Island of the Lost: Shipwrecked at the Edge of the World
Auckland Island is a godforsaken place in the middle of the Southern Ocean, 285 miles south of New Zealand. With year-round freezing rain and howling winds, it is one of the most forbidding places in the world. To be shipwrecked there means almost certain death.



In 1864 Captain Thomas Musgrave and his crew of four aboard the schooner Grafton wreck on the southern end of the island. Utterly alone in a dense coastal forest, plagued by stinging blowflies and relentless rain, Captain Musgrave inspires his men to take action. With barely more than their bare hands, they build a cabin and, remarkably, a forge, where they manufacture their tools.



Incredibly, at the same time on the opposite end of the island, the Invercauld wrecks during a horrible storm. Nineteen men stagger ashore. Unlike Captain Musgrave, the captain of the Invercauld falls apart given the same dismal circumstances. His men fight and split up; some die of starvation, others turn to cannibalism. Only three survive. Musgrave and all of his men not only endure for nearly two years, they also plan their own astonishing escape, setting off on one of the most courageous sea voyages in history.
"1112165068"
Island of the Lost: Shipwrecked at the Edge of the World
Auckland Island is a godforsaken place in the middle of the Southern Ocean, 285 miles south of New Zealand. With year-round freezing rain and howling winds, it is one of the most forbidding places in the world. To be shipwrecked there means almost certain death.



In 1864 Captain Thomas Musgrave and his crew of four aboard the schooner Grafton wreck on the southern end of the island. Utterly alone in a dense coastal forest, plagued by stinging blowflies and relentless rain, Captain Musgrave inspires his men to take action. With barely more than their bare hands, they build a cabin and, remarkably, a forge, where they manufacture their tools.



Incredibly, at the same time on the opposite end of the island, the Invercauld wrecks during a horrible storm. Nineteen men stagger ashore. Unlike Captain Musgrave, the captain of the Invercauld falls apart given the same dismal circumstances. His men fight and split up; some die of starvation, others turn to cannibalism. Only three survive. Musgrave and all of his men not only endure for nearly two years, they also plan their own astonishing escape, setting off on one of the most courageous sea voyages in history.
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Island of the Lost: Shipwrecked at the Edge of the World

Island of the Lost: Shipwrecked at the Edge of the World

by Joan Druett

Narrated by David Colacci

Unabridged — 8 hours, 35 minutes

Island of the Lost: Shipwrecked at the Edge of the World

Island of the Lost: Shipwrecked at the Edge of the World

by Joan Druett

Narrated by David Colacci

Unabridged — 8 hours, 35 minutes

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Overview

Auckland Island is a godforsaken place in the middle of the Southern Ocean, 285 miles south of New Zealand. With year-round freezing rain and howling winds, it is one of the most forbidding places in the world. To be shipwrecked there means almost certain death.



In 1864 Captain Thomas Musgrave and his crew of four aboard the schooner Grafton wreck on the southern end of the island. Utterly alone in a dense coastal forest, plagued by stinging blowflies and relentless rain, Captain Musgrave inspires his men to take action. With barely more than their bare hands, they build a cabin and, remarkably, a forge, where they manufacture their tools.



Incredibly, at the same time on the opposite end of the island, the Invercauld wrecks during a horrible storm. Nineteen men stagger ashore. Unlike Captain Musgrave, the captain of the Invercauld falls apart given the same dismal circumstances. His men fight and split up; some die of starvation, others turn to cannibalism. Only three survive. Musgrave and all of his men not only endure for nearly two years, they also plan their own astonishing escape, setting off on one of the most courageous sea voyages in history.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

"The amount of detail Druett has amassed is truly impressive, resulting in an invaluable account of survival." ---Booklist

From the Publisher - AUDIO COMMENTARY

"The amount of detail Druett has amassed is truly impressive, resulting in an invaluable account of survival." —Booklist

News & Observer

"A compelling fact-upon-fact style that lets the men's incremental accomplishments and unlikely survival supply the drama."—News & Observer

Rocky Mountain News

"Fascinating . . . a surprisingly gripping tale that will leave readers amazed. Grade: A."—Rocky Mountain News

Seattle Post-Intelligencer

An "amazing saga . . . Rarely are the two opposing sides of human nature captured in such stark and illuminating relief."—Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Seattle Times

"One of the finest survival stories I've read. . . . [Druett's] tale is backed up by a solid knowledge of sailing ships and of the flora, fauna and weather of Auckland Island, an inhospitable terrain that has defied attempts at human settlement and is now a wildlife preserve."—Seattle Times

Los Angeles Times

"This story goes reality TV a few steps better. . . . A clear morality tale about the pitfalls of rigidity and the benefits of adaptability and cooperation. . . . Druett, who has written other works of nautical history and a maritime mystery series, wisely lets the details make the point, resisting the temptation to oversell. Her writing style is clear and detached, her touch just right. . . . The power of the crews' divergent stories... propels the narrative like a trade wind."—L.A. Times

New York Times Book Review

"A riveting study of the extremes of human nature and the effects of good (and bad) leadership. . . . If the southern part of Auckland Island is all Robinson Crusoe, the northern part is more Lord of the Flies. . . . Druett is an able and thorough guide to the minutiae of castaway life . . . [She] shows that real leadership is rare and powerful." —The New York Times Book Review

Booklist - George Cohen

"The amount of detail the author has amassed is truly impressive, resulting in an invaluable account of survival."

Wall Street Journal

"Joan Druett makes a name for herself as a sort of distaff Patrick (The Yellow Admiral) O'Brian."

Booklist

"The amount of detail the author has amassed is truly impressive, resulting in an invaluable account of survival."
— George Cohen

Library Journal - Audio

★ 07/01/2016
Druett (In the Wake of Madness) uses the captain's and first mate's journals (published years after the incident in question) to tell the true tale of the 1864 shipwreck of the Grafton on a remote island group off of New Zealand and the ordeals of the five-man crew. Captain Musgrave led his men through hard work as they constructed a shelter, fashioned a working forge to build needed tools, and made an incredible escape attempt to New Zealand after 18 months of being marooned. Amazingly, another ship, the Invercauld, with 19 men aboard, crashed during this same time 20 miles to the north on a different island. That captain provided no leadership and soon only three men remained alive. Narrator David Colacci has a very empathetic tone throughout the book, and his voice varies as he reads from the two journals to let the listener know which character is speaking. VERDICT An unbelievable true tale told with excellent pacing, great sympathy, and wonderful research. Those drawn to stories of shipwrecks and human ingenuity in the harshest conditions and with an appreciation for hard work in the face of near-certain death will find this a perfect addition to their listening collection.—Jason L. Steagall, Gateway Technical Coll. Lib., Elkhorn, WI

Product Details

BN ID: 2940171212193
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Publication date: 04/05/2016
Edition description: Unabridged
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