Shackleton

Shackleton by Michael Smith )

Ernest Shackleton is one of history's great explorers, an extraordinary character who pioneered the path to the South Pole over 100 years ago and became a dominant figure in Antarctic discovery. A charismatic personality, his incredible adventures on four expeditions to the Antarctic have captivated generations. He joined the Empire's last great endeavor of exploration: to conquer the South Pole with Scott on the Discovery expedition. A clash with Scott led to Shackleton being ordered home and started a bitter feud between the two. Shackleton's riposte was the Nimrod expedition, which uncovered the route to the Pole and honed the leadership skills that later encouraged men to overcome unimaginable hardship on the Endurance expedition of 1914. But Shackleton was a flawed character whose chaotic private life, marked by romantic affairs, unfulfilled ambitions, and failed business ventures, contrasted with celebrity status as the leading explorer. Persistent money problems left his men unpaid and his family with debts.

Drawing on extensive research of original diaries, letters, and many other publications, Michael Smith brings a fresh perspective to the heroic age of Polar exploration, which was dominated by Shackleton's complex, compelling, and enduringly fascinating story.

‘timely and thorough… as a buccaneering Edwardian adventurer, as chaotic and hapless in his private life as he was dynamic in his public exploits, [Shackleton] is rescued by Michael Smith’s genial biography as a flawed, enduring inspiration’

* The Times *

'A rich volume, written in a passionate, engaging style that makes it a compelling read, full of nuanced conclusions about many of Shackleton’s formative life moments, and meticulously researched, as with all of Michael Smith’s work.'

* Irish Times *

‘Absorb[ing]… a fair and rounded picture of a man who was a great companion and leader in a tight corner but possibly better viewed across an iceberg than across a boardroom table or a martial bedroom’ 

* Country Life *

‘a fresh perspective… very readable… Smith’s research has uncovered some interesting side stories’ 

* Good Book Guide *

'fast-moving and gripping… Michael Smith’s biography shows us a complex multi-faceted man’

* Scottish Review of Books *

‘Diligently researched with extensive quotation… a welcome addition to the library of the polar aficionado’

* Literary Review *

‘Smith’s research is detailed and meticulous… fascinating… [He] tells [the story] with passion and commitment.’

* Spectator *

'Compelling'

* History Revealed *

‘Fascinating’ 

* Bookseller *

"The epic struggles, heroics and unbelieveable hardships of the voyages are wonderfully told. Compulsive reading."

* The Irish Times on An Unsung Hero *

‘A fascinating book - warm, complex, engaging – just like the man himself. This absorbing new biography strips away the myths and misconceptions to reveal one of the twentieth century’s most important explorers in all his flawed genius.’

* Mick Conefrey, author of Everest, 1953 *

'Perhaps the most riveting biography I've ever read.'

* Orlando Sentinel on An Unsung Hero *

Michael Smith, a former journalist, is an established authority on polar exploration. He has written a number of books including An Unsung Hero: Tom Crean Antarctic Survivor, which was short-listed for the Banff Mountain Book Festival 2002. The illustrated version was shortlisted for the Irish Published Book of the Year 2007. He contributes to TV and radio documentaries and lectures on polar history.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9781780745725
ISBN 10	1780745729
Title	Shackleton
Author	Michael Smith )
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Hardback
Publisher	Oneworld Publications
Year published	2014-10-02
Number of pages	456
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
Note	Unavailable