Unsung Hero, An [Paperback]

Michael Smith (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2001

This story reveals the remarkable Tom Crean, who ran away to sea aged 15 and played a memorable role in Antarctic exploration. He spent more time in the unexplored Antarctic than Scott or Shackleton, was one of the few to serve both and outlive both. Among the last to see Scott alive only 150 miles from the South Pole he was in the search party which found the frozen body. Tom joined Shackleton's Endurance expedition as the first shots of World War 1 were fired. In a most extraordinary feat of survival, Crean sailed the violent Southern Ocean in an open boat and made the first crossing of the glaciers of South Georgia to rescue his stranded comrades 800 miles away. Crean returned to Ireland, married and built a pub, the South Pole Inn in Anascaul, Co.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A remarkable book about a remarkable man. Sunday Tribune Michael Smith has written a splendid biography. The Nautical Magazine The epic struggles, heroics and the unbelievable hardships of the voyages are wonderfully told. The Irish Times A must for anyone interested in polar exploration. County Examiner Wonderful Kiplingesque yarn about a great Irishman who didn't have to die to become a hero. Irish Independent Chosen by Aviva Stadium Director Martin Murphy as his favourite book - Sunday Times --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Michael Smith is now a freelance journalist having worked for the Guardian, Observer and Evening Standard for more than twenty years on their business and politics pages. He is married with two children. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 340 pages
• Publisher: Collins P. (September 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1903464099
• ISBN-13: 978-1903464090
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,355,075 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good, but a bit basic, September 12, 2011

By 

Rick Stroud - See all my reviews

This review is from: An Unsung Hero: Tom Crean - Antarctic Survivor (Paperback)

The book was good but a little more simplistic than I expected. It was overall enjoyable and provided some information about Crean not available from other sources. As a whole though if I was not already very familiar with the expeditions this book would not have given a proper picture. So I would recommend this book as a supplement to other books which deal with those expeditions on a grander scale.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a modest Kerry man, February 1, 2011

By 

Malcolm F. Fuller (Stony Brook, NY, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: An Unsung Hero: Tom Crean - Antarctic Survivor (Paperback)

Tom Crean came to polar exploration almost by accident. Having left the poor Kerry farm where he grew up, he joined the British Navy and, in 1901, his ship was in the New Zealand port of Lyttleton just as Captain Scott's Discovery was preparing to leave for the Antarctic. Crean volunteered to join Discovery to replace a deserter. Over the next 15 years his physical and mental strength, his courage and resourcefulness, and his unfailing good humour made him a key member of both of Scott's expeditions and then of Shackleton's which ended with the famous escape after Endurance was crushed in the ice. Crean was with Shackleton both on the heroic boat journey and for the truly incredible crossing of South Georgia.

He was a simple, unpretentious man, content to serve faithfully, an unsung hero because he shunned the limelight. Although the three Antarctic expeditions in which Crean served have been written about many times, and although Crean's name and participation have figured in those accounts, it is only when the spotlight is finally shone on him alone that one appreciates the full extent of his contributions. At the end of it all, fittingly, he quietly returned to Kerry and bought a pub.