From Robinson Crusoe and The Swiss Family Robinson to Alive! and Adrift, tales of survival have always captivated readers. This powerful collection chronicles the remarkable true stories of real-life maroons, castaways, and other survivors as they struggle to endure against insurmountable odds. From the 1500s to the present, in the most isolated and unforgiving terrains imaginable, they faced shipwrecks and plane crashes, crossed vast deserts and icy poles, and struggled against avalanches, tornadoes, and earthquakes. Here are their moral dilemmas, their personalities, and their influence on society, literature, and art. Desperate Journeys, Abandoned Souls is an unforgettable exploration of a subject of perennial fascination.
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"I enjoyed this book. I am always interested in "survival-against-all-odds" stories - what makes some people survive and others don't? Each story is true and well-told. This book packed adventure, travel and truth into each individual story." — Barbara (4 out of 5 stars)
"I enjoyed this book. I am always interested in "survival-against-all-odds" stories - what makes some people survive and others don't? Each story is true and well-told. This book packed adventure, travel and truth into each individual story."
“The ultimate book of ordeals…Fascinating, entertaining, and horrifying. I heartily recommend it.”
“With painstaking research, riveting detail and elegant prose, [Leslie] creates a keen psychological study as well as a paean to the courage, resourcefulness and perseverance of the human body and mind.”
“Cullen reads in a riveting deadpan. His voice is low key, but the urgency and drama of the stories come through loud and clear. For survival fans.”
“A scholarly but highly readable treatment of a subject holding an inordinate fascination for many people.”
" Just okay. Some of the stories were insightful, others a bit slow and boring. The overall trend from frequent decade-long maroons to virtually no unexplored/uninhabited places on earth is a rather interesting conversion. "
" One of the most fascinating books I've ever read. Could NOT put it down. "
" These true stories are enthralling. The one about Antoine de Saint-Exupary's plane crash in the desert is unforgettable. "
" five stars to the stories I managed to read from this enormous book "
" An unbelievably fascinating book about shipwrecks and maroons, and what people will go through (and do!) to survive ... Material for a dozen screenplays here ... Absolutely recommended for your desert isle reading ... "
Edward E. Leslie is the author of The Devil Knows How To Ride, the biography of the Civil War Confederate guerrilla William Clarke Quantrill, and the internationally acclaimed Desperate Journeys, Abandoned Souls. He lives in Massillon, Ohio.
John Lescault, a native of Massachusetts, is a graduate of the Catholic University of America. He lives in Washington, DC, where he works in theater.
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