Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World

By Jennifer L. Armstrong

Subjects: Imperial trans-antarctic expedition (1914-1917), Juvenile literature, Endurance (ship), Antarctica, Discoveries in geography, Découverte et exploration, Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition (1914-1917) fast (OCoLC)fst01409297, Discovery and exploration, Antarctica, discovery and exploration, Survival, Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, 1914-1917, Shackleton, ernest henry, sir, 1874-1922, Antarctica, juvenile literature, Ouvrages pour la jeunesse, Endurance (Ship), Shipwrecks, Habiletés de survie, British, Naufrages, Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition (1914-1917), Ships, Shackleton, Ernest Henry, Sir, 1874-1922

Description: A very comprehensive account of one of the most important scientific and cultural expeditions in the western world--the third exploration of Antarctica, in 1914. This text captures the emotions, strengths and weaknesses of the 28-man crew as individuals, their trials and conflicts, and gives an excellent account of the difficulties that through collective will they conquered. The conditions they faced--blizzards with 80 to 100-mile-an-hour winds, ice floes that surrounded and eventually crushed their ship, the Endurance, hostile animals, such as a snow leopard, near-starvation, frostbite, and even having to shoot and eat their sled dogs. Yet this crew endured, due largely to Ernest Shackleton's leadership, characterized as respect for all, peacemaker, and one who was calm and collected under the most stressful conditions. Dave Earnhardt, secondary English teacher, Centennial, Colorado, [email protected]