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Erebus: The Story of a Ship

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Erebus: The Story of a Ship

By: Michael Palin
Narrated by: Michael Palin
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About this listen

Random House presents the audiobook edition of Erebus, written and read by Michael Palin.

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THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

In the early years of Queen Victoria's reign, HMS Erebus undertook two of the most ambitious naval expeditions of all time.

On the first, she ventured further south than any human had ever been. On the second, she vanished with her 129-strong crew in the wastes of the Canadian Arctic, along with the HMS Terror.

Her fate remained a mystery for over 160 years.

Then, in 2014, she was found.

This is her story.
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Now available: Michael Palin's North Korea Journals
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A BBC RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEK

'Beyond terrific . . . I didn't want it to end.' Bill Bryson

'Illuminated by flashes of gentle wit . . . It's a fascinating story that [Palin] brings full-bloodedly to life.' Guardian

'This is an incredible book . . . The Erebus story is the Arctic epic we've all been waiting for.' Nicholas Crane

'Thoroughly absorbs the reader. . . Carefully researched and well-crafted, it brings the story of a ship vividly to life.' Sunday Times

'A great story . . . Told in a very relaxed and sometimes - as you might expect - very funny Palin style.' David Baddiel, Daily Mail

'Magisterial . . . Brings energy, wit and humanity to a story that has never ceased to tantalise people since the 1840s.' The Times

©2018 Michael Palin (P)2018 Random House Audiobooks 20th Century Adventure Travel Arctic & Antarctica Modern Polar Regions Adventure Funny Sailing

Critic Reviews

Beyond terrific. I didn’t want it to end. (Bill Bryson)
All stars
Most relevant  
Couldn’t stop listening, amazing amount of history and information, also light hearted at times. Great loved it.

Brilliant story

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Great voice loved the story
Looking forward to the next book
Didn’t realise Franklin did so much

So interesting!

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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.

What a story!

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Enjoyed the book. Interesting to learn more about the Arctic and Antarctic adventurers.
Would of been tough times.

story about a ship

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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 +

Most enjoyable audiobook yet?

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One never ceases to be amazed by Palin who entered my consciousness as a young comedian, admittedly from Oxbridge, peaking in "A Fish called Wanda" and then on to many intelligent TV programmes and books. This is quite a remarkable read about the ship Erebus and its adventures into the South Pacific and Northern Passage and its eventual disappearance. Where I am situated, NZ, Erebus is a volcano in Antarctica into which a NZ sightseeing plane mysteriously crashed killing all aboard in 1979 - a national tragedy. It was lost initially in the same way. This story is similarly poignant but the boat disappears (1843) almost forever, or at least until relatively recent times. Even its discovery 170 years later is fascinating and piecing together the hardship these men endured as they died is quite haunting. A great piece of historical research (if indeed that was beyond the current literature available) but, even if the work was deemed to be unoriginal, his narration allows many to learn quite vividly about this amazing ship, its history, its captains, crew, the motivations of such adventurers, and the politics of the time. A most definite read for anyone interested in history but Palin makes this true story live. He's an excellent narrator and does not revert to inappropriate humour. Yet his enthusiasm for detail and his interpretations are somewhat similar to a historian who lives along with those that have gone before.

Great narration, Great True Story.

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Well researched and well read. Thoroughly enjoyed and fully recommend this book just wish there were more like this where you learn and fill in historical blanks. Learned a lot about Antartica and how much of it was also named. My previous knowledge about Erebus was only about Mt Erebus in Antartica.

Amazing account of early explorers and the risks they took and even innovation in extending the reach and achievement of science.

A gripping and interesting historical account

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A great story told amazingly well. Palin articulated the excitement the pain and mystery. His distinctive voice and character adds to the story.

An amazing listen

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Palin at his best.

Well researched and holds your interest all the way through.

Highly recommended .

Riveting.

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fascinating story of exploration. brings to life the origin of familiar names in the world of ice

loved it

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