The Survivor

by Thomas Keneally

First published 1969

Alec Ramsey is the sole survivor of a doomed Antarctic expedition that cost the life of his friend and leader, Stephen Leeming. For forty years, Ramsey has grappled with the guilt, burying himself in academia. But now, Leeming's body is discovered, preserved in the ice - and Ramsey must confront the demons he's suppressed, risking the secure life he's built. As he's drawn back to the scene of the tragedy, Ramsey's memories grow more vivid and his obsession deepens. Can he finally uncover the truth of what happened, and learn to truly live with the consequences?

Genres: drama, adventure, mystery, contemporary

Vibes: emotional, intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking

Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, unreliable-narrator

Setting: Antarctica

Period: 20th-century

282 pages · Hardcover · Viking Adult

Content warnings: mental-illness

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