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The Life of Sir Ernest Shackleton C. V. O., O. B. E. (Mil.), LL. D
Excerpt from The Life of Sir Ernest Shackleton C. V. O., O. B. E. (Mil.), LL. D
With this plan in view I have tried to set out the life and strife of my old friend as a sort of moving picture, the scale of which varies in its different parts according to the importance of each to the life as a whole. The endeavour necessarily falls short of the ideal inspiring it but I have done my best to chronicle a life, and a whole life, so far as this is possible, while observing such restraint and reticence as are demanded by regard for the feelings of others.
About the Publisher
Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com
This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
With this plan in view I have tried to set out the life and strife of my old friend as a sort of moving picture, the scale of which varies in its different parts according to the importance of each to the life as a whole. The endeavour necessarily falls short of the ideal inspiring it but I have done my best to chronicle a life, and a whole life, so far as this is possible, while observing such restraint and reticence as are demanded by regard for the feelings of others.
About the Publisher
Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com
This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
367 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
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About the author
Hugh Robert Mill
105 booksHugh Robert Mill FRSE FRGS was a Scottish geographer and meteorologist who was influential in the reform of geography teaching, and in the development of meteorology as a science. He was President of the Royal Meteorological Society for 1907/8, and President of the Geographical Association in 1932.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
September 27, 2025
This book is long out of print, but you can find a scan on Archive.org: https://archive.org/details/lifeofsir...
This is the first biography of Shackleton, written by his good friend Mill at the request of Emily Shackleton, his wife. I was pleasantly surprised to see that Mill did not fail to detail Shackleton’s flaws and weaknesses. Lady Shackleton was a fairly progressive woman, having spoken favorably of women pursuing careers in lieu of marriage, even while her husband was alive. She would not have approved of a hero-worship biography. Actually, I don’t think Shackleton would have either.
Shackleton’s greatness was evident in his actions. I was touched to read about his absolute intolerance of food insecurity. Understandable, given his own experiences with starvation! From his comrade Frank Wild to penniless children in London, widows, the war effort, and random charities, Shackleton did not hesitate to empty his pockets for anyone in need. He would be appalled at the waste and cruelty in today’s so-called civilized societies. As so many of his men wrote, he always put others before himself, even when doing so was detrimental to his and his family’s well-being.
The only thing that would have improved this book would have been more thoughts from the men who worked with Shackleton. However, given the speed with which the book was written and published following his death, it would have been a challenge to source more quotes in a timely manner.
Highly recommended for any Shackleton enthusiast.
This is the first biography of Shackleton, written by his good friend Mill at the request of Emily Shackleton, his wife. I was pleasantly surprised to see that Mill did not fail to detail Shackleton’s flaws and weaknesses. Lady Shackleton was a fairly progressive woman, having spoken favorably of women pursuing careers in lieu of marriage, even while her husband was alive. She would not have approved of a hero-worship biography. Actually, I don’t think Shackleton would have either.
Shackleton’s greatness was evident in his actions. I was touched to read about his absolute intolerance of food insecurity. Understandable, given his own experiences with starvation! From his comrade Frank Wild to penniless children in London, widows, the war effort, and random charities, Shackleton did not hesitate to empty his pockets for anyone in need. He would be appalled at the waste and cruelty in today’s so-called civilized societies. As so many of his men wrote, he always put others before himself, even when doing so was detrimental to his and his family’s well-being.
The only thing that would have improved this book would have been more thoughts from the men who worked with Shackleton. However, given the speed with which the book was written and published following his death, it would have been a challenge to source more quotes in a timely manner.
Highly recommended for any Shackleton enthusiast.
March 6, 2023
Great explorer of the Antarctic
He was a wide explorer, took chances but never took his fellow crew for granted and treated them with utmost respect. A true man.
He was a wide explorer, took chances but never took his fellow crew for granted and treated them with utmost respect. A true man.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews