Customer Reviews

Mrs. Chippy's Last Expedition: The Remarkable Journal of Shackleton's Polar-Bound Cat

5 star:		(18)
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3 star:		(3)
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1 star:		(2)

 

 

As criticized by other reviewers, this book does not pretend any falsehoods. It is a fictionalized account, of course, but is based on the accounts and journals of ALL of the crew, not just the famous or the high ranking. The true hardships are recounted in the footnotes, most notably excerpts from the diary of Henry McNeish, Chippy,s owner, bunk mate and ships carpenter. In a way Mrs. Chippy's account, built from references of all the other journals, speaks for those also marginalized and also only known through footnotes. McNeich spent 28 hours toiling in waist deep frigid water to build a coffer dam in an attempt to hold back the water in the beginning of the end for the Endurance. Do we remember his name? Perce Blackborow, young and desperate for adventure, stowed away and worked hard as ships steward, assisted and filled in for the cook when he fell injured. Do we remember his name? Louis Rickinson and A.J. Kerr, ships engineers, worked at the boilers below decks, even as the ice is pressing the hull made all manner of horrible and terrifying noises. Do we remember their names? Through Mrs. Chippy's eyes we catch a glimpse of all the crew, in their bravery and their humanity. Lastly, any who would question the character or depth of relationship between even the hardened explorer and the ships cat, consider the following: Commander Frank Worsley, the Captain of the Endurance, chose the photo of Chippy and Blackborow that adorns the cover of this book as one of the few he published. ALL the diaries of the members of the expedition had descriptions of Chippy. Let me close with this quote from the poet Christopher Smart from his ode to his cat, Jeoffry:

For he keeps the Lord's watch in the night against the adversary. For he counteracts the powers of darkness by his electrical skin and glaring eyes. For he counteracts the Devil, who is death, by brisking about the life.

We are shielded from Chippys final fate, the journal ends on October 29th. Chippy perished that afternoon. Remember Chippy, and remember all those whose story is recorded in footnotes.

Mrs. Chippy's Last Adventure is the best-written book I have read in many years (and I read a LOT!) The book is written from the point of view of Mrs. Chippy, a (male) cat who was privileged enough to join Shackleford's Polar expedition in the early 1900's and who was stranded in the polar ice fields along with the remaining 28 crew members. The book is based on actual events and a great deal of research obviously went into the telling of this remarkable human and feline-interest story. The author captures Mrs. Chippy's world view remarkably well; cat lovers will KNOW that they are seeing these events unfold through the eyes of a very perspicacious cat. As an added bonus, Mrs. Chippy is a damn funny feline, albeit sometimes unintentionally - I laughed out loud throughout the book.

You've read the tale of the Endurance and you can't get enough of this incredible epic. You must now read 'Mrs. Chippy's Last Expedition'. Ms. Alexander, in a delightfully strange manner, has provided a unique perspective on both the expedition and on the relationship between a cat and its mates. If you read 'The Endurance', you already appreciate Ms. Alexander's scholarly and literary abilities. (Frankly, it easily rivals the accounts of Lansing and even Shackleton, himself.) When you read 'Mrs. Chippy', you will also appreciate her profound perception of both feline and human behavior. It's a pity that other reviewers feel they must exhibit their knowledge of Mrs. Chippy's actual fate, but don't worry, if you love cats, nothing can prepare you for the end of this book. Thank you, Caroline Alexander, for a truly remarkable story.

I can't say enough good things about this book. However, I think it's obvious that any review of it must take into account that while the story takes place in actual historical context, the book's literary content, being the journal of a domesticated cat, is clearly fabricated. I find it humorous that several reviewers seem to have forgotten this and have criticized it for being somehow unrealistic.

The book is a journal of the Endurance's carpenter's cat, Mrs. Chippy (apparently, ships' carpenters are often nicknamed "Chips"). We learn that Mrs. Chippy took his responsibilities as an explorer, including keeping a stern watch to monitor the ship's progress, helping his mate in carpentry projects, and mousing, quite seriously. In fact, Chippy's concern for the maintenance of ship routine through the monotony of the shipwreck period surpasses that of virtually any other crew member.

If you've read any account of the Endurance Expedition already, you will quite likely enjoy this book for its thoughtful alternative perspective. It is not sappy in the least - Chippy's intelligent writing allows us to see him as he sees himself: as the 29th crew member on the expedition.

If you have to ask, "how did Chippy learn how to write?" or "when did he find the time?", you're not appreciating the books purpose - to entertain and provide a little insight into how an animal might have been more than slightly responsible for maintaining the crew's sanity.

Let me first say that this book was given to me as a marvelously thoughtful gift after I put my cat to sleep. The giver, knowing how much I like reading about Scott, Franklin and Shackleton, discovered this marvelous little book about a cat on Shackleton's famous South expedition. It was amazingly thoughtful, except the giver had no idea what happened on the South Expedition.

Now, I must confess to dunderheadedness in reading this book the minute I received it. I knew what happened. Still, thanks to Alexander's marvelous writing I so fell in love with the indomitable spirit of Mrs. Chippy that I fully expected Alexander would fudge the story a bit and take Mrs. Chippy along. Mrs. Chippy meets her fate with grace and dignity -- as peacefully as my beloved cat. It's not horrible, not maudlin, but very emotional.

This is definitely a better book to give to an expedition enthusiast and cat lover whose cat is still living. Even then, the reader is bound to shed a tear or two. The reader who has just put their beloved cat to sleep is going to cry her heart out.

I can't wrest myself away from this book's haunting effect on me.

The author has graciously given us entre to the interior terrain of a powerful little persona -- an intrepid little (in size only) soul. Mrs. Chippy will long linger poignantly in your heart.

I have spent many many long weeks in the ice pack that circles Antarctica, and next year when I'm next in its midst, Mrs. Chippy's presence will be dwelling with me -- it will be good to be with him again.

After seeing the IMAX movie about Shackelton in Richmond, VA, my wife and I had to get some books about this expedition and the incredible story of survival. We have two cats and I thought my wife would like this book. As I read through the book, I laugh out loud and some of the "commentary" from Mrs. Chippy. If you have ever lived with a cat, you can see exactly what she is talking about.

We also got "South" by Shackelton. Mrs. Chippy gives a less doom-and-gloom factual account than that book, but still maintains the essence of what is happening during the voyage. I thoroghly enjoyed this book.

But a note to "A reader from Seattle, WA , January 2, 1999": recheck your references. The "journey on the ice" begins at the *end* of "Mrs. Chippy's Last Expedition". All the preceding took place while the ship was still afloat. So Chippy was there. At least two photographs and two sketches by crew validate this.

This lovely book gives a stirring impression of the real courage of Shakleton's crew on that remarkable voyage. Men in a situation of real danger and gripping fear show a camaraderie not disclosed in ordinary times. Who could observe and describe these better than a dedicated, but completely objective, cat? Caroline Alexander clearly knows a great deal about Antarctic exploration, about maritime history, and about loyalty and sacrifice. An entertaining, informative, and in the end an inspiring and unforgettable book!

"Mrs. Chippy's Last Expedition" is a playful window into the history and personalities of the 1908-09 Endurance expedition to Antarctica. Incredibly, the ship was crushed after 9 months trapped in the ice, but not a single man was lost. Mrs. Chippy (the cat who accompanied the crew of the Endurance to Antarctica) leads us on an examination, not just of history and brave explorers, but of day-to-day survival and interaction between men in dire circumstances. If you love cats and have a curiosity about Antarctic exploration, this is a great book to start your journey. One must, however, have patience with the 100-plus footnotes, as they are a slightly awkward part of the story that enable one to understand the big picture behind the journal of this extraordinary feline.

"Mrs. Chippy's Last Expedition", though it is light and high-spirited, tells a vivid tale which stands in the same compelling league as Jon Krakauer's, "Into the Wild". Both left me in awe of nature and wringing my handkerchief by books' end.