Listen free for 30 days

  • Endurance

  • Shackleton's Incredible Voyage
  • Written by: Alfred Lansing
  • Narrated by: Simon Prebble
  • Length: 10 hrs and 20 mins
  • 4.9 out of 5 stars (736 ratings)

Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo + applicable taxes after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Endurance cover art

Endurance

Written by: Alfred Lansing
Narrated by: Simon Prebble
Try for $0.00

$14.95 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $31.27

Buy Now for $31.27

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Tax where applicable.

Publisher's Summary

This is a new reading of the thrilling account of one of the most astonishing feats of exploration and human courage ever recorded.

In August of 1914, the British ship Endurance set sail for the South Atlantic. In October 1915, still half a continent away from its intended base, the ship was trapped, then crushed in the ice. For five months, Sir Ernest Shackleton and his men, drifting on ice packs, were castaways in one of the most savage regions of the world.

Lansing describes how the men survived a 1,000-mile voyage in an open boat across the stormiest ocean on the globe and an overland trek through forbidding glaciers and mountains. The book recounts a harrowing adventure, but ultimately it is the nobility of these men and their indefatigable will that shines through.

©1959 Alfred Lansing (P)2007 Blackstone Audo, Inc.
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

What the critics say

Nominee, 2008 Audie Award, Nonfiction, Unabridged

"[O]ne of the most extraordinary tales of heroism and determination in the history of exploration.... Prebble's narration will bring to life the despair, elation, and sheer will of these men to survive, and to triumph, together." (AudioFile

What listeners say about Endurance

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    653
  • 4 Stars
    70
  • 3 Stars
    11
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    1
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    595
  • 4 Stars
    51
  • 3 Stars
    6
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    592
  • 4 Stars
    51
  • 3 Stars
    7
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Ben
  • 2018-01-31

One of the best stories ever, plus great narrator

By far one of the best books I've ever read, and one of the best narrations I've ever listened to. What more could you want from a book experience than Simon Prebble's amazing voice painting a picture of the most amazing survival and travel story of all time?!

Shackleton's story is one I thought I knew: great leader strikes bad luck in sea ice, ship gets crushed, brings men through harrowing months-long survival and journey from sea ice through the world's worst ocean to a small island, leaves them there to fend for themselves and sets off in the same small boat with a small crew across even worst waters for hundreds of miles, then hikes across the most inhospitable occupied island in the world to get to civilization only to go back out and rescue each and every man of the crew. Amazing, right? Well Alfred Lansing does a much, much better job than I do of telling it!

Lansing's story is surprisingly able to stay with the men and not bring in outside contextualizations - I say surprising because most histories would be attempting to frame the adventure in centuries of back story and social commentary. There were of course obvious connections to the outside world, but when the men are on the ice the story stays with them and does not get overwhelmed in the sameness of ice, ice, and more ice. It is the story of the men, and the writing does this so much justice you are completely captivated by it.

Prebble's narration in a gem. The classic British narrator does all the accents well, keeps the myriad of characters separate and each engaging, but also doesn't overwhelm the adventure story with over the top inflections. Instead, Prebble narrates the book with suspense, continuity, and an aura of isolation that perfectly fits the gentleman explorer faced with his greatest challenge yet. Only when Shackleton nears death on the cross-island trek does Prebbles voice get a bit louder and a bit more excited - but it's like the 19th near-death experience and 13th major voyage for the character so why not get a bit carried away?!

I would highly recommend this book to anyone. If you don't like history, the unbelievable adventure story will keep you entertained. If you don't like survival stories, the history and characters will captivate you. If you don't like penguins, well you'll get a lot of descriptions of how they die... Definitely one I will re-read and re-listen to!

I would listen to anything Simon Prebble narrates. Except maybe David Downing's John Russell series since I did listen to that and didn't like it...

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Gripping tale of adventure and perseverance

this book was riveting from start to finish. I constantly wondered what would happen next and sometimes delayed whatever I was doing to finish a chapter. the narrator conveys the energy and adventure of the story brilliantly. I would recommend this book to anyone.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great read!

Surely one of the great adventures of all time. It is told with simplicity and passion.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic!

This narrative is one of the best I've ever heard. It's so easy to imagine and visualise the drama and scenery! The unbelieveable bravery that the human spirit is capable of and can endure, but it's a true story!
I am on my third go-round listening.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Max
  • 2019-02-25

Compelling adventure story, albeit slow in places

You will never look at a cold winter night the same again after listening to this book. The author paints a harrowing picture of survival for Shackleton and his men on the Antarctic ice, and one can only marvel that humans were able to survive such an ordeal of unimaginable hardship.

Listened to it with my kids and they did, admittedly, lose interest and bail on it. The middle hours of the book entail long, repetitive descriptions of ice and toil. Stay with it, though, as the epilogue is worth it. I would appreciate knowing what happened after the story in this book ended. I’ll have to look it up now online.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent and inspirational account

Excellent and inspirational account of Shackleton and his crew. So many great lessons on endurance, resilience, leadership, and teamwork. Really enjoyed the steady and solid narration. I would definitely recommend.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

best. story ever

hands down the best book I've ever listened to from audible. 10/10! history, survival and an all around amazing true story.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Max
  • 2020-04-25

AWESOME ADVENTURE!

Listened to it straight through while driving on my own adventure. The ending brought me to tears.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Really great, worth a listen.

A really well delivered story. I can't imagine how the author created such a cohesive narrative from diaries, but it turned out really great.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Easily the best survival story I’ve ever heard

An unimaginable journey of survival in the face of abject psychological darkness. I’ll never forget it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful