Aged sixteen, Irishman Ernest Shackleton left school to join the merchant navy and go on to become a legendary explorer. His extraordinary adventures of endurance and survival in the Antarctic have thrilled generations. Here, for the first time, an established authority on Polar exploration writes about his gripping exploits especially for children. This inspiring story of Shackleton, whose men called him `The Boss, " involved four expeditions to the snow and ice of Antarctica over 20 years between 1901 and 1922. His incredible adventures included a breathtaking march to within a few miles of the South Pole and the amazing saga of hardship and survival in the face of extreme odds on the famous Endurance expedition.