Alone at Sea
Alone at Sea: The Adventures of Joshua Slocum Ann Spencer,
Publisher: Firefly Books Ltd
ISBN: 1552093948
Edition: Paperback; 1999-09-01
Summary:
"I had only a moment to get all sail down and myself upon the peak
halliards, out of danger, when I saw the mighty crest towering
masthead-high above me. The mountain of water submerged my vessel.
She shook in every timber and reeled under the weight of the sea ..."
What would it be like to sail around the world by yourself,
especially without the telecommunications and technical equipment we
have today? "Alone At Sea" takes readers on such a thrilling journey.
In 1895, Joshua Slocum embarked on a three-year, 46,000-mile solo
circumnavigation of the globe. His boat, a refitted oyster sloop
called Spray, took him through pirate-infested waters and horrific
storms amidst the ghosts and demons of 36 months of solitude. "Alone
at Sea" is his story: "On his first solo day, Slocum found himself
enveloped by fog so thick 'one could almost stand on it.' It was as
if his loneliness had been made visible as the thick fog 'lowered
over the sea like a pall.' He and the Spray were one small speck on
an all-encompassing sea, invisible to the rest of the world. Slocum
pondered his invisibility with a growing awareness of his
insignificance in the universe: 'In the dismal fog I felt myself
drifting into loneliness, an insect on a straw in the midst of the
elements.'" This is the first original full-scale biography of Joshua
Slocum in over 40 years. Ann Spencer spent years poring over the
sailor's own journals and historical records buried in libraries and
archives throughout New England and the Maritimes. She uncovered new
facts, documents and photographs now published here. With Spencer's
engaging text and peppered with Slocum's own journal entries, "Alone
At Sea" is captivating reading for anyone interested in sailing,
nautical history, travel and the soul of a true adventurer. Heroes
come rarely in real life and this is the story of a too-little known
maritime hero. Ann Spencer is a freelance writer and broadcaster. She
is a regular contributor to magazines and produces radio
documentaries. She lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
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