Tom Crean Irish Antarctic Hero
The story of Tom Crean is so extraordinary, it is hard to believe it’s not made up, and yet his story is real. Crean’s heroic exploits in the vastness of Antarctica are in sharp contrast to his persona, the unassuming humble Kerry man who faced every challenge. A compassionate comrade and lover of animals amidst the wild and often brutal conditions of the southern oceans, Crean was involved in almost every epic battle to chart Antarctica and reach the south pole.
Companion of the ill-fated Captain Scott and stalwart crew member to Ernest Shackleton on the Endurance, Crean demonstrated often super-human strength against the ravages of scurvy, hunger, cold and the constant risks traveling in the frozen wastes. Perhaps Crean’s greatest triumph was traveling 800 miles in the open boat, the James Caird, across the most violent seas in the world, in order to save his companions marooned on Elephant Island.
This lavish graphic novel, beautifully illustrated with colour images, cleverly draws on original images from the various Antarctic exhibitions. The fast-paced narrative tells concisely Tom Crean’s progress through life, from farmer’s son in rural Kerry, to his exploits on the high seas and the furthest corners of the Earth, to his career in the Royal Navy. Like any good story it returns him home to his sweetheart and to his native Annascaul. This reviewer has always had a fascination with this subject, so it is a treat to review such a wonderful book.
