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8 Men and a Duck: An Improbable Voyage by Reed Boat to Easter Island
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8 Men and a Duck: An Improbable Voyage by Reed Boat to Easter Island Hardback - 2002

by Nick Thorpe

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Reader reviews for 8 Men and a Duck: An Improbable Voyage by Reed Boat to Easter Island

From the publisher

On a fateful South American bus trip, journalist Nick Thorpe overheard some fellow passengers discussing an improbable plan to sail 2,500 miles from northern Chile to Easter Island on the "Viracocha" -- a boat made of reeds. The crew's aim in reviving this pre-Incan boat-building technology was twofold: to reopen the controversial migration theories of Thor Heyerdahl, who sailed his boat the "Kon-Tiki" from Peru to Polynesia in 1947, and to have one heck of an adventure in the process. Thorpe talked his way on board Captain Phil Buck's "Viracocha" only to find himself plagued by uncertainty. Why did the crew include a tree surgeon, a jewelry salesman, and two ducks? What happened to the navigator? Did anybody actually know how to sail? And, most important, where was the life raft?

"8 Men and a Duck" charts this hilarious and un-nerving Pacific voyage as it rolls between waves of high drama and high farce: from the five-day launch off a Chilean beach to the bungled phone call that triggered a naval rescue alert to the sad fate of Pedro the duck to the constant race against the inexorable sinking of the soggy hull.

Despite the best efforts of storms and sharks and fast-moving freighters, an alarming lack of sailing qualifications, and a rival explorer dogging the adventure at every turn, the crew members of the "Viracocha" lived to tell their extraordinary tale right through to its wickedly unexpected conclusion. Nick Thorpe's account is by turns funny, touching, and thrilling -- a story of friendship, fate, and the unlikely distances people will go for real adventure.

First line

The day Stephane Guerin materialized like an unshaven ghost from the exhaust fumes and clambered onto my bus, I had no reason to expect that he would alter my life.

Details

  • Title 8 Men and a Duck: An Improbable Voyage by Reed Boat to Easter Island
  • Author Nick Thorpe
  • Binding Hardback
  • Edition First Edition
  • Pages 256
  • Volumes 1
  • Language ENG
  • Publisher Free Press, NY
  • Publication date June 10, 2002
  • Illustrated Yes
  • ISBN 9780743219280 / 0743219287
  • Weight 1.03 lbs (0.47 kg)
  • Dimensions 9.55 x 6.36 x 0.95 in (24.26 x 16.15 x 2.41 cm)
  • Category Travel - General
  • Library of Congress Catalogue Number 2002019715
  • Dewey Decimal Code 910.916

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8 men and a duck - an improbable voyage by reed boat to easter island
Stock photo: cover may vary

8 men and a duck - an improbable voyage by reed boat to easter island

by thorpe, nick

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  • Hardback
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ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780743219280 / 0743219287
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Hard Cover. Free Press 2002. Unless Listed in this decription, VG or Better.
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8 Men and a Duck: An Improbable Voyage by Reed Boat to Easter Island
Stock photo: cover may vary

8 Men and a Duck: An Improbable Voyage by Reed Boat to Easter Island

by Thorpe, Nick

  • Used
  • Very good
  • Hardback
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Very good
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ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780743219280 / 0743219287
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Free Press, 2002. Hardcover. Very Good. Former library book; May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
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8 Men and a Duck : An Improbable Voyage by Reed Boat to Easter Island

8 Men and a Duck : An Improbable Voyage by Reed Boat to Easter Island

by Nick Thorpe

  • Used
  • Very good
  • Hardback
Condition
Very good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780743219280 / 0743219287
Quantity available
1
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Description:
Free Press, 2002. Hardcover. Very Good. May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed.
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A$10.00
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8 Men and a Duck: An Improbable Voyage by Reed Boat to Easter Island

8 Men and a Duck: An Improbable Voyage by Reed Boat to Easter Island

by Thorpe, Nick

  • Used
  • Very good
  • Hardback
  • first
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Very good
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ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780743219280 / 0743219287
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New York, New York, U. S. A.: Free Press, 2002. First Edition 1st Printing. Hardcover. Very Good/Very Good. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" tall. First Edition (Number Line With The One Present). Rem. Mk. On The Lower Edges. Minor Shelf Wear.
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8 Men and a Duck : An Improbable Voyage by Reed Boat to Easter Island
Stock photo: cover may vary

8 Men and a Duck : An Improbable Voyage by Reed Boat to Easter Island

by Thorpe, Nick

  • Used
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ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780743219280 / 0743219287
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Free Press. Used - Very Good. Former library copy. Pages intact with possible writing/highlighting. Binding strong with minor wear. Dust jackets/supplements may not be included. Includes library markings. Stock photo provided. Product includes identifying sticker. Better World Books: Buy Books. Do Good.
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8 Men and a Duck : An Improbable Voyage by Reed Boat to Easter Island
Stock photo: cover may vary

8 Men and a Duck : An Improbable Voyage by Reed Boat to Easter Island

by Thorpe, Nick

  • Used
Condition
Used
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780743219280 / 0743219287
Quantity available
1
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Description:
Free Press. Used - Good. Pages intact with minimal writing/highlighting. The binding may be loose and creased. Dust jackets/supplements are not included. Stock photo provided. Product includes identifying sticker. Better World Books: Buy Books. Do Good.
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8 Men and a Duck: An Improbable Voyage by Reed Boat to Easter Island

8 Men and a Duck: An Improbable Voyage by Reed Boat to Easter Island

by Thorpe, Nick

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  • Hardback
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ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780743219280 / 0743219287
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NY: Free Press, Simon & Schuster, 2002. A stock image [photo] is an accurate representation of the listed book's dust jacket design. Complete number line at copyright page. NON price-clipped dust jacket [$ 24.00], clean, crisp, colors bright, minor edge wear. 240 pp, clean, unmarked. Illustrated with B&W photographs and drawings. Orange boards, cream colored spine, black lettering. Interesting [history], amusing [duck & other characters], entertaining [shipmate antics], thrilling [sharks, hurricanes, a sinking boat] read. Media Mail, Priority & most international shipping include free tracking information. Every book listed is located in my smoke free and climate controlled shop. All are inspected by me and will have qualities and/or flaws described. . First Edition First Printing. Hard Cover. As New/Near Fine. Illus. by Various Photographers & Artists.
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8 Men and a Duck: An Improbable Voyage by Reed Boat to Easter Island
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8 Men and a Duck: An Improbable Voyage by Reed Boat to Easter Island

by Thorpe, Nick

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ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
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New York: Free Press. Fine copy in fine dust jacket. 2002. 1st. hardcover. 8vo, 240 pp. .
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8 Men and a Duck: An Improbable Voyage by Reed Boat to Easter Island
Stock photo: cover may vary

8 Men and a Duck: An Improbable Voyage by Reed Boat to Easter Island

by Thorpe, Nick

  • Used
  • Hardback
  • first
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First Edition
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Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780743219280 / 0743219287
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Free Press, 2002-05-28. First Edition. hardcover. Used: Good. 6.25x1.00x9.25. Buy with confidence. Excellent Customer Service & Return policy.
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8 Men and a Duck: An Improbable Voyage by Reed Boat to Easter Island
Stock photo: cover may vary

8 Men and a Duck: An Improbable Voyage by Reed Boat to Easter Island

by Thorpe, Nick

  • Used
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  • Hardback
Condition
Good
Binding
Hardcover
ISBN 10 / ISBN 13
9780743219280 / 0743219287
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hardcover. Good. Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items. May be an ex-library book.
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