“To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.”

- Ulysses

Henry Worsley lost his life at 56, pursuing what some may call an "obsession." Determined to fulfill his dream to cross Antarctica on foot alone and therefore achieve what his hero, Ernest Shackleton, failed to achieve a century earlier, Worsley took his last breath after 71 days traversing the treacherous ice in subzero temperatures. A veritable Renaissance man – husband, father, soldier, explorer, published author, artist, and conqueror of that inner voice – Worsley's strength finally gave out on a solo expedition.

When considering his insatiable appetite for pushing the limits of human endurance, many readers may wonder, had Worsley survived, would the solo crossing of Antarctica have been his final achievement? Would this unreformed overachiever retire from extreme exploration?

In “The White Darkness,” David Grann does it again. A master of vivid, descriptive narrative nonfiction, the author brilliantly captures Henry Worsley's essence. By recounting the experience as Worsley, the relentless adventurer, details it in his journal and incorporating interviews with those who adventured with him, Grann entertains and enlightens. He documents the boundless determination Worsley displays as he seeks to measure his powers of endurance against Shackleton’s. Additionally, Grann complements his outstanding reporting with exquisite photographs of the forbidding continent of Antarctica. They bring the icy stillness into sharp relief.

A relatively short book at 160 pages, in "The White Darkness," we witness as if we are there ourselves how the human body adapts or fails to adapt to extreme cold and how the human mind, for days on end, endures such bleak surroundings. Grann enables the reader to experience the same frigid temperatures, the same muscle fatigue, the same fetid air in the nylon sleeping tent, the same loneliness, and the same windswept vastness and desolation Worsley experiences on his trek.

Remarkably, Worsley had already triumphed over Antarctica's "white darkness" on previous expeditions while leading a team of explorers. Learning of this man's extraordinary life consisting of one endurance challenge after another, including completing the grueling United Kingdom Special Forces (UKSF) Special Air Service (SAS) selection course, serving in combat in Southern Afghanistan, and performing peacekeeping duty in Northern Ireland, among others, readers also might wonder why Worsley pushed himself one final time. To some, his propensity for punishing his body in pursuit of achievement appears incomprehensible.

Although a committed family man, Worsley's rugged body contained a restless soul. If a monumental challenge, particularly in Antarctica, remained within his grasp, he would not rest. Almost as if to surmount the accomplishments of his idol, Shackleton, Worsley sought to conquer the unconquerable. While Shackleton distinguished himself as a peerless explorer and leader seemingly incapable of surrendering to hardship, Worsley's determination and perseverance in “The White Darkness” appear otherworldly.

In the context of Worsley's death pursuing one last first, a solo retracing of Shackleton's steps across Antarctica, it is perhaps instructive to consider the Facebook post of Nancy F. Koehn, author of the book "Ernest Shackleton, Exploring Leadership." She writes, "Worsley considered Shackleton his hero, and now we see Worsley as one of ours." Indeed, Worsley died a hero.

Yet, we suspect it was not heroism nor crass immortalization Worsley sought in completing his nearly inconceivable solo trek across Antarctica. No, with superhuman mental and physical toughness, he submits to his unrelenting drive to achieve what eluded his idol. Further, after already embodying Shackleton's surpassing leadership, Worsley exceeds Shackleton's powers of endurance. In his quest to prove to himself that he possessed the mettle to measure up to his idol, he bested him. Unquestionably, Worsley’s exploits leave an indelible legacy of stamina, perseverance, and courage.

Given Worsley's extraordinary accomplishments across a lifetime, one seeks a deeper understanding of what drove this man. It was not "obsession," as many may believe. And, yes, he likely would have continued pushing himself to the deepest, darkest recesses of that restive soul to ascend yet another mountain or cross another glacier simply because it remained elusive. But, to this reader, it was first and foremost his family and then the British SAS motto, "Who Dares Wins," that Worsley kept closest to his heart. He embraced both as well as any member of The Regiment before him.

“Who Dares Wins.”

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Price	$13.72
Category	Arctic & Antarctica