Shackleton | A Memory

London: Mills & Boon, Ltd, 1922. First Edition. Very Good. 8vo, [7.75x5.25in]; [vi], 11-89 pp., [1], 1-16 pp., advertisements; Light Blue cloth covers with dark blue ink lettering on front and spine, bottom edge untrimmed; Some shelf wear to covers, edges and corners, minor soiling and spots on covers, spine faded with rubbing, front bottom edge worn, corners slightly bumped , some age toning of text with foxing spots on edges. A scarce book rarely forund with a dust jacket [Rosove 30.A1, Spence 114]. From the title page, "... "In the darkening twilight I saw a lone star hover gem-like above the bay." - Shackleton's last entry in his Diary". Harold Begbie (1871-1929) was a well known English author and journalist. From Rosove, he "... met Shackleton between the "Endurance" and "Quest" expeditions and based his book on conversations and interviews with Shackleton as well as recollections of others who knew the explorer." Shackleton died on January 5, 1922 aboard the "Quest" while anchored off of Grytviken whaling station at South Georgia Is.

This book was rushed to publication in March 1922 after parts of it were published in the "Daily Telegraph". This book was not authorized by Emily Shackleton, who was arranging with Hugh Robert Mill to write the official biography of Shackleton. There continued to be criticisms regarding the details in the book, however, Rosove concludes that "... to Begbie's credit, he created a lyrical, romantic, mythic word portrait of the great explorer .... the book is a fine read irrespective of the criticisms that surround it.