Dougal Robertson (1924–1992)

A rip-snorter. I've read it many times since discovering it as a teenager and still love its immediacy, urgency and unquenchable human spirit. Especially noteworthy is the way the writer does not attempt to hide the inevitable tensions between the adult castaways, including some really knock-em-drag-em-out arguments with his wife. These people really were literally on the edge of death every minute of every day of their ordeal and the rawness of their plight is eloquently captured. Fantastic book.… (altro)

The amazing story of a family's 38 day survival on the 'savage seas' following a collision with a pod of killer whales. As luck would have it, the author was a qualified merchant seaman and his wife a qualified nurse. The author's account wastes little time on character development, throwing the reader almost immediately into the family's predicament. The family's spirit, discipline and ingenuity with little resources is remarkable. Every detail of the family's struggle is evoked with gritty realism.

I don't usually talk about particular editions. However, the 1974 paperback is a wonderful pocketbook size and includes sketches of the boat and wildlife, and photographs from their rescue.… (altro)