This is the amazing story of Sir Ernest Shackleton's expedition to cross the Antarctic overland and the tale of endurance and eventual rescue.
This true story took place in 1915 travel. The expedition set out on its journey to the Antarctic in a boat they thought could handle the ice they would encounter on their trip. But the ice was far worse, and Shackleton's crew and ship, /The Endurance/, became trapped and then crushed by the ice. Shackleton pulled all 27 of his men through the ordeal, but it was one of personal endurance. They were trapped on ice floes for months.
Eventually they managed to make it to South Georgia Island, but not without a lot of hardship that would have crushed most men.
Lansing pieces together this story from the actual diaries of the men and personal interviews with some of the remaining survivors and their families. They talk of camping out in Antarctica in barely adequate shelters, subsisting on starvation rations in frigid conditions with inadequate clothing.
Fortunately the story has a happy ending. The men are rescued and no one is lost, all the result of Shackleton's determination to get them through.
The author has the gift of story, and tells this well. Clearly he did voluminous research and it shows in the minute details he shares with the reader, such as how the men relieved themselves and how boredom and bickering were the greatest threats to their mutual survival.
This book is no quick read. Quite the contrary, you'll want to savour it since it is rich in detail. I highly recommend it. You'll read it time and time again.