Faith in the Ice
Member Exclusive Lectures
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1h 12m
Dan Snow explores the life, triumphs, and controversies of the charismatic Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton. In 1914, Shackleton set out with 27 men on an ambitious expedition to cross the Antarctic continent, only for their ship, Endurance, to be crushed in the ice of the Weddell Sea. What followed was a two-year ordeal of extreme hardship, endurance, and survival. In one of the most extraordinary feats of leadership in modern history, Shackleton succeeded in bringing every member of his crew home alive. Yet while he inspired fierce loyalty among his men, many in government and polite society viewed him with suspicion - a rule-breaker, financially reckless and overly audacious. This lecture considers not only the drama of survival against overwhelming odds, but the complexities of leadership, reputation, and moral courage. Was Shackleton’s willingness to defy convention the very quality that ensured his success? Dan is the host of Dan Snow’s History Hit, one of the world’s most-downloaded history podcasts, and the founder and Creative Director of History Hit, described as “the world's best history channel on demand.” In 2022, he joined the expedition that discovered Shackleton’s ship Endurance beneath the ice of Antarctica.
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