The Cruise Of the Snark
by London, Jack
Newspaper readers in the United States were horrified when Jack London, inspired by Joshua Slocum's Sailing Alone Around the World (available from The Narrative Press), announced that he would be sailing across the Pacific and teaching himself navigation on the way. His account of the adventure, The Cruise of the Snark, is a slight, charming work, saturated with the writer's personality and a wonderful display of his eye for poetic and ironic details. From the start he makes it clear that he embarked upon this particular adventure out of a spirit of "I Like!" and so he could say, "I did it!" Here is London's account of the day the Snark left San Francisco in April of 1907:And right away things began to happen. -- I had forgotten to calculate on seasick youth, and I had two of them, the cook and the cabin-boy. They immediately took to their bunks and that was the end of their usefulness -- But it did not matter very much anyway as we quickly discovered that our box of oranges had at some time frozen; that our box of apples was mushy and spoiling; that kerosene had been spilled on the carrots, and the turnips were woody and the beets rotten, while the kindling was dead wood that wouldn't burn, and the coal, delivered in rotten potato-sacks, had spilled all over the deck and was washing through the scuppers. But what did that matter? Such things were mere accessories. There was the boat -- she was all right, wasn't she? I strolled along the deck -- and that deck leaked, and leaked badly...then there was the bath-room with its pumps and levers and sea-valves -- it went out of commission inside the first twenty-four hours. Powerful iron levers broke off short in one's hand when one tried to pump with any of them -- And the iron-work on the Snark, no matter what its source, proved to be mush..."London expected to re-create some of Slocum's experiences and during his trip across the Pacific he waited in vain for the flying fish that had filled Slocum's decks; London was forced to stick to his stored provisions. While for the most part the trip was filled with good weather and island-hopping, sometimes it was quite dangerous. Many of the inhabitants of the Solomon Islands were still head-hunters, and he recounts:"When the Minota first struck, there was not a canoe in sight; but like vultures circling down out of the blue, canoes began to arrive from every quarter. The boat's crew, with rifles at the ready, kept them lined up a hundred feet away with a promise of death if they ventured nearer. And there they clung, a hundred feet away, black and ominous, crowded with men, holding their canoes with their paddles on the perilous edge of the breaking surf. In the meantime the bushmen were flocking down from the hills, armed with spears, Sniders [rifles], arrows, and clubs, until the beach was massed with them. To complicate matters, at least ten of our recruits had been enlisted from the very bushmen ashore who were waiting hungrily for the loot of the tobacco and trade goods and all that we had on board."He navigated by feel more than by skill, surfed in Hawaii, and hung out with "The Nature Man" in Typee (the first hippie!). "Martin", one of his crew, turns out to be Martin Johnson, who went on to gain fame in his own right as a nature photographer (see Camera Trails in Africa available from The Narrative Press). London claimed that sailing the Snark gave him a far greater sense of personal accomplishment than writing a book, yet we are glad that he penned this diverting account for us.
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The Cruise of the Snark.
by London, Jack.
- Condition
- Used
- Published
- 1911
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San Francisco, California, USA
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A$387.75
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8vo. New York: The Macmillan Company, 1911. 8vo, 340, (2), 4, ads) pp. Title page tipped in as is the page between 270 and 271 (as called for). Publisher's blue ribbed cloth, lettered in gilt, with mounted color plate, top edge gilt, backstrip a little dulled and worn, boards faintly soiled, front hinge cracking, pages clean; an… Read more about this item Item Price
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The Cruise of the Snark
by London, Jack
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- Used - Very good
- Jacket Condition
- Good
- Edition
- First Edition
- Published
- 1911
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- Hardcover
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Portland, Oregon, USA
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A$5,583.60
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New York: The Macmillan Company, 1911. First Edition. Hardcover. Very good/Good. London's popular account of an ill-fated two-year voyage to the South Pacific in a poorly-built 43-foot sailboat.
BAL 11929. 340 pages, plus a color frontispiece. Illustrated with more than 100 half-tone photographs. First edition (first printing, with no later printings indicated). A very good copy… Read more about this item Item Price
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The Cruise of the Snark
by London, Jack
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- Published
- 1923
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- Hardcover
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Silverdale, Pennsylvania, USA
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A$66.69
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New York: The MacMillan Company. Very Good. 1923. Hardcover. Hardcover, no dustjacket, dark blue cloth with orange title on front cover and bright gold title on spine, printed on heavy stock paper which has caused the stitched binding to stretch a bit at pages 50, 131, 181 and 259, the binding remains secure but this copy should… Read more about this item Item Price
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The Cruise of the Snark
by London, Jack
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- Like New
- Published
- 2003
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- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9780792262442
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Salem, Oregon, USA
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A$12.41
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National Geographic, 2003. Paperback. Like New. 6x0x9. A very nice, unread copy. Binding firm, cover shiny, interior clean and unmarked. London sailed to Hawaii, Samoa, and the Marquesas at the turn of the last century. 210pp. B/w photos. Reprint. Item Price
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The Cruise of the Snark
by Jack London
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- Used - Very Good
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- Good
- Edition
- New Edition
- Published
- 1916
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Northampton, Northamptonshire, GBR
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A$242.49
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UK: Mills and Boon, 1916. New Edition . Cloth. Very Good/Good. 24mo - over 5 - 5¾" tall. New Edition C1916. Undated. Very rare to have the wrapper. Book is very good and bright. Contents good with age toned pages. The wrapper is good only with rubbing/nicks/loss to edges. Wrapper soiled in places. More… Read more about this item Item Price
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The Cruise of the "Snark."
by LONDON, Jack.
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- Used - Small wormholes affect a few dozen leaves and the boards; spine very sunned and worn; a little tanning (and worming) to inscript
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- no date.
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Rochester, New York, USA
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A$1,163.25
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London:: Mills & Boon,, no date.. publisher's blue cloth.. Small wormholes affect a few dozen leaves and the boards; spine very sunned and worn; a little tanning (and worming) to inscription page. . 12mo,. Inscribed and signed by Jack London on the front free endpaper: "We had a dandy fine time anyway, critics to… Read more about this item Item Price
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The Cruise of the Snark
by Jack London
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- Used - Good
- Published
- 2003
- Binding
- Paperback
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- 9780792262442
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Seattle, Washington, USA
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A$10.19
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National Geographic Society, 2003. 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
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The Cruise of the Snark
by London, Jack
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- As New
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- No Jacket
- Published
- 2003
- Binding
- Soft cover
- ISBN
- 9780792262442
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Edmonds, Washington, USA
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A$18.61
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Washington, D. C.: National Geographic, 2003. Soft cover. As New/No Jacket. 6" x 9. 210 pages. National Geographic Adventure Classic. Bright, clean, tight, and square text block, no marks of any kind. Corners sharp. Just like new! The reason a Jack London collector should have this book is that it contains a very in-depth introduction by Anthony Brandt,… Read more about this item Item Price
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The Cruise of the Snark.
by London, Jack.
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Concord, California, USA
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NY, Armed Services Editions, n.d. (1944), first edition thus, wrappers. Softcover.. No. H-221 in this important series, these are his "adventures in the South Seas," issued by the Council on Books in Wartime, designed to fit the pocket of a World War II American GI. Very good. Item Price
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The Cruise of the Snark
by London, Jack
- Condition
- Used - Near Fine
- Edition
- First Edition, First Printing
- Published
- 1911
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- Blue Cloth
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Pasadena, California, USA
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A$2,442.82
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New York: The Macmillan Company, 1911. First Edition, First Printing . Blue Cloth. Near Fine. Photographs Throughout. 1/4265 Copies. Frontispiece (In Color), Xiv;340, 9341,342); Advertisements 343-346. With Extra Stub Showing Between Copyright Page And Dedication Page, And Unusual Thus; Title Page Tipped In, As In All Known Copies. Extra Platen Inserted Between 270 And 271, But Not… Read more about this item Item Price
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The Cruise of the Snark
by Jack London
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- Used - Acceptable
- Published
- 2000
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- Paperback
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- 9780924486463
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Seattle, Washington, USA
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A$9.29
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Sheridan House, Incorporated, 2000. Paperback. Acceptable. Readable copy. Pages may have considerable notes/highlighting. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less.Dust jacket quality is not guaranteed. Item Price
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The Cruise of the Snark
by Jack London
- Condition
- Used - Very Good in Good Dust Wrapper. Dust wrapper sunned at the spine and a touch edgeworn, age spotted on the verso with the
- Published
- 1971
- Binding
- Hardback in Dust Wrapper.
- ISBN
- 9780850361520
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Peasedown St. John, Somerset, GBR
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A$46.54
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London: Seafarer Books, 1971. Hardback in Dust Wrapper.. Very Good in Good Dust Wrapper. Dust wrapper sunned at the spine and a touch edgeworn, age spotted on the verso with the price clipped. A little age-toning to the edges of the text block. The contents complete, clean and tight.. First edition (first printing). Hardback in dust wrapper… Read more about this item Item Price
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The Cruise of the Snark (Penguin Classics)
by London, Jack
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- ISBN
- 9780142437735
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Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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A$15.67
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Penguin Classics. Good. Good. Ship within 24hrs. Satisfaction 100% guaranteed. APO/FPO addresses supported Item Price
A$15.67
The Cruise of the Snark
by London, Jack
- Condition
- Used - Like New
- ISBN
- 9780924486463
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Chicago, Illinois, USA
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A$10.86
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Sheridan House. Used - Like New. 2000. Paperback. Fine. Item Price
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Many Inventions
by Kipling, Rudyard
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- Used - Good
- Published
- 1939
- Binding
- Hardcover
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- 1
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Kings Lynn, Norfolk, GBR
- Item Price
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A$5.72
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Macmillan and Co, Limited, 1939. Hardcover. Good. 12mo - over 6¾ - 7¾" tall. Rubbing to top and tail of spine which is faded. Red boards with embossed elephants head to front cover. Raffles Bookstore Norfolk All orders normally dispatched within one working day. We will gladly supply further images or more information if required. Discounts available for… Read more about this item Item Price
A$5.72
The Cruise of the Snark
by Jack London
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Published
- 2000
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9780924486463
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
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Seattle, Washington, USA
- Item Price
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A$9.29
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Sheridan House, Incorporated, 2000. 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$9.29
The Cruise of the Snark
by London, Jack
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Edition
- Reprint
- Published
- 1996
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN
- 9780924486463
- Quantity Available
- 1
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El Cajon, California, USA
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A$8.53
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New York, N. Y.: Sheridan House Inc, 1996 Very klight cover creases, close to as new.. Reprint. Trade Paperback. Very Good. 8vo - over 7¾" - 9¾" Tall, 340 Pages. Item Price
A$8.53
The Cruise of the Snark
by London, Jack
- Condition
- Used
- Edition
- 1st Edition
- Published
- 1911
- Quantity Available
- 1
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Sacramento, California, USA
- Item Price
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A$589.38
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New York: Macmillan, 1911. 1st Edition . Very good plus in boards that are bright and clean with slight rubbing at spine ends and corners; binding firm. Somewhat faded name stamped on flyleaf and rear pastedown (along with tiny 1912 date on the latter), otherwise extremely clean throughout. A beautiful copy.
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THE CRUISE OF THE SNARK
by London, Jack
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Jacket Condition
- No jacket
- Edition
- First Edition
- Published
- 1911
- Binding
- Hard cover
- Quantity Available
- 1
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Yarmouthport, Massachusetts, USA
- Item Price
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A$465.30
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New York:The Macmillan Company, 1911. First Edition. hard cover. Very Good/No jacket. New York:The Macmillan Company. 1911. xiv+340pp+4pp ads. 1st edition. Illustrated. Hardcover. Color frontispiece inserted. Includes one plate not on list of illustrations, between 270-271. Blue boards lightly soiled, rubbed and shelf-worn. Paste-down on front cover is shelf-worn with a chip. Gilt on boards dulled. Teg. Internally,… Read more about this item Item Price
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The Cruise of the Snark : A Pacific Voyage
by London, Jack
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- Used - Good
- ISBN
- 9780710301390
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- 1
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Reno, Nevada, USA
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A$12.36
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Routledge. Used - Good. Former library book; may include library markings. Used book that is in clean, average condition without any missing pages. Item Price
A$12.36