This account of the Endurance expedition was based on extensive interviews with Shackleton and the diaries of his fellow explorers. Shackleton found the recollection of the ordeal extremely painful, and often insisted that he could not go through with it. The striking cover illustration derives from Hurley’s midwinter photograph of Endurance. His inscription in the King’s copy of South refers to the Union Jack on the end wall, which was flown at significant points throughout the expedition.