Shackleton.

A General Map

Posted on September 23, 2011 by Ernest Shackleton

Showing an overview of the Southern Continent, and positions of the Ross and Weddell Seas (and giving the usual priority to the former).

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First Sighting

Posted on September 21, 2011 by Ernest Shackleton

A deceptively placid view of the ice pack, from the crow's nest.

“We met the pack on our second day out. This was very disturbing for our leader, for although he had been warned by the whalers of bad ice conditions he had expected a little better than this.”
— Perce Blackboro

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On Deck

Posted on September 19, 2011 by Ernest Shackleton

Away at last!

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The Ship of Fools

Posted on September 2, 2011 by Ernest Shackleton

(Excerpt)
We are those fools who could not rest
In the dull earth we left behind,
But burned with passion for the West
And drank a frenzy from its wind;
The world where small men live at ease
Fades from our unregretful eyes,
And blind across uncharted seas
We stagger on our enterprise.
[…]

— The Ship of Fools by St. John Lucas, 1577

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Business Plan

Posted on August 29, 2011 by Ernest Shackleton

When I get back I will make a company for whaling here [S. Georgia], on a capital of £50,000 one can make for certain 50 to 100 thousand pounds a year net profit it is a gold mine only very few people know of it.

— ltr to Ernest Perris
written from South Georgia Island, 30 November 1914

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Us Whalemen

Posted on July 19, 2011 by Ernest Shackleton

“It is because [we] want to get away from up there…us whalemen…not fit up there…and people up there not want queer folk around like…whalemen. And we no can write poetry or paint pictures or get away from silly world which want no part of us, same like artists do. So we come here because we not at home — and we no damn use — anywhere else.”

— via Of Whales and Men, by R.B. Robertson

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Grytviken

Posted on July 16, 2011 by Ernest Shackleton

We have arrived. At the edge of the world.

Grytviken, South Georgia Island. The Endurance is visible in the middle of the harbor.

***

All photos by Frank Hurley unless otherwise specified.

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When things are easy I hate it

Posted on July 15, 2011 by Ernest Shackleton

I have committed all sorts of crimes in thought if not always in action and dont [sic] worry much about it, yet I hate to see a child suffer or to be false in any way…I am hard also, and damnably persistent when I want anything: altogether a generally unpleasing character: I love the fight and when things [are] easy I hate it though when things are wrong I get worried. I am not going to write more in this strain I am a bit tired…and just wandering along.

— ltr to Emily Shackleton
written while en route to South Georgia Island, 1914

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