"Mr. Smith, in illuminating this unforgettable figure, brings his own considerable scholarship in the field to the story, in addition to access to new archives." - The Wall Street Journal

"Shackleton has finally received the literary treatment his legendary life deserves." - Booklist

An extraordinary character and one of history’s great explorers, Ernest Shackleton pioneered the path to the South Pole over 100 years ago, becoming the dominant figure in Antarctic discovery. His incredible adventures on four expeditions to the Antarctic have captivated generations. But Shackleton was a flawed character whose chaotic private life, marked by romantic affairs, unfulfilled ambitions, and failed business ventures, contrasted with his celebrity status as the leading explorer. Drawing on extensive research of original diaries, letters, and numerous publications, Michael Smith brings a fresh perspective to the Heroic Age of Polar Exploration that was dominated by Shackleton’s enduringly fascinating story.