Joshua Slocum (1) (1844–1909)

This little book is indeed a page-turner. It contains five chapters of "Sailing Alone Around the World", describing the most hazardous part of his voyages, the first solo circumnavigation (between 1895-1898) - and it certainly fulfils what was the publisher's likely intention, that is to draw the reader in and add the paperback to one's reading list! Captain Slocum writes very well indeed, a "writer of powerful simplicity" as the publishes states. Also on the back cover is this "[this book] evokes a man attuned to his craft and his world, observant of men and animals, resourceful, above all sympathetic, whose delight in each moment is generously available to all." - I agree and, after reading this book, I am sure you will agree too!… (altro)

Born in Nova Scotia, Slocum was a naturalized American. He set off alone in 1895 and spent three years circumnavigaing the world in The Spray, a 37 foot sloop he mostly built himself. This is his personal account published in 1900. It was fun to read this with a map nearby to follow his route and the remote islands he visited. He didn't inflate his terrific achievement or what he endured apart from saying a couple of times that he felt a bit lonely. Curiously, the account had little about the actual sailing, but concentrated on places and people he met. The journey was not without events: he celebrated Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee while in Queensland, Australia and in Samoa met with Fanny, wife of Robert Louis Stevenson.

Off the coast of Australia he encountered a whaling ship, a trade new to the seas at the time. The captain assured the crew that to kill a whale was "no different than killing a rabbit". It's only to be expected that the writing is dated and definitely not PC, but it's still an interesting memoir and it set the bar high for the explorers that followed.

This is one of several books my son's friend John mailed to me as lockdown entertainment.… (altro)