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Shackleton's Argonauts facts for kids

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Shackleton's Argonauts : A Saga of the Antarctic Ice-Pack
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First edition
Author Frank Hurley
Country Australia
Language English
Genre Children's non-fiction
Publisher Angus and Robertson
Publication date
1948
Media type Print
Pages 140 pages
Preceded by Pearls and Savages : Adventures in the Air, on Land and Sea - in New Guinea 
Followed by The Diaries of Frank Hurley 1912-1941 

Shackleton's Argonauts : A Saga of the Antarctic Ice-Pack (1948) is an exciting information book for kids. It was written by Frank Hurley, a famous Australian photographer and explorer. Hurley also drew the pictures for the book. In 1948, it won the Children's Book of the Year Award: Older Readers, which is a big award for children's books!

What is Shackleton's Argonauts About?

This book tells the true story of a daring adventure to the icy land of Antarctica. It follows the journey of explorer Ernest Shackleton and his team. Frank Hurley was the official photographer on this trip, so he saw everything firsthand!

The Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition

The adventure began in 1914. Shackleton's goal was to cross the entire continent of Antarctica. His plan was to sail his ship, the Endurance, to the Weddell Sea. From there, a small group would travel across the ice using dog sleds.

When Things Went Wrong: The Ship Trapped in Ice

Right from the start, the expedition faced huge challenges. The Endurance got stuck in thick ice. For months, the ship was trapped, slowly being crushed by the powerful ice-packs. Eventually, the ship was destroyed.

Surviving on the Ice and a Daring Rescue

After their ship sank, Shackleton's team had to survive on the frozen ice. They faced extreme cold and danger. Finally, they reached a small, remote place called Elephant Island.

From Elephant Island, Shackleton knew he had to get help. He took a small, open boat on an incredibly risky journey to South Georgia Island. This was a long and dangerous trip across stormy seas. After several attempts and many months, Shackleton successfully organized a rescue mission. All the men from the expedition were saved!

How Frank Hurley Captured the Adventure

Frank Hurley was amazing at saving his work. He managed to rescue some of his photo negatives from the expedition. These incredible pictures were used to illustrate Shackleton's Argonauts. They help readers imagine what it was like to be on that incredible journey.

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