An Unsung Hero: Tom Crean - Antarctic Survivor Kindle Edition

An interesting book about Tom Crean, the Antarctica Explorer, I bought the first copy at a thrift store for a buck. Passed it on to my kids and grandkids to read. Then I bought a second volume online from a thrift shop 400 miles from me, to give to a friend. I'm not sure what higher recommendation I can give, I bought it twice.

If the reader is interested in Antarctic expeditions this work is a must read. I confess in the many books I have read about polar expeditions I had no knowledge of Tom Crean or the crucial role he played in saving lives. I have long admired those early explorers and marveled at their courage and endurance. They set a standard I’m not sure I could meet.

Best written book about this exploration era that I have ever read. Good detail concerning the leaders involved. A must-read for those with an interest in the Scott And Shackleton expeditions.

Since Franklin, antarctic exploration never found such a stalwart character as Crean. The stuff that greats are made of, without their likes, nothing.

If you like the story of the Endurance and Shackleton you will want to learn more abut Tom Crean. I got exposed to who he was on a trip to Ireland. Amazing the feats these guys met back in the early 1900s. An amazing story.

I purchased this for my husband for Christmas. Took several weeks to receive (sent from UK), but he has said that it is an excellent book so far - very engaging!

Nothing to dislike--all to like about someone who loves adventure and exploring an undiscovered area.

A good popular biography of this little known Antarctic explorer.

There are so many unsung heroes. Men and women who's lives are overshadowed by a figurehead personality such as Scott or Shackleton. Tom Crean is one of those quiet men who is always calm, solid and reliable. Acknowledged by his peers but not sadly by his native Irishmen until long after his death. He is one of those men you might choose to meet, although his modesty might deny you the conversation you want. This book will give you the true story of a remarkable man who carried out remarkable feats of bravery in the harshest of conditions when most men's spirits would have broken.

Splendidly different "take" on early Antarctic exploration. It demonstrates how Scott and his snobby pals messed up, and those who got out did so because of the efforts of so-called "lower-orders". Plus ca change.Includes how Crean also served on the Shackleton expedition and how different Shackleton was from Scott.

Having studied the subject for many decades and spent 10 winters north of the Arctic Circle I was keen to fill in some gaps. The book certainly did that and I had no hesitation of reading it from cover to cover as one never knows what gem will appear. However I cannot on improve on CSP reader's review in that the author needs to find a good editor: repetitions on the same page are inexcusable. There is in fact very little that is new in this book. I was glad to read about his final years and his, by today's standard, unnecessarily early death in Ireland.He was an amazingly tough and loyal man. Hero is a much abused word these days but this man was one of them.

I first heard of Tom Crean while staying on the Dingle pennisular. I came across a pub painted bright blue called "The South Pole". It seemed strange to call a pub that, so I made it my business to find out about him. He lived a life that was truly remarkable and unique. The book could not have a better title. What this man did is staggering. He found Scott dead with his companions and laid them out. Mrs Scott found out what he had done and sent him money with which he bought this blue pub that he retired too.He and two others trekked across uncharted ice waste for weeks to get help. When they found life at a whaling station they couldn't get the British to help because there is a war on "Don't you know!" I think it was a Chilean sea captain went to their rescue, a country that was fighting the British anyway.If this man had been English every school boy would know his name as they do Captain Scott's.If this story was written as a fiction it wouldn't be believable if would seem too far fetched.If you are Irish. If you like true amazing tales. If you want knife edge seat read then Unsung hero is just this and more. Tom Crean is an unsung hero in every respect.

In their review, the Journal of the Shackleton School assert "Should it be that one buys or reads only one polar book in one's lifetime, let that book be Michael Smith's 'An Unsung Hero'". I can only echo those sentiments. This is a brilliantly written book about a man who was both heroic and self-effacing. A brief browse of the other Amazon reviews of this biography of Tom Crean will reveal how appreciative all who have read the book are of Smith's masterful research and engaging writing style.Thomas Crean, a quiet Irishman, accompanied Robert Falcon Scott on both his expeditions to the Antarctic, as well as Shackleton on his abortive mission to cross the Antarctic. Enduring unimaginable hardships, Crean, not an officer but an ordinary seaman, was supremely competent, totally loyal and brave beyond words. His service to them, drew the admiration of both Scott and Shackleton and won the lifelong gratitude of 'Teddy' Evans, Scott's second-in-command, following Crean singlehandedly saved his life in 1912.Unlike many of his more literate contemporaries, Crean did not keep a diary or write anything other than short letters or occasional notes. So his biographer was unable to draw on much material emanating from the man himself. But such was the esteem that Crean was held in, that others Scott - Shackleton - Teddy Evans - Apsley-Gerrard - Worsley - Lashley etc. in their writings, all gave powerful testimony to Crean's qualities. So Smith has drawn together their evidence, and supplemented it with interviews with those who either knew Crean, or knew those who knew him, to paint a picture of the man. And what a man!Two minor points. In relating the events of Crean's 3 expeditions, Smith repeats much of what has been written by those who were there and those who have subsequently written about them. So the account, for those who have read the other accounts, can seem repetitive. But I found that Smith was able to draw ones attention to knew perspectives which made re-visiting events eminently worthwhile. Secondly, Smith (see Chapter 12), like Roland Huntford before him, is particularly critical of Scott's approach to Antarctic exploration, comparing him unfavourably with Roald Amundsen. Sir Ranulph Fiennes, in his book 'Captain Scott' challenges such estimations - to some effect. Given Fiennes conclusions, I wonder if Michael Smith might present a more balanced view of Scott, in any subsequent revision.Those points notwithstanding, please read this book - it's a cracker.