Shackleton's Journey; William Grill

Shackleton’s Journey is a superb read that is informative, interesting and wonderfully illustrated as William Grill tells the story of Ernest Shackleton and his attempt to cross the entire continent of Antarctica.

On 8th August 1914, Ernest Shackleton and his crew set out aboard the ship Endurance to accomplish something that had never been done before. They were to attempt to cross the entire continent of Antarctica from sea to sea via the South Pole. Shackleton and his crew were full of excitement but also well aware of the dangers that lay ahead. They would have to negotiate unforgiving seas and endless snow and ice. What started out as an adventure turned into an epic tale of survival against the odds. It is one of the most incredible stories of survival and is testament to the optimism and courage that embodied Shackleton and his team of intrepid explorers.

William Grill has produced something rather special that whisks readers back in time and takes them to the uncharted lands of Antarctica. The factual narrative takes readers on the most remarkable of journey’s and allows them to see, feel and understand what Shackleton and his crew experienced. The book is divided into parts that cover the various stages of the expedition from preparation, to setting sail, to the difficulties that the crew regularly faced. The whole trip is explained down to the finest details including the selection of the crew, the building of the ship, the chosen pack dogs, the equipment and supplies and so on. The text is packed full of information and the abundance of detailed illustrations fully immerse readers into Antarctica, the expedition and the challenges that the crew of Endurance faced.

The pencil drawn illustrations are exquisite. From capturing the tiniest parts of the expedition to the sweeping landscapes, Grill does not miss a beat. There are individual drawings of each crew member and of all sixty nine dogs, to sweeping double page spreads that portray the tiny ship set against a huge and unforgiving wilderness. The expressive drawings fully capture the enormity of the challenge and are a visual feast.

Shackleton’s Journey reads like a fabulous fiction adventure and you regularly have to remind yourself that this remarkable and unbelievable journey is in fact truth not fiction. The book is published as a large format coffee-table sized book with thick pages that are just begging for endless hours of exploration.

A book to savour and one that children with aspirations of exploring and adventuring will truly delight in.

Recommended for 9+.