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The Lost Men
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The Lost Men

The Harrowing Saga of Shackleton's Ross Sea Party

Kelly Tyler-Lewis
Penguin, 2007
First Edition: 2006
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Editorial Rating

8

Qualities

  • Innovative
  • Eye Opening
  • Inspiring

Recommendation

The world remembers swashbuckling Antarctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton as a selfless leader who would do anything for his men. But this tale of the hardships suffered by his support crew paints a different picture of Shackleton – a charismatic and courageous figure, yes, but also a man whose disorganization and carelessness wasted the lives, health, loyalty and courage of half his party. Three members of Shackleton’s Ross Sea party died while leaving supplies of food that Shackleton never used. Historian Kelly Tyler-Lewis uses the survivors’ journals and interviews with their families to chronicle the Ross Party’s relationships and sacrifices in compelling detail, illuminating the missteps and mismanagement that caused the expedition to go awry. getAbstract recommends this study to managers who want examples of how to respond – and how not to respond – in a crisis.

Summary

Big Plans, Scarce Resources

In December 1914, Ernest Shackleton’s expedition set sail for Antarctica from Australia. Shackleton already was an experienced Antarctic explorer, having participated in Robert Falcon Scott’s expedition a decade earlier. During a 1908 journey, Shackleton and his men penetrated deeper into Antarctica than any previous explorers. His goal for the 1914 trip was to cross the icy continent on foot. He planned to land his ship, Endurance, on the Weddell Sea side of Antarctica. A second ship, Aurora, would dock at the shore of the Ross Sea, on the opposite side, trek far into Antarctica to leave supplies for the other party, then await Shackleton’s triumphant arrival. It never occurred.

The expedition’s difficulties started early. Money was tight. Shackleton used his celebrity and charm to raise money for the adventure, but skeptics derided his plans as a “stunt” and Shackleton as a “mercenary.” The start of a brutal, costly, all-encompassing war in Europe in 1914 did nothing to help Shackleton’s cause. Public benefactors were financially committed to the war.

Shackleton had barely arrived in Antarctica when pack ice trapped...

About the Author

Historian Kelly Tyler-Lewis, visiting scholar of the Scott Polar Research Institute at the University of Cambridge from 2002 to 2004, is an Emmy Award-winning documentary film writer and producer.

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