Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different
Two Years Before the Mast A Personal Narrative (Dover Maritime Books) Paperback - 2007
by Richard Henry Dana
Summary
The lure of the sea is reflected in our never-ending fascination with the lives of sailors, and there is no more authentic "voice from the forecastle" than Richard H. Dana's in Two Years Before the Mast. While attending Harvard in the early 1800's, he became ill, and upon recuperating he decided to sail a bit before continuing his education. He joined the Pilgrim as a common sailor and his book provides a detailed description of the Pilgrim's 1834 journey from Boston around Cape Horn and along the western coast of North America. Dana brings alive for us the daily existence of life at sea in the golden age of sail:'For a few minutes, all was uproar and apparent confusion: men flying about like monkeys in the rigging; ropes and blocks flying; orders given and answered, and the confused noises of men singing out at the ropes. The top-sails came to the mast-heads with "Cheerily, men!" and, in a few minutes, every sail was set; for the wind was light. The head sails were backed, the windlass came round "slip - slap" to the cry of the sailors; - "Hove short, sir," said the mate; - "Up with him!" - "Aye, aye, sir." - A few hearty and long heaves, and the anchor showed its head. "Hook cat!" - The fall was stretched along the decks; all hands laid hold; - "Hurrah, for the last time," said the mate; and the anchor came to the cat-head to the tune of "Time for us to go," with a loud chorus. Everything was done quick, as though it were for the last time. The head yards were filled away, and our ship began to move through the water...'And what do sailors do for fun? Here is Dana's account of shore leave outside San Francisco:'After this repast, we had a fine run, scouring the whole country on our fleet horses, and came into town soon after sundown. Here we found our companions who had refused to go to ride with us, thinking that a sailor has no more business with a horse than a fish has with a balloon. They were moored, stem and stern, in a grog-shop, making a great noise, with a crowd of Indians and hungry half-breeds about them, and with a fair prospect of being stripped and dirked, or left to pass the night in the calabozo. With a great deal of trouble, we managed to get them down to the boats, though not without many angry looks and interferences from the Spaniards, who had marked them out for their prey...Our forecastle, as usual after a liberty-day, was a scene of tumult all night long from the drunken ones. They had just got to sleep toward morning, when they were turned up with the rest, and kept at work all day in the water, carrying hides, their heads aching so that they could hardly stand. This is sailor's pleasure.'This classic is rich with relationships between officers and crew, maintenance of discipline including horrific floggings, types of work, excursions onto land, contact with other ships, sailor's life stories, and encounters with people on shore. And really, we all have a bit of the old salt in us, and reading Dana one can re-live all those childhood shipwreck games. But this book is irresistible for the lingo alone. Haul to!
Details
- Title Two Years Before the Mast A Personal Narrative (Dover Maritime Books)
- Author Richard Henry Dana
- Binding Paperback
- Pages 311
- Language ENG
- Publisher Dover Publications
- Date June 5, 2007
- ISBN 9780486458021
More Copies for Sale
Two Years Before the Mast: A Personal Narrative
by Dana, Richard Henry
- Used
- good
- Paperback
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780486458021 / 0486458024
- Quantity Available
- 2
- Seller
-
Seattle, Washington, United States
- Item Price
-
A$12.27FREE shipping to USA
Show Details
Description:
Dover Publications, 2007. Paperback. Good. Pages can have notes/highlighting. Spine may show signs of wear. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
Item Price
A$12.27
FREE shipping to USA
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different
Two Years Before the Mast : A Personal Narrative
by Dana, Richard Henry, Jr
- Used
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780486458021 / 0486458024
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Mishawaka, Indiana, United States
- Item Price
-
A$12.67FREE shipping to USA
Show Details
Description:
Dover Publications, Incorporated. Used - Very Good. Used book that is in excellent condition. May show signs of wear or have minor defects.
Item Price
A$12.67
FREE shipping to USA
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different
Two Years Before the Mast: A Personal Narrative (Dover Maritime Books)
by Richard Henry Dana Jr
- Used
- good
- Paperback
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780486458021 / 0486458024
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
HOUSTON, Texas, United States
- Item Price
-
A$12.75FREE shipping to USA
Show Details
Description:
Dover Publications, 2007-06-05. Paperback. Good.
Item Price
A$12.75
FREE shipping to USA
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different
Two Years Before the Mast: A Personal Narrative (Dover Maritime)
by Dana Jr., Richard Henry
- New
- Paperback
- Condition
- New
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780486458021 / 0486458024
- Quantity Available
- 825
- Seller
-
Fairfax Station, Virginia, United States
- Item Price
-
A$16.37A$6.14 shipping to USA
Show Details
Description:
Dover Publications, 2007-06-05. Paperback. New.
Item Price
A$16.37
A$6.14
shipping to USA
Stock Photo: Cover May Be Different
Two Years Before the Mast: A Personal Narrative (Dover Maritime)
by Dana Jr., Richard Henry
- Used
- Paperback
- Condition
- Like New
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
- 9780486458021 / 0486458024
- Quantity Available
- 825
- Seller
-
Fairfax Station, Virginia, United States
- Item Price
-
A$16.95A$6.14 shipping to USA
Show Details
Description:
Dover Publications, 2007-06-05. Paperback. Like New.
Item Price
A$16.95
A$6.14
shipping to USA