To quote a well worn cliche - but its true : it was hard to put this book down.

It recounts the story of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s doomed expedition to the South Pole in 1914.

Surrounded by pack ice and frozen in place, his ship aptly named “Endurance” is eventually crushed and sinks.

Consequently the 850 mile journey begins on foot and three small lifeboats, to reach the whaling station in South Georgia.

The 28 crew eventually are saved - but the raw detail of the struggle is captivating.

No doubt the research by Alfred Lansing in the 1950’s with some of the survivors and access to precious documents and diaries, makes this as horrifically authentic as one can imagine.

The struggle to find food and fresh water when on the boats and surrounded by ice tainted with sea water is described in detail.

The narrative actually places you in the dire situation.

Threats from other animals exist too - with close escapes from sea leopards that could kill and eat a man.

Anyway - this truly is an excellent read for anyone interested in exploration and ingenuity and the sheer brilliance of the expedition leader Sir Ernest Shackleton.