Records

'Full of awe-inspiring details of hardship, resolve and weather that defies belief, told by someone of unique authority. No one is more tailor-made to tell [this] story than Sir Ranulph Fiennes' - Newsday

'Fiennes' own experiences certainly allow him to write vividly and with empathy of the hell that the men went through' - The Sunday Times

© Ranulph Fiennes 2021 (P) Penguin Audio 2021

 Adventurers, Explorers & Survival Earth Sciences Historical Polar Regions Professionals & Academics Science Science & Technology Adventure Leadership Inspiring Funny Thought-Provoking
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Critic reviews

An insider's look into a very select club ... Fiennes' personal asides help to explain the unfathomable - such as how and why humans could and, more inexplicably, would persist with moving their tortured bodies across tortured landscapes in such extreme cold ... For anyone with a passion for polar exploration, this is a must read.
THE definitive book on my hero Shackleton and no one could have done it better. "The Boss" would have heartily approved of such an authentic account by one of the few men who truly knows what it's like to challenge Antarctica (Lorraine Kelly)
Fiennes makes a fine guide on voyage into Shackleton's world . . . What makes this book so engaging is the author's own storytelling skills (Lorna Siggins)
With first-hand experience of polar expeditions, Fiennes relates these tales of exploration and survival, adding insight to Shackleton's journeys unlike any other biographer
An insider's look into a very select club . . . Fiennes' personal asides help to explain the unfathomable - such as how and why humans could and, more inexplicably, would persist with moving their tortured bodies across tortured landscapes in such extreme cold . . . For anyone with a passion for polar exploration, this is a must read
Fiennes brings the promised perspective of one who has been there, illuminating Shackleton's actions by comparing them with his own. Beginners to the Heroic Age will enjoy this volume, as will serious polar adventurers seeking advice. For all readers, it's a tremendous story (Sara Wheeler)
Praise for Ranulph Fiennes' Captain Scott
Fiennes' own experiences certainly allow him to write vividly and with empathy of the hell that the men went through.
A valuable corrective to the trend of Scott debunking...One by one, and with the commendable attention to detail, Fiennes explodes the accumulated myths.
Sir Ranulph Fiennes has done Captain Scott's memory some service...he has certainly written a more dispassionate and balanced account than Huntford ever set out to do. (Simon Courtauld)
All stars
Most relevant
Although Shackleton was clearly a flawed individual and Mr Fiennes did not shy away from this, I felt he gave him an easy time of it - skating (no pun intended) over his constant and often inexplicable financial mismanagement.

Ultimately, it was this mismanagement which perhaps led to his very tarnished reputation (plus his prodigious philandering).

I felt that exploring where the many £thousands ended up going to would have given better insight. I also felt that the "he gave it all to charity" simply didn't stack up, plus there would be £thousands unaccounted for even accepting that somewhat unbelievable excuse.

In addition to this, there were some factual inaccuracies as cited in other reviews.

However, I do not think I have ever read or listened to a book which used the word "however" as often. Other words such as "moreover" and "nonetheless" give it a good run for its money, but practically every paragraph seems to begin with this word.

The book desperately needs better editing.

I felt the pace was also slightly uneven and the narration, overly emphatic.

Worth a listen, but with caveats.

Good but not great. Needed better editing

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This is a great addition to the Shackelton story such as the phenomenal Endurance by Alfred Lansing.
Fiennes greatly adds to the story by interweaving his own experiences on the ice. In many respects the story before the Endurance expedition was better than the end of the book especially his complicated relationship with Scott.
Narration was superb, a really great listen. If you enjoyed Endurance then this is a must for your Audible library.

Excellent

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This is an absolutely amazing story but I found myself really wanting more detail. I would have loved to have been taken through the Endurances’ situation with a fine tooth comb. The levels of bravery shown by these men is nothing short of supernatural.

I wanted a little more detail.

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A tremendous read with many incites from someone who has been there and done it. The journey of the Endurance into the Antarctic and the almost impossibility of return would make fanciful a story if it had just been written down. Utterly fantastic. For all Shackletons many faults to bring everyone back home is miraculous.

The Greatest Escape

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Informative and inspiring, brilliantly well researched and concisely told. Also supplemented with countless diary entries showing all sides to the story and also Feinnes’ own experiences to provide a modern perspective.

Brilliant

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