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Erebus: The Story of a Ship
- Narrated by: Michael Palin
- Length: 11 hrs and 5 mins
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Publisher's Summary
Random House presents the audiobook edition of Erebus, written and read by Michael Palin.
In September 2014 the wreck of a sailing vessel was discovered at the bottom of the sea in the frozen wastes of the Canadian Arctic. It was broken at the stern and covered in a woolly coat of underwater vegetation. Its whereabouts had been a mystery for over a century and a half. Its name was HMS Erebus.
Now Michael Palin - former Monty Python stalwart and much-loved television globetrotter - brings this extraordinary ship back to life, following it from its launch in 1826 to the epic voyages of discovery that led to glory in the Antarctic and to ultimate catastrophe in the Arctic. He explores the intertwined careers of the men who shared its journeys: the dashing James Clark Ross who charted much of the 'Great Southern Barrier' and oversaw some of the earliest scientific experiments to be conducted there; and the troubled John Franklin, who at the age of 60 and after a chequered career, commanded the ship on its final, disastrous expedition. And he vividly recounts the experiences of the men who first stepped ashore on Antarctica's Victoria Land, and those who, just a few years later, froze to death one by one in the Arctic wastes as rescue missions desperately tried to reach them.
To help tell the story, he has travelled to various locations across the world - Tasmania, the Falklands, the Canadian Arctic - to search for local information, and to experience at first hand the terrain and the conditions that would have confronted the Erebus and her crew.
This is a wonderfully evocative and epic account, written by a master explorer and storyteller.
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What listeners say about Erebus: The Story of a Ship
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- Anonymous User
- 19-07-2020
Brilliant story
Couldn’t stop listening, amazing amount of history and information, also light hearted at times. Great loved it.
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- Karen
- 06-06-2019
So interesting!
Great voice loved the story
Looking forward to the next book
Didn’t realise Franklin did so much
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- Andy
- 06-05-2021
Most enjoyable audiobook yet?
Absolutely gripping almost from start to finish. I found myself delaying starting work and going to sleep later than usual to keep listening to this amazing human adventure.
Excellent narration by Michael Palin adds to the atmosphere and recreates the very stoic characters in a thoroughly engaging manner. Five stars +
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- Maggiestampa
- 28-07-2019
What a story!
Fantastic enthralling story read with enthusiasm.
I could hardly wait to listen to the next chapter.
The author's talents as a writer and as a reader shine forth like a Holy Grail.
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- Anonymous User
- 30-09-2020
story about a ship
Enjoyed the book. Interesting to learn more about the Arctic and Antarctic adventurers.
Would of been tough times.
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- Mariko
- 20-12-2018
loved it
fascinating story of exploration. brings to life the origin of familiar names in the world of ice
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1 person found this helpful
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- Rosemary King
- 05-07-2021
Erebus - only the English
Loved, loved, loved this book. Michael Palin is a great story teller and this story is such a rollicking adventure, all the more fascinating because it’s true. These English Polar explorers were fearless and as enthusiastic as Palin is about their story. I knew the story of the ill fated Arctic expedition but didn’t know about the previous Antarctic adventures of Erebus & Terror. Great to listen to the author’s entertaining voice too.
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- Spencer
- 21-06-2019
Great history story
I enjoyed this book as I like reviews of history. As a Canadian I’ve been always interested in stories of exploration based in the Arctic & Antartica . The author in this case is a great enthusiastic reader who helped make the story come alive
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- Profit
- 23-11-2023
A Great Listen
Michael Palin has done his research well for this historical work. He brings to life the feeling of what these explorers lived through and died for.
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- The Quiet Reader
- 14-10-2018
Totally absorbing
If you are interested in Arctic, especially Franklin's ill fated quest to find the northwest passage and the great Antarctic sea voyages of James Ross this is the book for you. Using HMS Erebus as the central piece for both Mariners were at stages it's Captain, Palin narrates a gripping series of adventures and misadventures of those who sailed in this famous British Ship. The book ends (spoiler alert) with the discovery of Erebus as a sea wreck well over 160 years since her disappearance and tragic loss of life. Palin's narration is completely engaging and draws you into and along. A superb history related with chutzpah.
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3 people found this helpful