Tom Crean: An Illustrated Life: Unsung Hero of the Scott and Shackleton Expeditions - Hardcover

Michael Smith

4.51

1,844 ratings by Goodreads

9781905172184: Tom Crean: An Illustrated Life: Unsung Hero of the Scott and Shackleton Expeditions

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1905172184 ISBN 13: 9781905172184

Publisher: The Collins Press, 2005

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Tom Crean, great Irish hero of Antarctic exploration in an age of epics of endurance and survival against the odds, had almost been written out of history until the publication of An Unsung Hero in 2000. The book became a publishing sensation, selling vastly more copies than expected. Since then the name, the extraordinary heroism and spirit, the handsome, craggy face of Tom Crean have all become familiar to general readers, schoolchildren and contemporary adventurers alike. So much so that Crean has even featured as the inspiration for a character in a recent television ad for Guinness. Tom Crean ran away from his family s Kerry farm at age 15 and went on to play an outstanding role in three expeditions with the legendary Shackleton and Captain Scott. The extraordinary highlights of his adventures in the ice were captured in some exceptional photographs taken under the most difficult conditions. It is perhaps true to say that the next unsung heroes to be brought out into the light will be the photographers who accompanied some of these epic journeys, such as Frank Hurley and Herbert Ponting. Many of the images in the book are theirs, including Hurley s haunting picture of the Endurance listing at an impossible angle, imprisoned in the ice, taken in 1915. These extraordinary photographs, many never before published, have now been assembled for the first time to present a photographic record of a truly astonishing man, together with other rare and previously unseen pictures. The range of photographs illustrates Crean s early life, his legendary feats of survival and exploration in the Antarctic, and his peaceful retirement in Kerry. There are the familiar and characteristic poses of Crean with pipe and dogs, and iconic images of icy wastes. Supported by complementary text, diary extracts and maps, plus new information on Tom Crean s life, this is a lasting celebration of a true hero.

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Review:

A remarkable book about a remarkable man. --Sunday Tribune

Epic struggles, heroics and unbelievable hardships are wonderfully told. --The Irish Times

Wonderful Kiplingesque yarn about a great Irishman who didn t have to die to become a hero. --Irish Independent

Synopsis:

This pictorial biography celebrates the life of Tom Crean, a great Irish hero of Antarctic exploration in an age of epics of endurance and survival against the odds. Tom ran away from his Kerry farm at 15 to play an outstanding role in three expeditions with the legendary Shackleton and Captain Scott. But his incredible story was largely forgotten until the publication of the best-selling "An Unsung Hero" in 2000. Only then was the modest, unassuming Irishman given the recognition he deserved. The extraordinary highlights of his adventures in the ice were captured in some exceptional photographs taken under the most difficult conditions. These have now been assembled for the first time to present a photographic record of a truly astonishing man, together with other rare and previously unseen pictures. The range of photographs illustrates his early life, the incredible feats in the Antarctic and a peaceful retirement in Kerry. Supported by complimentary text, diary extracts and maps plus new information on Tom Crean's life, this is a lasting celebration of a true hero.

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