South: The Story Of Shackleton's Last Expedition 1914 - 17

This is one of the great books of exploration, of what Sir Ernest Shackleton called "the last great journey on earth": his Antarctic expedition in which his ship, the "Endurance", was crushed by the ice and he and his men made a 600-mile trek to reach solid land. They then embarked on a 700-mile journey in an open boat to South Georgia, followed by an epic crossing of the uncharted mountains of that island.

This edition examines the latest research on the entire episode, presenting a much more detailed picture of what really occurred. The major defects in Shackleton's organisation, the inadequate finance, the lack of training provided for his crew in the handling of skis, sledges and dogs, Shackleton's personal problems (which were considerable), the failure to provide proper supplies of food, and many other details are explained, giving a fascinating background to what remains a magnificent drama of leadership.