Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World: The Extraordinary True Story of Shackleton and the Endurance

The first chapter begins by introducing the main character of the story, world-famous British explorer Ernest Henry Shackleton. He is known for being “the first explorer to come within 100 miles of the South Pole” in 1908 (2). After two other explorers reach the interior of the continent a few years later—Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen on December 14, 1911, and Captain Robert F. Scott of England five weeks later, on January 17, 1912—Shackleton decides to become the first to actually cross it. Although many have mapped the fringes of Antarctica over the past century and a half, most of the interior remains uncharted. For his proposed voyage, which he begins planning in 1913, Shackleton receives widespread support throughout England. He easily raises money for the journey, particularly through monetary advances “based on future sales of film and photo rights” (5). Shackleton has previously formed a film syndicate due to the success of his expedition photographer, Frank Hurley.  

For his Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, Shackleton purchases a coal-powered ship specifically designed to plow through the thick ice. Originally called Polaris, Shackleton renames it Endurance after his family motto, “By endurance we conquer”(7). When the voyage is announced, 5,000 volunteers attempt to sign up at the London offices. From this large pool, Shackleton puts together his crew. It includes photographer Frank Hurley, as well as Frank Wild—Shackleton’s second-in-command—Irishman Tom Crean, and expedition artist George Marston, all of whom have journeyed with Shackleton before. Frank Worsley is selected as captain. The rest of the 28-man crew includes two doctors, some scientists, a cook, officers, and a carpenter, as well as Alfred Cheetham, who served with Tom Crean on one of the previous voyages that successfully reached Antarctica’s interior. A few others have been to the Arctic, while some have never left England.

The ship is well stocked with food, equipment for both exploration and entertainment, and three lifeboats. It also includes a resident cat named Mrs. Chippy. The plan is to sail to from South America and cross the Weddell Sea, from which the Endurance can make landfall in Antarctica. The crew will then leave the ship and trek across the continent. A “sister ship” named Aurora, which is to leave Australia at the same time as Endurance heads out from South America, will be waiting for them on the other side. The Aurora crew will also traverse inland to leave food for Shackleton’s group. Upon meeting up with the Aurora, the crew of the Endurance will become the first ever to make the transcontinental journey across Antarctica.

Before it sets sail, Endurance, which is docked in London’s River Thames, becomes a huge tourist attraction. People flock to see the “celebrity ship and its daring crew” (9). Queen Alexandra inspects the ship in July and presents Shackleton with gifts including a British flag and an inscribed bible. Her sister, Empress Marie of Russia, takes photographs during the inspection. The dock is mobbed with fans, who also bestow the crew with gifts, including teddy bears. On August 1, 1914, Endurance is ready to set sail.