To summarize, the expedition's aim was to undertake a land crossing of the Antarctic continent, but these plans were abandoned when the ship, Endurance, fell victim to the ravages of pack ice. From then on, it was a question of survival for the party. Drifting on the ice for months, then an agonizing boat journey, which made landfall on Elephant Island. Six men then travelled approximately 800 miles by boat to South Georgia, and after three of them crossed glaciers and mountain peaks, reaching a whaling station, the remainder of the men were rescued. These mere facts, however, do scant justice to the sheer magnitude of what occurred.
I found that Lansing's book is written in quite a spare, economical measured manner. The story is remarkable enough, and speaks for itself, therefore requiring no embellishment. The author's own words are augmented by quotes from the diaries of the participants, and extensive research and interviews. Whilst there is no hyperbole here, it is also far from a sanitized version of events.
The book format permits a detailed and rounded assessment of Shackleton's personality and leadership style. This is no airbrushed portrayal, either, emphasizing his foibles and contradictions. His methods encompassed decisiveness, finesse, ruthlessness, attention to detail, pragmatism and expediency. Above all he was focusing on the over-riding objective; initially, the missions objectives, and subsequently the need to save the lives of the Endurance party.
Throughout the story, we are shown Shackleton's man-management techniques, and how he employed psychology to extract the best from the men under his command. Examples of this were the arrangements for who would sleep in which tent, and the chosen composition of teams for important enterprises. He was constantly having to juggle the management of expectations, in order to avert any drastic reduction in morale, whilst at the same time seeking to appear credible and humane.
It is notable that Lansing does not fall into the trap of attributing every success or positive development to the genius or foresight of Shackleton. He highlights the role of the chief's many capable subordinates, who were able to bring their qualities and skills to bear in a time of great trauma. It is also discernible that bouts of optimism or buoyancy were not solely induced by Shackleton's leadership prowess, but emerged via perfectly rational and reasonable appraisals by individuals of the prospects for success.
It is also true that humans are innately resilient and versatile, and that these virtues are deployed when we are faced with the prospect of doom. An instinct for self-preservation and survival? So when assessing what happened, we perhaps need to look further afield than romantic cliches. An extension of this theory is the capacity for people to adapt in their social relations, in terms of mixing and learning to co-operate with people from different backgrounds or philosophies.
At various stages there are reflections on the characteristics and idiosyncrasies of the various expedition members, and as the drama progresses, we see how these facets manifested themselves as the going got tough, and how Shackleton and the other personnel handled any friction or discord which developed. Although there were occasional squabbles and disputes, in the circumstances the men showed staggering tolerance and stoicism. Even those who became disgruntled returned to "the fold", although again this might have been the imperative of self-preservation calling. It is touching nevertheless to see how the comradeship and solidarity was maintained in the face of adversity.
One of the striking features for me was how Shackleton retained his coolness and presence of mind, when confronted with such onerous responsibilities, workloads and privations. He was ceaselessly having to improvise and react to the evolving situation, keeping track of and balancing a plethora of variables and imponderables. It is easy to see why Shackleton's methods are often cited during modern courses on leadership and management.
Shackleton truly stepped up to the plate following the loss of the Endurance, providing inspiration, direction, encouragement and drive.It would be inaccurate to state that the story moves up a gear at this point. Rather, it simply becomes more humbling and harrowing. The quotations from diaries reflect the constantly fluctuating moods and sentiments of the men, as hopes were regularly raised and then dashed. The primacy of food and warmth became a ubiquitous subject, as they sought short-term solace to get them through each day or part-day.
The account of the boat trip to Elephant Island is superb and uncompromising. The desperation and suffering are palpable, and the awesome power of Mother Nature is amply depicted. We get a graphic idea of what the men were going through, and Lansing lingers on these days to great effect, in order to evoke the sense of terror and despair, but also the resourcefulness of the boat crews in coping with their plight. It seems amazing that the men retained some semblance of composure and awareness during this ordeal.
Similar emotions are engendered by the chapters pertaining to the epic mission to reach South Georgia. The numerous false dawns, the necessity to make instant, potentially fateful judgements and decisions, are all laid bare. The text really helps to illustrate the colossal obstacles, the almost insurmountable odds, and the sheer physical distances and dimensions involved in the rescue and survival efforts.
Even a superficial knowledge of this subject is sufficient to inspire wonder and admiration, but Lansing's rendering of it helps to bring it to life, whilst maintaining an essential realism and balance. Attention is given to some of the less heralded episodes, characters and elements which characterized the endeavour.
If ever I feel jaded or despondent about life or people, the Shackleton Expedition is one of the things which I turn to, to gain some perspective and some inspiration. I would recommend it in these terms to anyone. I know that it sounds trite, but this was a triumph of the human spirit. Prepare to shed the odd tear when learning about the full momentous story for the first time....
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