What do you think?
Rate this book
The White Darkness
Very RARE edition!! UNIQUE offer!! Don’t wait to be OWNER of this special piece of HISTORY!!!
160 pages, Hardcover
First published October 30, 2018
About the author
David Grann
20 books5,680 followersDavid Grann is the author of the #1 New York Times bestsellers
Killers of the Flower Moon
and The Lost City of Z. Killers of the Flower Moon was a finalist for The National Book Award and won an Edgar Allan Poe Award. Look for David Grann’s latest book, The Wager, coming soon!
He is also the author of The White Darkness and the collection The Devil and Sherlock Holmes . Grann's storytelling has garnered several honors, including a George Polk Award. He lives with his wife and children in New York.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 972 reviews
November 22, 2018
3.5 I have such a fascination with books set in places that are excessively cold and snow laden. Not sure why that is, especially since I don't really want to live in these places, and due to health reasons will probably never even get to visit. I also find intriguing people who do dangerous and near impossible things. I try to figure out the mindset of people who feel compelled to take these risks. I'm not very adventurous, was more so when I was younger, but not to some extreme extent.
Worsley, who idiolized Shackleton, was a descendant of one of the men on his crew, and was a British special Forces Officer. With two other men, also descendants of Shackletons crew, set off to complete the journey in Antartica that Shackleton was unable to complete. This mission would not be enough, there would be another trip, and then at the last when Worsley attempts to walk across Antartica on a solo trip.
The writing is very detailed, the pictures aid the reader along with the descriptions to feel as if they were at times along for the journey. The book is rather short, and moves quickly. There are interesting touches of his personal life, his wife, son and daughter, how they felt about his journeys. Quotes from Shackleton and a few brief mentions of Prince William presenting the men with a signed Union Jack flag.
A look at a brave man who felt compelled to accomplish the impossible.
ARC from Edelweiss.
Worsley, who idiolized Shackleton, was a descendant of one of the men on his crew, and was a British special Forces Officer. With two other men, also descendants of Shackletons crew, set off to complete the journey in Antartica that Shackleton was unable to complete. This mission would not be enough, there would be another trip, and then at the last when Worsley attempts to walk across Antartica on a solo trip.
The writing is very detailed, the pictures aid the reader along with the descriptions to feel as if they were at times along for the journey. The book is rather short, and moves quickly. There are interesting touches of his personal life, his wife, son and daughter, how they felt about his journeys. Quotes from Shackleton and a few brief mentions of Prince William presenting the men with a signed Union Jack flag.
A look at a brave man who felt compelled to accomplish the impossible.
ARC from Edelweiss.
July 3, 2019
"The man felt like a speck in the frozen nothingness. Every direction he turned, he could see ice stretching to the edge of the Earth: white ice and blue ice, glacial-ice tongues and ice wedges. There were no living creatures in sight. Not a bear or even a bird. Nothing but him."
The last book I reviewed was set in the lush and exotic landscape of Corfu. Corfu and all of Greece are on my bucket list of places to visit once I have time I can call my own. What is not on my bucket list: Antarctica! I hate being cold. I truly despise frigid temperatures, wearing boots and parkas, and having my skin exposed to subzero temperatures. However, I was able to get a little taste of this stunning continent through the exploits of Henry Worsley and the excellent writing of David Grann. This was accomplished either from the relative warmth of a nice spring walk or a ride in the car, as I listened to this one on audio.
The taste for adventure must have been in Henry Worsley’s blood. A distant relative of Frank Worsley, one of Ernest Shackleton’s crew from the Endurance, Henry had the craving to push himself to the limits and was determined to conquer what Shackleton and his men had failed to do – to cross Antarctica via the South Pole on foot. Henry Worsley undertook not one but three expeditions to one of the most brutal environments in the world. His last trek in 2015-2016 was entirely solo. His wife and children stood by praying for his safe return.
"Passion for something can easily tip into obsession, which is a dangerous thing, especially when those affected are the very people who so loyally stand and wait."
The drama and danger of this venture was riveting, to say the least. David Grann provides a lot of background on the original expeditions, highlighting much of Shackleton’s journey as well as his exemplary leadership skills. He shares snippets of dispatches and journal entries from Henry Worsley’s accounts, which gave this nonfiction piece a feeling of immediacy. My mind never once strayed from the narrative, despite the fact I am often prone to doing so while listening to a book rather than reading it myself. It’s actually a fairly short work, and I was rather surprised when it came to an end – a good sign of a successful audio experience, I guess!
Now an instant fan of David Grann, I will gladly seek out more of his writing in the future. His prose is clear and concise and never once felt dry. He’s also given me a big push to read those Shackleton books that have been languishing on my to-read list for far too long. I highly recommend this one to anyone that loves a great adventure tale as well as those that enjoy stimulating true stories. My only regret with this was that I know I missed out on some remarkable photographs which I understand are included in the paper version. I may seek this out in that format just to catch a glimpse of those pictures.
The last book I reviewed was set in the lush and exotic landscape of Corfu. Corfu and all of Greece are on my bucket list of places to visit once I have time I can call my own. What is not on my bucket list: Antarctica! I hate being cold. I truly despise frigid temperatures, wearing boots and parkas, and having my skin exposed to subzero temperatures. However, I was able to get a little taste of this stunning continent through the exploits of Henry Worsley and the excellent writing of David Grann. This was accomplished either from the relative warmth of a nice spring walk or a ride in the car, as I listened to this one on audio.
The taste for adventure must have been in Henry Worsley’s blood. A distant relative of Frank Worsley, one of Ernest Shackleton’s crew from the Endurance, Henry had the craving to push himself to the limits and was determined to conquer what Shackleton and his men had failed to do – to cross Antarctica via the South Pole on foot. Henry Worsley undertook not one but three expeditions to one of the most brutal environments in the world. His last trek in 2015-2016 was entirely solo. His wife and children stood by praying for his safe return.
"Passion for something can easily tip into obsession, which is a dangerous thing, especially when those affected are the very people who so loyally stand and wait."
The drama and danger of this venture was riveting, to say the least. David Grann provides a lot of background on the original expeditions, highlighting much of Shackleton’s journey as well as his exemplary leadership skills. He shares snippets of dispatches and journal entries from Henry Worsley’s accounts, which gave this nonfiction piece a feeling of immediacy. My mind never once strayed from the narrative, despite the fact I am often prone to doing so while listening to a book rather than reading it myself. It’s actually a fairly short work, and I was rather surprised when it came to an end – a good sign of a successful audio experience, I guess!
Now an instant fan of David Grann, I will gladly seek out more of his writing in the future. His prose is clear and concise and never once felt dry. He’s also given me a big push to read those Shackleton books that have been languishing on my to-read list for far too long. I highly recommend this one to anyone that loves a great adventure tale as well as those that enjoy stimulating true stories. My only regret with this was that I know I missed out on some remarkable photographs which I understand are included in the paper version. I may seek this out in that format just to catch a glimpse of those pictures.
July 13, 2019
”For scientific leadership, give me Scott; for swift and efficient travel, Amundsen; but when you are in a hopeless situation, when there seems to be no way out, get on your knees and pray for Shackleton.”
Every time I see this photograph of Shackleton’s ship, the Endurance, frozen in the ice, I get a chill.
One of the most selfless acts in the history of exploration happened in 1908 when Ernest Shackleton made the decision to turn back from his goal of reaching the South Pole, a mere 97 nautical miles away. The Holy Grail was only a few days travel. It was all but within his grasp.
There was something more important to Shackleton than his own personal aggrandizement; it was the safety of his men. He calculated the status of the remaining supplies and determined that the risk to his men was too great to make it to the Pole and make it back safely...alive. He did the unthinkable, something few other leaders would have the courage to do; he turned back. He did not worry about the aspersions that would be cast at him for cowardice or the ridicule that his jeering competition would hurl his direction. He would much rather live with that than live with the deaths of his men.
I had to ask myself, would I have been courageous enough to make that decision, or would I have given an Antarctica version of the Henry the 5th speech at the Battle of Agincourt and pressed on? Being the first to reach the South Pole was what would insure immortality, turning back meant, in all probability, that someone else would have that honor. Roald Amundsen, the great Norwegian explorer, would reach it first in 1911.
Henry Worsley worshipped Shackleton. Whenever he was in a tight spot, he would think to himself, ”What would Shacks do?” which went well with another of his favorite sayings: ”Better a live donkey than a dead lion.”
So who was Worsley?
”Worsley was a retired British Army officer who had served in the Special Air Service, a renowned commands unit. He was also a sculptor, a fierce boxer, a photographer who meticulously documented his travels, a horticulturalist, a collector of rare books and maps and fossils, and an amateur historian who had become a leading authority on Shackleton.”
And why did David Grann write a book about Worsley?
”In 2008, he led an expedition to pioneer a route through the Transantarctic Mountains, reaching a point 98 miles (157 km) from the South Pole. The expedition commemorated the centenary of Shackleton's Nimrod Expedition. He returned to the Antarctic in 2011, leading a team of six in retracing Roald Amundsen's successful 870-mile (1,400 km) journey in 1912 to the South Pole, marking its centenary. In completing the route, he became the first person to have successfully undertaken the routes taken by Shackleton, Robert Falcon Scott and Amundsen. --Wikipedia”
I love this picture of Worsley. He broke off a tooth on a frozen candy bar.”
All of this led up to Worsley’s dramatic final expedition to be the first person to make a solo crossing of Antarctica, without any assistance. He had been restless. There was something about the polar regions that got in certain men’s blood, and they just couldn’t stay away. ”What is Antarctica other than a blank canvas on which you seek to impose yourself?”
The beauty is not what we usually think of, with oceans, mountains, and trees. From a bird’s eye view, there is nothing much there, except ice and snow and cold.”There is nothing to see but white darkness.”
Desolation is best expressed by deserts, the hot ones and the cold ones. I find photographs of deserts to be very peaceful, the more desolate the better. I find expeditions that venture out into that desolation, seeking what has never been seen before, to be invigorating. So I understand the obsession that gripped Worsley to keep going back again and again.
The landscape seduced his mind, like a woman who must be chased to be had.
This is a lovely, evocative book, filled with amazing photographs. David Grann knows how to tell a story, and you will find yourself tearing up with joy and pain, more than a few times, as you make these journeys with these brave men. The book also reminded me of all the polar expedition books I still have left to read. Fortunately, there have been many explorers who were as obsessed with those regions as were Shackleton and Worsley, and most of them, the ones who lived, wrote about their adventures. This book is a quick afternoon read, and hopefully, you will all be as seduced by the landscape as Shackleton, Worsley, and yes, even I.
If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visit http://www.jeffreykeeten.com
I also have a Facebook blogger page at: https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyKeeten
Every time I see this photograph of Shackleton’s ship, the Endurance, frozen in the ice, I get a chill.
One of the most selfless acts in the history of exploration happened in 1908 when Ernest Shackleton made the decision to turn back from his goal of reaching the South Pole, a mere 97 nautical miles away. The Holy Grail was only a few days travel. It was all but within his grasp.
There was something more important to Shackleton than his own personal aggrandizement; it was the safety of his men. He calculated the status of the remaining supplies and determined that the risk to his men was too great to make it to the Pole and make it back safely...alive. He did the unthinkable, something few other leaders would have the courage to do; he turned back. He did not worry about the aspersions that would be cast at him for cowardice or the ridicule that his jeering competition would hurl his direction. He would much rather live with that than live with the deaths of his men.
I had to ask myself, would I have been courageous enough to make that decision, or would I have given an Antarctica version of the Henry the 5th speech at the Battle of Agincourt and pressed on? Being the first to reach the South Pole was what would insure immortality, turning back meant, in all probability, that someone else would have that honor. Roald Amundsen, the great Norwegian explorer, would reach it first in 1911.
Henry Worsley worshipped Shackleton. Whenever he was in a tight spot, he would think to himself, ”What would Shacks do?” which went well with another of his favorite sayings: ”Better a live donkey than a dead lion.”
So who was Worsley?
”Worsley was a retired British Army officer who had served in the Special Air Service, a renowned commands unit. He was also a sculptor, a fierce boxer, a photographer who meticulously documented his travels, a horticulturalist, a collector of rare books and maps and fossils, and an amateur historian who had become a leading authority on Shackleton.”
And why did David Grann write a book about Worsley?
”In 2008, he led an expedition to pioneer a route through the Transantarctic Mountains, reaching a point 98 miles (157 km) from the South Pole. The expedition commemorated the centenary of Shackleton's Nimrod Expedition. He returned to the Antarctic in 2011, leading a team of six in retracing Roald Amundsen's successful 870-mile (1,400 km) journey in 1912 to the South Pole, marking its centenary. In completing the route, he became the first person to have successfully undertaken the routes taken by Shackleton, Robert Falcon Scott and Amundsen. --Wikipedia”
I love this picture of Worsley. He broke off a tooth on a frozen candy bar.”
All of this led up to Worsley’s dramatic final expedition to be the first person to make a solo crossing of Antarctica, without any assistance. He had been restless. There was something about the polar regions that got in certain men’s blood, and they just couldn’t stay away. ”What is Antarctica other than a blank canvas on which you seek to impose yourself?”
The beauty is not what we usually think of, with oceans, mountains, and trees. From a bird’s eye view, there is nothing much there, except ice and snow and cold.”There is nothing to see but white darkness.”
Desolation is best expressed by deserts, the hot ones and the cold ones. I find photographs of deserts to be very peaceful, the more desolate the better. I find expeditions that venture out into that desolation, seeking what has never been seen before, to be invigorating. So I understand the obsession that gripped Worsley to keep going back again and again.
The landscape seduced his mind, like a woman who must be chased to be had.
This is a lovely, evocative book, filled with amazing photographs. David Grann knows how to tell a story, and you will find yourself tearing up with joy and pain, more than a few times, as you make these journeys with these brave men. The book also reminded me of all the polar expedition books I still have left to read. Fortunately, there have been many explorers who were as obsessed with those regions as were Shackleton and Worsley, and most of them, the ones who lived, wrote about their adventures. This book is a quick afternoon read, and hopefully, you will all be as seduced by the landscape as Shackleton, Worsley, and yes, even I.
If you wish to see more of my most recent book and movie reviews, visit http://www.jeffreykeeten.com
I also have a Facebook blogger page at: https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyKeeten
March 19, 2019
For the life of me, I will never understand those people who are inclined to attempt what's never been done before, even if it means putting their lives in danger. Well, I could understand if it was something fun. But something like trekking 1,000+ miles across the brutal continent of Antarctica alone?? Hell, no! I'll stay home, indoors, sipping my tea or coffee and reading a good book, thank you very much.
Not everyone is like me though, and there are those intrepid explorers who are compelled to venture to places unknown, putting themselves at great risk of injury or death in the process. Henry Worsley was one of those people and The White Darkness is his story. After a successful trek to the South Pole with others, Henry decided to do what had never been done: cross the vast and frigid expanse of Antarctica alone and without any assistance. No one to talk to, no food supplies dropped along the way, no dogs to assist in pulling his sled. No one to pull him out if he fell into a crevasse. No one to share his experiences and offer mutual support.
The book details both of Worsley's trips to Antarctica and I was amazed, especially by the solo trip. The hardships Worsley endured, the inner strength that propelled him on.... The book has breathtaking photographs interspersed throughout and these were jaw-dropping and mesmerizing to see, photographs of views most of us will never behold in person.
Did reading this inspire me to take on some hazardous goal? Nope, unh-unh, no way! But I do have a better understanding of those who are willing to put themselves at great risk in order to do something none has done before. I am left in awe at what Worsley and those before him have done, their remarkable feats of strength, and their drive to do what most of us would never even dream about. And now... back to my coffee and a new book, curled up on the couch in my nice, warm, cosy apartment....
Not everyone is like me though, and there are those intrepid explorers who are compelled to venture to places unknown, putting themselves at great risk of injury or death in the process. Henry Worsley was one of those people and The White Darkness is his story. After a successful trek to the South Pole with others, Henry decided to do what had never been done: cross the vast and frigid expanse of Antarctica alone and without any assistance. No one to talk to, no food supplies dropped along the way, no dogs to assist in pulling his sled. No one to pull him out if he fell into a crevasse. No one to share his experiences and offer mutual support.
The book details both of Worsley's trips to Antarctica and I was amazed, especially by the solo trip. The hardships Worsley endured, the inner strength that propelled him on.... The book has breathtaking photographs interspersed throughout and these were jaw-dropping and mesmerizing to see, photographs of views most of us will never behold in person.
Did reading this inspire me to take on some hazardous goal? Nope, unh-unh, no way! But I do have a better understanding of those who are willing to put themselves at great risk in order to do something none has done before. I am left in awe at what Worsley and those before him have done, their remarkable feats of strength, and their drive to do what most of us would never even dream about. And now... back to my coffee and a new book, curled up on the couch in my nice, warm, cosy apartment....
December 30, 2019
4.5 stars rounded up. This would have been an excellent book to read on January 1, reminding myself to pull up my bootstraps, bombard the castle, jump into oblivion, and just generally get on with something that requires intense focus and dedication. David Grann brings the reader a modern-day hero, Henry Worsley, a man who has just that kind of focus. Indeed, he carries his focus on an expedition to Antarctica to the point of obsession, as many great people do.
This is a short book at 160 pages, and much of that is superb photography of the alien-like landscape of Antarctica. Men as stick-like figures are subsumed by Antarctica’s vast glaciers, ice mountains, and ice waves known as sastrugi, formations sculpted by the wind. The glimmering whites and blues in this formidable wind blustering climate, where the lowest temperatures on earth have been recorded, are startling, even in the photographs. Worsley’s goal, along with team members Will Gow and Henry Adams, is to exceed Ernest Shackleton’s 1907-1909 Nimrod expedition’s Farthest South point. The South Pole was 97 nautical miles away when Shackleton made the decision to turn back. Two years later in 1911, Roald Amundsen, a Norwegian, became the first man to reach the South Pole. Worsley, Gow, and Adams begin their trek in October 2008. The skis Worsley used were painted with messages from his wife, Joanna, and their children, Alicia and Max. Joanna wrote, “Come back to me safely, my darling.”
Despite all the stunning landscape and historical photography of both Shackleton’s expedition and Worsley’s exploits, my favorite photograph is one of a face, the face of Henry Worsley. He has on goggles that reflect the Antarctic landscape and his face is grizzled. He’s missing a tooth. His knitted headgear covers his scalp and drapes his neck, leaving the circle of the polar explorer’s face with its almost grin exposed, a cigar jutting from the right side of his mouth. He looks jaunty and ready to take on anything; he is a man with the discipline and mental acuity to survive in one of Earth’s harshest environments.
Some of my favorite quotes from the book, ones that I hope to take to heart for the New Year of 2020:
“Always a little further . . . a little further.” James Elroy Flecker
“I hold that a man should strive to the uttermost for his life’s set prize.” Robert Browning
“A man must shape himself to a new mark directly the old one goes to ground.” Ernest Shackleton
“To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.” Alfred, Lord Tennyson
This is a short book at 160 pages, and much of that is superb photography of the alien-like landscape of Antarctica. Men as stick-like figures are subsumed by Antarctica’s vast glaciers, ice mountains, and ice waves known as sastrugi, formations sculpted by the wind. The glimmering whites and blues in this formidable wind blustering climate, where the lowest temperatures on earth have been recorded, are startling, even in the photographs. Worsley’s goal, along with team members Will Gow and Henry Adams, is to exceed Ernest Shackleton’s 1907-1909 Nimrod expedition’s Farthest South point. The South Pole was 97 nautical miles away when Shackleton made the decision to turn back. Two years later in 1911, Roald Amundsen, a Norwegian, became the first man to reach the South Pole. Worsley, Gow, and Adams begin their trek in October 2008. The skis Worsley used were painted with messages from his wife, Joanna, and their children, Alicia and Max. Joanna wrote, “Come back to me safely, my darling.”
Despite all the stunning landscape and historical photography of both Shackleton’s expedition and Worsley’s exploits, my favorite photograph is one of a face, the face of Henry Worsley. He has on goggles that reflect the Antarctic landscape and his face is grizzled. He’s missing a tooth. His knitted headgear covers his scalp and drapes his neck, leaving the circle of the polar explorer’s face with its almost grin exposed, a cigar jutting from the right side of his mouth. He looks jaunty and ready to take on anything; he is a man with the discipline and mental acuity to survive in one of Earth’s harshest environments.
Some of my favorite quotes from the book, ones that I hope to take to heart for the New Year of 2020:
“Always a little further . . . a little further.” James Elroy Flecker
“I hold that a man should strive to the uttermost for his life’s set prize.” Robert Browning
“A man must shape himself to a new mark directly the old one goes to ground.” Ernest Shackleton
“To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.” Alfred, Lord Tennyson
August 23, 2023
A short 142-page book lavishly illustrated with old black and white photos from early explorers and amazing colour photos taken by Worsley. Carefully researched by non-fiction journalist David Grann who wrote Killers of the August Moon and The Wager, it tells the remarkable life and journeys of Henry Worsley.
I am surprised that I had never heard of Henry Worsley previous to reading this book. I expect he was quite well known in Britain as he sent daily broadcasts home and was raising money for the Endeavour charity that helps wounded servicemen and women.
Worsley was fascinated with early 20th-century Antarctic explorers but mainly obsessed with Sir Ernest Shackleton, a great hero who never completed his goals in the Antarctic but whose leadership and safekeeping of his men is legendary. He was a British Army officer who collected Shackleton memorabilia and read everything he could find about him. He retired from the army after a 36-year career, having served in North Ireland, Bosnia, Kosova, and Afghanistan.
He was a distant relative of Frank Worsley, who was the captain of Shackleton's ship, the Endeavour. In 2008 he commemorated the centenary of Shackleton's expedition to reach the South Pole. He was accompanied by two descendants of men on the original journey and turned back 96 miles from the pole to duplicate the original expedition.
In 2011, he marked the centenary of the route Scott and Amundson had taken to the South Pole. Soldiers were present on this expedition.
His 3rd and last journey to Antarctica, in 2015, was to be the most difficult anyone had ever undertaken. He was to travel solo across the frozen continent while dragging a 330-pound sledge laden with food., a tent and equipment. There were to be no food drops. He was age 55 and obsessed with reaching his goal and proving his remarkable endurance. When he reached the base at the South Pole, he refused to go inside for shelter or food. He found it necessary to call for help 126 miles from his goal and be airlifted to Punta Arenas hospital in Chile, where he died
of peritonitis on January 2016. The remarkable selfie photo on the book cover shows his weathered face, missing tooth and the icy landscape reflected in his goggles.
I am surprised that I had never heard of Henry Worsley previous to reading this book. I expect he was quite well known in Britain as he sent daily broadcasts home and was raising money for the Endeavour charity that helps wounded servicemen and women.
Worsley was fascinated with early 20th-century Antarctic explorers but mainly obsessed with Sir Ernest Shackleton, a great hero who never completed his goals in the Antarctic but whose leadership and safekeeping of his men is legendary. He was a British Army officer who collected Shackleton memorabilia and read everything he could find about him. He retired from the army after a 36-year career, having served in North Ireland, Bosnia, Kosova, and Afghanistan.
He was a distant relative of Frank Worsley, who was the captain of Shackleton's ship, the Endeavour. In 2008 he commemorated the centenary of Shackleton's expedition to reach the South Pole. He was accompanied by two descendants of men on the original journey and turned back 96 miles from the pole to duplicate the original expedition.
In 2011, he marked the centenary of the route Scott and Amundson had taken to the South Pole. Soldiers were present on this expedition.
His 3rd and last journey to Antarctica, in 2015, was to be the most difficult anyone had ever undertaken. He was to travel solo across the frozen continent while dragging a 330-pound sledge laden with food., a tent and equipment. There were to be no food drops. He was age 55 and obsessed with reaching his goal and proving his remarkable endurance. When he reached the base at the South Pole, he refused to go inside for shelter or food. He found it necessary to call for help 126 miles from his goal and be airlifted to Punta Arenas hospital in Chile, where he died
of peritonitis on January 2016. The remarkable selfie photo on the book cover shows his weathered face, missing tooth and the icy landscape reflected in his goggles.
May 13, 2019
"What is Antarctica other than a blank canvas on which you can seek to impose yourself?"
This is another incredible nonfiction work by David Grann. I loved his previous book "Killers of the Flower Moon" so much that I will read anything by him. So far, every Grann book I've read has been well worth my time.
"The White Darkness" is the true story of Henry Worlsey, a British officer who became obsessed with Antarctica. This book covers two of Worsleys treks to the South Pole, one in 2008 and another in 2015. Both times he was attempting to follow in the path of the legendary Ernest Shackleton, the 19th-century explorer who tried to be the first person to reach the South Pole.
Besides being an amazing adventure story, "The White Darkness" is also gorgeous to read, filled with photographs showing the desolate beauty of the Antarctic. Highly recommended to anyone who loves true adventure stories.
Opening Passage
"The man felt like a speck in the frozen nothingness. Every direction he turned, he could see ice stretching to the edge of the Earth: white ice and blue ice, glacial-ice tongues and ice wedges. There were no living creatures in sight. Not a seal or even a bird. Nothing but him."
This is another incredible nonfiction work by David Grann. I loved his previous book "Killers of the Flower Moon" so much that I will read anything by him. So far, every Grann book I've read has been well worth my time.
"The White Darkness" is the true story of Henry Worlsey, a British officer who became obsessed with Antarctica. This book covers two of Worsleys treks to the South Pole, one in 2008 and another in 2015. Both times he was attempting to follow in the path of the legendary Ernest Shackleton, the 19th-century explorer who tried to be the first person to reach the South Pole.
Besides being an amazing adventure story, "The White Darkness" is also gorgeous to read, filled with photographs showing the desolate beauty of the Antarctic. Highly recommended to anyone who loves true adventure stories.
Opening Passage
"The man felt like a speck in the frozen nothingness. Every direction he turned, he could see ice stretching to the edge of the Earth: white ice and blue ice, glacial-ice tongues and ice wedges. There were no living creatures in sight. Not a seal or even a bird. Nothing but him."
July 13, 2019
I saw this book at my library and picked it up because I had read Grann's amazing Killers of the Flower Moon, and so I knew I wanted to read it. It’s short, adapted from a New Yorker article he had published in February 2018. I don’t read much non-fiction, but I occasionally do read stories like this about extraordinary feats of physical prowess that most people just think of as insane risk-taking behavior: Into the Wild, Touching the Void, Into Thin Air.
This is one of these books, where a tough guy, Henry Worsley, who sees the Antarctic explorer Shackleton as his life mentor in courage in the face of impossible physical and mental challenges, and forges himself into a kind of throwback to a generation of explorers. Worsley, who was a relative of someone who made an expedition to Antarctica with Shackleton, in 2009 makes the trek with two others who were relatives of Shackleton’s crew. They make it. Then he decides to try it solo, several years later, at the age of 55.
This is a fine short book, featuring Grann’s superb writing, so if you might want to read about this but don’t want to read a 500 page account, this is the one for you. With lots of pics of Shackleton’s trip and connections to Worsley’s trips.
This is a link to the original New Yorker article:
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/20...
This is Worsley’s final broadcast from Antarctica on his solo trip (SPOILER ALERT):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyaah...
This is one of these books, where a tough guy, Henry Worsley, who sees the Antarctic explorer Shackleton as his life mentor in courage in the face of impossible physical and mental challenges, and forges himself into a kind of throwback to a generation of explorers. Worsley, who was a relative of someone who made an expedition to Antarctica with Shackleton, in 2009 makes the trek with two others who were relatives of Shackleton’s crew. They make it. Then he decides to try it solo, several years later, at the age of 55.
This is a fine short book, featuring Grann’s superb writing, so if you might want to read about this but don’t want to read a 500 page account, this is the one for you. With lots of pics of Shackleton’s trip and connections to Worsley’s trips.
This is a link to the original New Yorker article:
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/20...
This is Worsley’s final broadcast from Antarctica on his solo trip (SPOILER ALERT):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyaah...
August 27, 2018
My obsession with Antarctic explorers began when I was eleven and read The Great White South by Herbert Ponting, the photographer on the 1911 Scott expedition. As a girl, I held a heroic idealization of Scott and his men freezing in their hut. It seemed all so heroic, then. Later readings lowered Scott in my estimation.
Henry Worsley idolized Ernest Shackleton for his courage and leadership. Although Shackleton was never able to complete his expeditions, he did save his men's lives. And Worsley's own grandfather had been with Shackleton on his failed expedition to the reach the South Pole.
Henry made a career in the army, completing Special Forces training while pursuing his obsession by collecting Shackleton artifacts.
The White Darkness by David Grann tells the story of how Henry Worsley, after retirement from the army, participated in a centennial expedition retracing Shackleton's trek, along with two other descendants of the original team. The goal was to reach the South Pole, which Shackleton failed to do. They made it. Not content with this achievement, Henry afterward endeavored to complete the other journey that Shackleton had to abandon: crossing the Antarctic. Henry, though, would do it solo.
Once again, I am amazed how men can be driven to endure the unimaginable physical stress of the Antarctic, not just once, but returning again to the dangerous beauty of ice. A hundred years ago men wanted to bring honor to their country and the Antarctic and Arctic were the last unexplored places on earth. But there has always been something more, a need for men to test themselves to the ultimate, to conquer the most extreme conditions imaginable
In this short book about Henry Worsley, Grann covers the history of Antarctic exploration and conveys a chilling exposure to the 'white darkness' of the freezing desert landscape that has lured so many men to their deaths.
I received a free ebook from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
Henry Worsley idolized Ernest Shackleton for his courage and leadership. Although Shackleton was never able to complete his expeditions, he did save his men's lives. And Worsley's own grandfather had been with Shackleton on his failed expedition to the reach the South Pole.
Henry made a career in the army, completing Special Forces training while pursuing his obsession by collecting Shackleton artifacts.
The White Darkness by David Grann tells the story of how Henry Worsley, after retirement from the army, participated in a centennial expedition retracing Shackleton's trek, along with two other descendants of the original team. The goal was to reach the South Pole, which Shackleton failed to do. They made it. Not content with this achievement, Henry afterward endeavored to complete the other journey that Shackleton had to abandon: crossing the Antarctic. Henry, though, would do it solo.
Once again, I am amazed how men can be driven to endure the unimaginable physical stress of the Antarctic, not just once, but returning again to the dangerous beauty of ice. A hundred years ago men wanted to bring honor to their country and the Antarctic and Arctic were the last unexplored places on earth. But there has always been something more, a need for men to test themselves to the ultimate, to conquer the most extreme conditions imaginable
In this short book about Henry Worsley, Grann covers the history of Antarctic exploration and conveys a chilling exposure to the 'white darkness' of the freezing desert landscape that has lured so many men to their deaths.
I received a free ebook from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
October 28, 2018
3.5 stars
July 13, 2024
نویسنده این کتاب داستان یک ماجراجویی بسیار بزرگ و سخت رو به صورت خیلی خلاصه و جذاب روایت میکنه
اگر به سفرهای ماجراجویانه و پرریسک اکتشافی علاقه دارید قطعا از خوندن این کتاب لذت میبرید چون نویسنده هم از گذشته و تاریخچه این ماجراجویی و از آموندسن و شکلتون بزرگ صحبت میکنه و هم از آقای هنری ورزلی. نویسنده طوری متن کتاب رو تنظیم کرده که هم عظمت و خوفناکی قطب جنوب تر��یم بشه و هم خواننده دچار یکنواختی و خستگی نشه.
برای خود من اینجور فعالیتها خیلی ارزشمند هستش مخصوصا اینکه بدونیم در گذشته با چه تجهیزات و امکاناتی این برنامهها که مافوق توان یک انسان عادی هست رو اجرا میکردند. همچنین در عین حال که دنبال این افتخار و ثبت اسمشون توی تاریخ بودن، حواسشون به سلامت و شرایط خودشون و همراهانشون بوده، طوری که شکلتون میگفته «یک الاغ زنده از یک شیر مرده بهتره»
اگر به سفرهای ماجراجویانه و پرریسک اکتشافی علاقه دارید قطعا از خوندن این کتاب لذت میبرید چون نویسنده هم از گذشته و تاریخچه این ماجراجویی و از آموندسن و شکلتون بزرگ صحبت میکنه و هم از آقای هنری ورزلی. نویسنده طوری متن کتاب رو تنظیم کرده که هم عظمت و خوفناکی قطب جنوب تر��یم بشه و هم خواننده دچار یکنواختی و خستگی نشه.
برای خود من اینجور فعالیتها خیلی ارزشمند هستش مخصوصا اینکه بدونیم در گذشته با چه تجهیزات و امکاناتی این برنامهها که مافوق توان یک انسان عادی هست رو اجرا میکردند. همچنین در عین حال که دنبال این افتخار و ثبت اسمشون توی تاریخ بودن، حواسشون به سلامت و شرایط خودشون و همراهانشون بوده، طوری که شکلتون میگفته «یک الاغ زنده از یک شیر مرده بهتره»
March 7, 2019
A riveting true story of Henry Worsley, a born leader and man obsessed with exploring the challenging, breathtakingly beautiful terrain of Antarctica, following in the footsteps of his idol Ernest Shackleton.
I immediately became immersed in this remarkable story. Worsley’s notes and recorded telecommunications of his exploration are pieced together expertly by David Grann, never dragging with details. Photos are included in all the right places.
Worsley’s first exploration leading a courageous crew through this brutal and unforgiving landscape and a separate solo journey years later both took my breath away. It never ceases to amaze me what a human body and mind can endure and when they decide ‘no more’. I was overcome with emotion nearing the final pages. Worsley sacrificed so much to make his dreams reality. My heart went out to his wife and children.
I immediately became immersed in this remarkable story. Worsley’s notes and recorded telecommunications of his exploration are pieced together expertly by David Grann, never dragging with details. Photos are included in all the right places.
Worsley’s first exploration leading a courageous crew through this brutal and unforgiving landscape and a separate solo journey years later both took my breath away. It never ceases to amaze me what a human body and mind can endure and when they decide ‘no more’. I was overcome with emotion nearing the final pages. Worsley sacrificed so much to make his dreams reality. My heart went out to his wife and children.
September 21, 2018
I reckon I lost about three miles' distance today from snaking around, head permanently bowed to read the compass, just my shuffling skis to look at for nine hours. Anyway, I'm back on track and now happy I can part a straight line, even through another day of the white darkness.
~ Radio broadcast by Henry Worsley, two weeks into a solo transantarctic crossing
Author David Grann is known for spinning fascinating narrative nonfiction (as with Killers of the Flower Moon and The Lost City of Z), and frequent readers of his essays in The New Yorker might well assume that whatever is intriguing Grann at the moment will eventually be spun into a tale that will intrigue them, too. Even so, I found The White Darkness to be a little thin – at only 140 pages, including dozens of beautiful full page photographs, I really don't think that Grann made full use of what is, in fact, a potentially spellbinding tale. (And, in fact, I don't know that the book much improves upon Grann's original article on Worsley's story in The New Yorker.) The pictures in this slim volume, however, are admittedly stunning.
The format of the story is well chosen – We begin with Henry Worsley as he struggles to do what no one has done before: cross the continent of Antarctica by his own power, with no outside help, no prearranged food caches along the way, or even a cup of tea at the South Pole station that he passes en route. As his body weakens and his stomach cramps, Worsley must consider the lessons of the two earliest South Pole explorers who have fascinated him all of his life: Sir Ernest Shackleton, who turned back when a couple days short of the South Pole in order to get his men home safely; and Captain Robert Scott, who eventually did reach the Pole, and died alongside his crew on the return trip. The question Worsley must answer for himself: Is it truly better to be a live donkey than a dead lion?
The book then goes over a very brief history of Antarctic exploration, followed by a very brief history of Henry Worsley's life: he was always intrigued by tales of South Pole exploration, was fascinated to learn that he is distantly related to one of Shackleton's crew, joined the British army and did two tours with the SAS. When one of Shackleton's descendants reached out to ask Worsley if he'd like to join him and another early explorer's descendant to attempt to complete the trek to the South Pole at the centenary of their ancestors' failed attempt, Worsley jumped at the chance. The book covers that trip, a later polar trek that Worsley joins, and eventually, after Worsley ages out of the army at 55 and promises his family that his dream of a solo Antarctic crossing would be the last time he ever left them, we rejoin the story from the beginning: trudging along with Worsley as he skis and hikes and tows his sledge, avoiding crevasses, and making his solitary way through the mind- and muscle-numbing white darkness.
There's plenty of meat here for a full-length book, and I feel like Grann sold the story short; I do not feel fulfilled by this. Naturally, I kept reading to learn of Worsley's fate, but I would have happily stayed in this icebound world for quite a while longer.
April 26, 2019
An unusual, but very nicely done, little book ... arguably a must read for Shackleton/Endurance aficionados ... or folks who enjoy epic quest (which sometimes becomes disaster) literature, stories, and biographies.
I saw this on the new book shelf in my public library, and, to the extent I had been completely enamored (and equally horrified) by Grann's incredibly informative Killers of the Flower Moon, which I strongly recommend, I picked it up ... and when I saw that it (basically) chronicled a modern day Shackleton/Endurance quest ... peppered with innumerable linkages to the original Shackleton/Endurance expedition/story line ... well, I couldn't resist.
To be clear, this is not a grand book on the scale of, say, the literature exploring the original Shackleton/Endurance quest, nor is it in the same category as, hmmm, the relatively recent Hampton Sides offering, In the Kingdom of Ice: The Grand and Terrible Polar Voyage of the USS Jeannette. It's a quick read, basically a long-form magazine "article," ... the analogy to a novella or maybe a musical bagatelle came to mind ... nicely fleshed out, seasoned with a nice collection of (diverse, yet appropriate and informative) photos, very nicely presented (dare I say "packaged") almost as a hardcover lecture and slide show.
An ode, a celebration, a testament, a remembrance, ... call it what you will. It's a short, yet beautiful and terrible tale, awe inspiring, artfully told, respectful, touching ... and well worth consuming.
I saw this on the new book shelf in my public library, and, to the extent I had been completely enamored (and equally horrified) by Grann's incredibly informative Killers of the Flower Moon, which I strongly recommend, I picked it up ... and when I saw that it (basically) chronicled a modern day Shackleton/Endurance quest ... peppered with innumerable linkages to the original Shackleton/Endurance expedition/story line ... well, I couldn't resist.
To be clear, this is not a grand book on the scale of, say, the literature exploring the original Shackleton/Endurance quest, nor is it in the same category as, hmmm, the relatively recent Hampton Sides offering, In the Kingdom of Ice: The Grand and Terrible Polar Voyage of the USS Jeannette. It's a quick read, basically a long-form magazine "article," ... the analogy to a novella or maybe a musical bagatelle came to mind ... nicely fleshed out, seasoned with a nice collection of (diverse, yet appropriate and informative) photos, very nicely presented (dare I say "packaged") almost as a hardcover lecture and slide show.
An ode, a celebration, a testament, a remembrance, ... call it what you will. It's a short, yet beautiful and terrible tale, awe inspiring, artfully told, respectful, touching ... and well worth consuming.
July 6, 2020
The White Darkness was originally published as essays in the New Yorker. They are collected here with the addition of photographs and some additional text. After having listened to Endurance I was left longing for more. The White Darkness is about the descendants of the famed Shackleton and his mate Worsley and their attempts to walk in the footsteps of their ancestors on the anniversaries of their accomplishments. Their ancestors are heroes to many, but especially their lineage.
The White Darkness is all about mental toughness and we get in the head of these modern day Antarctic explorers. It is both motivational and inspiring. It is incredible what the human mind and body can endure. The Antarctic becomes an obsession and the reader gets an inside look at what individuals are willing to do and what it takes to achieve the fabled endeavor.
There are some great quotes that capture the essence of the reading (and Antarctic) experience: “As it is true of many adventurers, he seemed to be on an inward quest as much as an outward one-the journey was a way to subject himself to an ultimate test of character.” and “Men go out into the void spaces of the world for various reasons. Some are actuated simply by a love of adventure, some have the keen thirst for scientific knowledge, and others again are drawn away from the trodden paths by the ‘lure of little voices’, the mysterious fascination of the unknown.”
The White Darkness is all about mental toughness and we get in the head of these modern day Antarctic explorers. It is both motivational and inspiring. It is incredible what the human mind and body can endure. The Antarctic becomes an obsession and the reader gets an inside look at what individuals are willing to do and what it takes to achieve the fabled endeavor.
There are some great quotes that capture the essence of the reading (and Antarctic) experience: “As it is true of many adventurers, he seemed to be on an inward quest as much as an outward one-the journey was a way to subject himself to an ultimate test of character.” and “Men go out into the void spaces of the world for various reasons. Some are actuated simply by a love of adventure, some have the keen thirst for scientific knowledge, and others again are drawn away from the trodden paths by the ‘lure of little voices’, the mysterious fascination of the unknown.”
November 9, 2018
This gem of a book details the Antarctic expeditions of Harry Worsley, who modeled himself on the leadership of explorer Ernest Shackleton. While the book is small at 146 pages, it is perfect as a gift for inspiration and/or admiration.
July 22, 2018
Disclaimer: ARC via Netgalley
You might not recognize Henry Worsley’s name, but you mostly likely have heard the story. At the end of 2015-the beginning of 2016, he attempted to cross Antarctica alone, but sicken, was airlifted, and, sadly, died while doctors while trying to save his life. His quest, done in part as a fundraiser, was followed by the media and classrooms. He received support from the royal family. If you are like me, you were impressed by the drive and the attempt, but also wondering why.
David Grann’s White Darkness does a good job at answering a question whose best answer till now has been “because it’s there”.
Grann is perhaps the best teller of true stories working right now. This short book showcases his shorter work (the story appeared in The New Yorker), and proves that his short profiles can be just as riveting.
As Grann notes, Worsley was obsessed with Shackleton an artic explorer who is better know for his failures where people didn’t starve to death than anything else. Unlike Amundsen who made it or Scott who died the stiff upper lip way, Shackleton got his people home. Worsley’s obsession seems in part because of a family connection (his ancestor Frank worked with Shackleton). In fact, prior to his solo attempt, Worsley had done a three-person hike with Will Gow (a descendent of Shackleton) and Henry Adams (a grandson of Jameson Boyd). Worsley’s obsession too does seem to be a case of hero-worship, he makes on interesting pilgrimage to Shackleton’s grave.
Grann presents a quick overview of Worsley’s life, giving the reader a sense of who was lost, and not just a vague or abstract tragedy. While Grann never says, this is why, he does a great job of allowing the reader to get a sense of the drive and determination that fueled Worsley’s quest, but also to see the family that supported him.
The long essay is supplemented by photos, and the tone itself is one of remembrance, but more peaceful or comprehensive than an obituary.
You might not recognize Henry Worsley’s name, but you mostly likely have heard the story. At the end of 2015-the beginning of 2016, he attempted to cross Antarctica alone, but sicken, was airlifted, and, sadly, died while doctors while trying to save his life. His quest, done in part as a fundraiser, was followed by the media and classrooms. He received support from the royal family. If you are like me, you were impressed by the drive and the attempt, but also wondering why.
David Grann’s White Darkness does a good job at answering a question whose best answer till now has been “because it’s there”.
Grann is perhaps the best teller of true stories working right now. This short book showcases his shorter work (the story appeared in The New Yorker), and proves that his short profiles can be just as riveting.
As Grann notes, Worsley was obsessed with Shackleton an artic explorer who is better know for his failures where people didn’t starve to death than anything else. Unlike Amundsen who made it or Scott who died the stiff upper lip way, Shackleton got his people home. Worsley’s obsession seems in part because of a family connection (his ancestor Frank worked with Shackleton). In fact, prior to his solo attempt, Worsley had done a three-person hike with Will Gow (a descendent of Shackleton) and Henry Adams (a grandson of Jameson Boyd). Worsley’s obsession too does seem to be a case of hero-worship, he makes on interesting pilgrimage to Shackleton’s grave.
Grann presents a quick overview of Worsley’s life, giving the reader a sense of who was lost, and not just a vague or abstract tragedy. While Grann never says, this is why, he does a great job of allowing the reader to get a sense of the drive and determination that fueled Worsley’s quest, but also to see the family that supported him.
The long essay is supplemented by photos, and the tone itself is one of remembrance, but more peaceful or comprehensive than an obituary.
November 12, 2018
Nothing about Ernest Shackleton's story would make me want to replicate his expedition crossing Antarctica, but Henry Worsley wanted to do just that, but alone. He wasn't deterred by the fact that Shackleton's journey was an epic failure. I guess "adventurer" is just another word for "idiot". I suggest reading one of the books about Shackleton rather than this one, unless you just want to read a book about suffering in the cold. Both Shackleton himself and his trek were more interesting than anything in this book.
February 28, 2019
A moving account of the expeditions of a true hero, a man of integrity with an extraordinary spirit. I listened spellbound. Sublime narration by one of my favorites, Will Patton.
2/28/19: The hardcover book came in on hold for me at the Library yesterday and added another dimension to my reading experience through the many lovely photographs.
2/28/19: The hardcover book came in on hold for me at the Library yesterday and added another dimension to my reading experience through the many lovely photographs.
June 4, 2022
This book of narrative non-fiction tells the story of Henry Worsley, was a British Army officer who embarked on several adventures, retracing the steps of the notable polar explorers Amundsen, Shackleton, and Scott. It also briefly summarizes journeys taken by the explorers he admired and provides background on his personal life. The primary set piece of the book is Worsley’s 2015 attempt to cross Antarctica alone and unaided, pulling a sled laden with supplies and planning to complete a journey of approximately 1000 miles in 80 days. It is a story of single-minded dedication to accomplishing a goal, and the tragic consequences. It is a gripping story of attempting to survive in brutal conditions, pushing the body to the limits of psychological and physical endurance.
April 22, 2019
Henry Worsley was a British special forces officer who was obsessed with the Antarctic expeditions of Ernest Shackleton. From childhood, Henry had read everything he could find about Shackleton and his expeditions. And then he learned that he was a descendant of one of Shackleton’s crew.
As an adult, Henry Worsley’s interest in Shackleton grew stronger and he began to collect artifacts from Shackleton and his expeditions. His wife and children encouraged his interest. In 2008, Henry Worsley, along with two other descendants of Shackleton’s crew, began an expedition to reach the South Pole. They braved extremely perilous conditions to reach their goal.
In 2012 Worsley again travelled to the Antarctic with a partner to commemorate the centennial of the race between Amundsen and Scott to the South Pole. At the age of 55, Henry Worsley retired from the British special services and found that his urge to return to the South Pole had not diminished. So in 2015 he decided to try to become the first man to complete an expedition across the continent of Antartica alone.
David Grann’s account of Henry Worsley’s life and expeditions is hard to put down. Photographs taken during the various expeditions greatly enhance the account. Grann’s meticulous research vividly brings to life Henry Worsley’s story.
As an adult, Henry Worsley’s interest in Shackleton grew stronger and he began to collect artifacts from Shackleton and his expeditions. His wife and children encouraged his interest. In 2008, Henry Worsley, along with two other descendants of Shackleton’s crew, began an expedition to reach the South Pole. They braved extremely perilous conditions to reach their goal.
In 2012 Worsley again travelled to the Antarctic with a partner to commemorate the centennial of the race between Amundsen and Scott to the South Pole. At the age of 55, Henry Worsley retired from the British special services and found that his urge to return to the South Pole had not diminished. So in 2015 he decided to try to become the first man to complete an expedition across the continent of Antartica alone.
David Grann’s account of Henry Worsley’s life and expeditions is hard to put down. Photographs taken during the various expeditions greatly enhance the account. Grann’s meticulous research vividly brings to life Henry Worsley’s story.
January 3, 2019
3.75 stars
There is not a thing that I have read by this author that I did not like. Grann tells it like it is, leaving you to decide whether you like the story or not. But always non-fiction and compelling. He is diverse in his projects, from the Amazon to Kitty Hawk to the Osage Indian tribe, his knowledge is vast. Now in the Antarctic he gives us a heartbreaking tale of one man's lifetime dream.
This short book not only tells us the dreams of Henry Worley, but also details the exploits of Worleys hero, Ernest Shackleton, who attempted to be the first to walk to the South Pole. Worley being related to one of Shackleton's team mates was obsessed with what they had attempted. So obsessed that, after other trips in Antarctica, Worley set out alone in 2015 to walk across the broad expanse of the bone chilling icy continent.
An unforgettable entry into one man's dream, by an outstanding author.
There is not a thing that I have read by this author that I did not like. Grann tells it like it is, leaving you to decide whether you like the story or not. But always non-fiction and compelling. He is diverse in his projects, from the Amazon to Kitty Hawk to the Osage Indian tribe, his knowledge is vast. Now in the Antarctic he gives us a heartbreaking tale of one man's lifetime dream.
This short book not only tells us the dreams of Henry Worley, but also details the exploits of Worleys hero, Ernest Shackleton, who attempted to be the first to walk to the South Pole. Worley being related to one of Shackleton's team mates was obsessed with what they had attempted. So obsessed that, after other trips in Antarctica, Worley set out alone in 2015 to walk across the broad expanse of the bone chilling icy continent.
An unforgettable entry into one man's dream, by an outstanding author.
December 20, 2023
(BEWARE - WHOLE REVIEW IS A SPOILER, IF YOU'RE UNFAMILIAR WITH THIS STORY)
Rare for me to read about a polar expedition anymore where I don't know the outcome (Scott dies, Shackleton survives, Amundsen gets there first), but I'd somehow never heard of Henry Worsley before, even though his adventures took place well after I'd started following such things. So points for keeping me on the edge of my seat...right until the end where I just became totally pissed off.
Because (and again - SPOILER)…Worsley dies. Totally unnecessarily; leaving behind a grieving wife and two kids, simply because at age 55 he decided he wanted to go off and do something…well, totally unnecessary.
Make no mistake - despite all the posthumous recognition and plaudits, Worsley was no "explorer." He discovered nothing new, blazed no new trails…no, he did stunts; he was a stuntman (although certainly an insanely badass one). Retracing Shackleton's "furthest south" route on its centennial anniversary with two other descendants of Scott/Shackleton crewmembers (Worsley is a distant relative of the Endurance's captain, Frank Worsley); recreating the race between Scott and Amundsen to reach the South Pole on the centennial anniversary of that event; and finally - and fatally - attempting Shackleton's original Endurance goal of crossing the continent on that centennial…
Alone. By himself. At the age of 55.
And he almost made it. Did in fact make it to the South Pole, in miserable shape where he could have just tapped out and been comfortably evacuated from the "Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station" - but of course he didn't; he continued on until it was too late, so that while he finally did call in a rescue, he still ended up dying in a Chilean hospital of multiple organ failure.
I haven't been this out-and-out angry at a book since The Adventurer's Son (which also dealt with an adventurous father letting down his family). And sure, God knows I did my own share of crazy and dangerous shit when I was young and single. But I also have a wife and two kids now, plus a new grandson to boot; and so I'm sorry, but to my mind at least, that sort of selfish arranging of "life priorities" is just totally fucked up.
4-5 stars to Grann for his storytelling; but only 2 stars for the story itself - because these people don't need to be celebrated. They need to be slapped upside the head.
Rare for me to read about a polar expedition anymore where I don't know the outcome (Scott dies, Shackleton survives, Amundsen gets there first), but I'd somehow never heard of Henry Worsley before, even though his adventures took place well after I'd started following such things. So points for keeping me on the edge of my seat...right until the end where I just became totally pissed off.
Because (and again - SPOILER)…Worsley dies. Totally unnecessarily; leaving behind a grieving wife and two kids, simply because at age 55 he decided he wanted to go off and do something…well, totally unnecessary.
Make no mistake - despite all the posthumous recognition and plaudits, Worsley was no "explorer." He discovered nothing new, blazed no new trails…no, he did stunts; he was a stuntman (although certainly an insanely badass one). Retracing Shackleton's "furthest south" route on its centennial anniversary with two other descendants of Scott/Shackleton crewmembers (Worsley is a distant relative of the Endurance's captain, Frank Worsley); recreating the race between Scott and Amundsen to reach the South Pole on the centennial anniversary of that event; and finally - and fatally - attempting Shackleton's original Endurance goal of crossing the continent on that centennial…
Alone. By himself. At the age of 55.
And he almost made it. Did in fact make it to the South Pole, in miserable shape where he could have just tapped out and been comfortably evacuated from the "Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station" - but of course he didn't; he continued on until it was too late, so that while he finally did call in a rescue, he still ended up dying in a Chilean hospital of multiple organ failure.
I haven't been this out-and-out angry at a book since The Adventurer's Son (which also dealt with an adventurous father letting down his family). And sure, God knows I did my own share of crazy and dangerous shit when I was young and single. But I also have a wife and two kids now, plus a new grandson to boot; and so I'm sorry, but to my mind at least, that sort of selfish arranging of "life priorities" is just totally fucked up.
4-5 stars to Grann for his storytelling; but only 2 stars for the story itself - because these people don't need to be celebrated. They need to be slapped upside the head.
April 23, 2023
This is more of a long essay than a book, but I loved it. I've been fascinated by snow, ice, glaciers, crevasses, cold, and everything related to these things for my entire life. I dream of going to Antarctica, though never in a million years would I dream of undertaking the type of adventure that this story is about.
This story of Henry Worsley’s solo trek across the continent kept me mesmerized from start to finish. I listened to the audio of this and did not realize the book is loaded with photos, so I am going to find the hardcover so I can see the photos that accompany the story. For me, Worsley’s infatuation with trekking Antarctica can be summed up in this one sentence: “What is Antarctica other than a blank canvas on which you seek to impose yourself?” Because ultimately, his quest was this: “no more than a geographical data point.” Except that really, it was SO much more.
This short book can easily be read in one short sitting.
This story of Henry Worsley’s solo trek across the continent kept me mesmerized from start to finish. I listened to the audio of this and did not realize the book is loaded with photos, so I am going to find the hardcover so I can see the photos that accompany the story. For me, Worsley’s infatuation with trekking Antarctica can be summed up in this one sentence: “What is Antarctica other than a blank canvas on which you seek to impose yourself?” Because ultimately, his quest was this: “no more than a geographical data point.” Except that really, it was SO much more.
This short book can easily be read in one short sitting.
May 21, 2019
The photographs are 5 star. The obsession portrayed and explained is near to a 5.
It's brief and to the point. Rather like the majority of lives described in Antarctica exploration done in this hiking/ pulling manner. Henry Wolsey's idealizations and the performances to obtain the goals he reached and those he attempted- they are worth the read.
Of such adventurous giants the unknown has become known.
But honestly, there truly is a core of self-abnegation or some such quality that pivots on this kind of "just because I want to accomplish it". Almost as if the most horrific suffering in the physical body grows all the mind (logic), ego and emotional euphoria that is possible. Somehow. Not to speak of the horrors left to those left behind in their suffering over being "less" important than the obsessive quest.
My enjoyment to reading this became a 2 star by the last 40 pages. Like reading long lists of pain, torture, physical ailments and end states of the most chronically ill. It reminded me of the reads of my youth in which the "saints" purposely suffered self-flagellation, starvation, etc. in order to be more "perfect" or in a better spiritual level of "good".
To me it just seems psychotic. My eyes did not like looking at all the white; they ache. I'm not kidding. Between the heavy pages and the glare- it was a task for them.
It's brief and to the point. Rather like the majority of lives described in Antarctica exploration done in this hiking/ pulling manner. Henry Wolsey's idealizations and the performances to obtain the goals he reached and those he attempted- they are worth the read.
Of such adventurous giants the unknown has become known.
But honestly, there truly is a core of self-abnegation or some such quality that pivots on this kind of "just because I want to accomplish it". Almost as if the most horrific suffering in the physical body grows all the mind (logic), ego and emotional euphoria that is possible. Somehow. Not to speak of the horrors left to those left behind in their suffering over being "less" important than the obsessive quest.
My enjoyment to reading this became a 2 star by the last 40 pages. Like reading long lists of pain, torture, physical ailments and end states of the most chronically ill. It reminded me of the reads of my youth in which the "saints" purposely suffered self-flagellation, starvation, etc. in order to be more "perfect" or in a better spiritual level of "good".
To me it just seems psychotic. My eyes did not like looking at all the white; they ache. I'm not kidding. Between the heavy pages and the glare- it was a task for them.
November 11, 2018
The day before I read the book dry, this book was the contrast I was seeking. Knowing nothing of the outcome I was awestruck by his endeavors, but the mood shifted and I prayed the tonal difference I felt was wrong... alas, tears were dripping down my cheeks at the close. I am truly awestruck at man's endeavors, it was humbling to read in the comfort of my warm cozy bed. Loved the photos, you could feel the sting and exhaustion every step of the way. An incredible lifetime of journeys unfathomable.
July 31, 2018
داستان سفر هنرلی ورزلی از این سر تا آن سر جنوبگان، قارهی قطب جنوب.
داستانی که هر لحظه اش شما را به فکر وا میدارد .
به فکر این که کجا ایستاده اید و برای تحقق رویاهاتان چه کرده اید ...
در یک کلام فوق العاده بود ❤️
داستانی که هر لحظه اش شما را به فکر وا میدارد .
به فکر این که کجا ایستاده اید و برای تحقق رویاهاتان چه کرده اید ...
در یک کلام فوق العاده بود ❤️
April 14, 2024
David Grann is a fine writer. More than fine. This short work, which originally ran as two articles in the New Yorker, tells the astonishing -- and deeply sobering -- story of Henry Worsley. A member of the British Special Forces, Worsley became fascinated at an early age by the explorations of Antarctica by Ernest Shackleton (he was, in fact, related to one of Shackleton's crew members).
"White Darkness" is the story of Worsley's attempts to cross Antarctica on foot, the first time with two other men, the second time on his own. Nine hundred nautical miles across the most unimaginably deadly terrain on the planet. "Worsley, who was fifty-five, was crossing alone and unsupported: no food caches had been deposited along the route to help him forestall starvation, and he had to haul all his provisions on a sled, without the assistance of dogs or a sail. Nobody had attempted this feat before." The sled weighed more than 300 pounds, almost twice as much as he did himself, and the surface of Antarctica is anything but flat. He must constantly watch for signs of hidden deep crevasses that might lie beneath a thin veneer of ice or snow that could swallow him whole, as almost happened: He failed to notice the scar of a crevasse and his foot broke through the surface. He felt himself slipping into the hole, which was widening around him. He grabbed the edge and clung to it, dangling over an abyss, before he hauled himself up.
Grann puts Worsley's efforts in context by telling the reader us about Shackleton's adventures, as well as those of others. It's a harrowing story. One of those sagas ("Into Thin Air" comes to mind) that depicts people pushing themselves to the limits of human endurance. Beyond those limits, in Antarctica: desolate, hurricane force winds, blizzards that completely block out any visibility, temperatures so cold that the phrase "sub-zero" doesn't begin to be adequate: 75 degrees below and worse. Grann tells us, that "Scientists have used the Antarctic to test spacesuits for Mars. Knowing that if he runs out of food there is no remedy, all the while knowing that his body is burning calories at twice (or more) the rate it does in less arduous circumstances.
Grann brilliantly captures the risks. He gets inside Worsley's mind (as well as his family's) to try to sort out what was driving him, what kept him going. Phrases like these come up again and again: "deed that lifts us above the great monotony of daily life," and "triumph of the living over the stiffened realm of death.”
The title of the book comes from something Worsley said about unzipping the flap of his tent everyday and "[peeking] out, hoping for clear skies, only to behold what he called 'more of the white darkness.' "
"White Darkness" is a very short book with well chosen photos, a quick but memorable read. How should I think about adventures like these? Are they heroic? daring? obsessive? Suicidal? Attempting this kind of thing at all boggles the mind. To try it solo is, well... the word 'insane' comes to mind, but then I'm no explorer or adventurer.
When I worked in a bookstore I was always asked to recommend books to be given on Father's Day to dads who don't really read much. Grann has always been at the top of my list. "White Darkness" is right up there, because it's so well-written, such a harrowing and compelling story. (I admit, I also recommended Grann to anyone who might be open to reading about such astonishing exploits. His "Lost City of Z" is a truly fun read!)
"White Darkness" is the story of Worsley's attempts to cross Antarctica on foot, the first time with two other men, the second time on his own. Nine hundred nautical miles across the most unimaginably deadly terrain on the planet. "Worsley, who was fifty-five, was crossing alone and unsupported: no food caches had been deposited along the route to help him forestall starvation, and he had to haul all his provisions on a sled, without the assistance of dogs or a sail. Nobody had attempted this feat before." The sled weighed more than 300 pounds, almost twice as much as he did himself, and the surface of Antarctica is anything but flat. He must constantly watch for signs of hidden deep crevasses that might lie beneath a thin veneer of ice or snow that could swallow him whole, as almost happened: He failed to notice the scar of a crevasse and his foot broke through the surface. He felt himself slipping into the hole, which was widening around him. He grabbed the edge and clung to it, dangling over an abyss, before he hauled himself up.
Grann puts Worsley's efforts in context by telling the reader us about Shackleton's adventures, as well as those of others. It's a harrowing story. One of those sagas ("Into Thin Air" comes to mind) that depicts people pushing themselves to the limits of human endurance. Beyond those limits, in Antarctica: desolate, hurricane force winds, blizzards that completely block out any visibility, temperatures so cold that the phrase "sub-zero" doesn't begin to be adequate: 75 degrees below and worse. Grann tells us, that "Scientists have used the Antarctic to test spacesuits for Mars. Knowing that if he runs out of food there is no remedy, all the while knowing that his body is burning calories at twice (or more) the rate it does in less arduous circumstances.
Grann brilliantly captures the risks. He gets inside Worsley's mind (as well as his family's) to try to sort out what was driving him, what kept him going. Phrases like these come up again and again: "deed that lifts us above the great monotony of daily life," and "triumph of the living over the stiffened realm of death.”
The title of the book comes from something Worsley said about unzipping the flap of his tent everyday and "[peeking] out, hoping for clear skies, only to behold what he called 'more of the white darkness.' "
"White Darkness" is a very short book with well chosen photos, a quick but memorable read. How should I think about adventures like these? Are they heroic? daring? obsessive? Suicidal? Attempting this kind of thing at all boggles the mind. To try it solo is, well... the word 'insane' comes to mind, but then I'm no explorer or adventurer.
When I worked in a bookstore I was always asked to recommend books to be given on Father's Day to dads who don't really read much. Grann has always been at the top of my list. "White Darkness" is right up there, because it's so well-written, such a harrowing and compelling story. (I admit, I also recommended Grann to anyone who might be open to reading about such astonishing exploits. His "Lost City of Z" is a truly fun read!)
August 7, 2019
A modern-day man's attempt to cross Antarctica on a solo expedition is fluffed out with an overview of polar exploration in the early 1900s and lots and lots and lots of pictures in this short compilation of a couple magazine articles. More hagiography than biography or history, it lacks depth, but is good for what it is.
July 13, 2023
Small novel that hit me to the bone. How many of us are ready to die for our dreams?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 972 reviews