Ernest Shackleton

 

This is one of those on a whim books. Shackleton's exploration of the South Pole came up in casual conversation at work one day (we librarians are WILD) and I realized I didn't know much about him. I picked this particular book because it was written by George Plimpton, and I like the way he writes. He wrote a book about attending preseason training with the Detroit Lions that was hysterical. 

Shackleton tried to reach the South Pole a few times. The second time, his ship Endurance got caught in the ice and was twisted so badly she couldn't sail. He left most of his men behind on Elephant Island and took a small boat to an island called South Georgia to hopefully get help so they could go back and rescue the men he left behind. He did, and tried a third time to reach the South Pole, only to have a heart attack and die. He was buried in South Georgia. Plimpton took a trip to Antarctica and alternated between Shackleton's journey and his own 100 years later. It was interesting and the pictures were really breathtaking.