The lure of the sea is reflected in our neverending fascination with the lives of sailors, and there is no more authentic voice from the forecastle than richard h. You can also read the full text online using our ereader. Two years before the mastchapter iii wikisource, the. This book is available for free download in a number of formats including epub, pdf, azw, mobi and more. Publication date 1910 topics voyages and travels, sailors. While at harvard college, dana had an attack of the measles, more. Pdf two years before the mast download full pdf book. An excellent firsthand account of life on a tall ship in age of sail.
Nothing is more common than to hear people sayare not sailors very idle at sea. The literary work narrative set along the california coast from 1834 to 1836. Two years before the mast audiobook richard henry dana. Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app.
The exmouth shanty men was launched ten years ago as part of the 2007 exmouth festival. Two years before the mast is a book by the american author richard henry dana, jr. While at harvard college, dana had an attack of the measles that affected his vision. This is a true life adventure of two years of the life of an american sailor in the 1830s. With the wind about two points free, the yards braced in a little, and two closereefed topsails and a reefed. The hardships of life at sea damaged his health permanently, but provided him with material for a career as a writer. My life at sea william caius crutchley 28 downloads.
Two years before the mast is a remarkable book, part travelogue and part seafaring adventure. First published in 1841, it is one of americas most famous accounts of life at sea. Life at sea in the age of sail explore royal museums. Source for information on two years before the mast. Drawing from his journals, two years before the mast gives a vivid and detailed account, shrewdly observed and beautifully described, of a common sailors wretched treatment at sea, and of a way of life virtually unknown at that time. A thoroughly impractical guide for going to sea boatus. Its easy to link to paragraphs in the full text archive if this page contains some material that you want to link to but you dont want your visitors to have to scroll down the whole page just hover your mouse over the relevent paragraph and click the bookmark icon that appears to the left of it. This vow he carried out in no visionary scheme of mutiny or foolish paying back to the captain, but by awakening a strong sympathy for the sailors by a voice from the forecastle, in his two years before the mast. Historically unique and surprisingly readable firstperson account of life at sea on a merchant. A personal narrative of life at sea, richard henry dana, jr. Published in 1840, this book had a wide influence on other writers. Drawing from his journals, two years before the mast gives a vivid and detailed account, shrewdly observed and beautifully described, of a common sailor s wretched treatment at sea, and of a way of life virtually unknown at that time. Librivox recording of two years before the mast, by richard henry dana, jr. Two years before the mast, or, a personal narrative of life at sea new york, f840.
Two years before the mast richard henry dana audiobook. In celebration and to mark the occasion, we are pleased to announce the release of our new cd ten years before the mast. Phillips, a keen sailor, was outdoors editor of the washington post for 30 years. Two years before the mast a sailors life at sea richard henry dana jr.
Herman melville, author of moby dick a true american classic adventure book. Two years before the mast is the first person narrative of a young man serving on a sailing ship in the 1830s. While at harvard college, dana had an attack of the measles which affected his vision. Two years before the mast by richard henry dana the. In the book, which takes place between 1834 and 1836, dana gives a vivid account of the life of a common sailor at sea as it really is. Sailors had to accept cramped conditions, disease, poor food and pay, and bad weather. This book is available for free download in a number of formats including epub, pdf. Sailing to california from boston around cape horn, two years before the mast is both an adventure and an eloquent account of life at sea in the ea. In the summer of 1998, i was working in the basement mailorder department of a washington, d.
Two years before the mastchapter i wikisource, the free. Two years before the mast by richard henry dana, jr. Over a period of hundreds of years, seafarers from the age of the early explorers to the time of the battle of trafalgar in 1805, shared many common experiences. It contains a rare and detailed account of life on the california coast a decade before the gold rush revolutionized the regions culture and society. This is a breathtaking true story of adventure on the high seas. Temporality and two years before the mast richard henry dana, jr. The influence of two years before the mast on herman melville jstor characterizations to try his hand at the new literary rage. Two years before the mast was not always an enjoyable read for me, but overall it was a good one, and maybe even a necessary one. Interspersed throughout the narrative are short ditties and sailor s songs that provide a vivid picture of the mentality of nineteenth century seamen. Two years before the mast by richard henry dana on free. Two years before the mast 1911 is based on the diary dana kept while at sea. A sailor who was not an officer or passenger, but only an ordinary seaman was.
While there are many books upon the subject of sea life, there are few that can compare with. This is a breathtaking true story of adventure on the high. Two years before the mastby richard henry dana, jr. Life at sea during the age of sail was filled with hardship. Two years before the mast is a memoir by the american author richard henry dana jr. I feel this accounts for a particularly well written and thoughtful account. Two years before the mast by richard henry dana full. This voyage around cape horn to california and oregon furnished the material for his celebrated work, two years before the mast. A sailor s life at sea know there are many men who, when a few cases of great hardship occur, and it is evident that there is an evil somewhere, think that some arrangement must be made, some law passed, or some society got up, to set all right at once. In his classic memoir, two years before the mast, dana remembers the. The project gutenberg etext of two years before the mast, by. Melville had a couple relatives who had been to sea and were at the time working on naval vessels. Thinking it might help his sight, dana, rather than going on a grand tour as most of his fellow classmates traditionally did and unable to afford it. A great look at what life was really like on the merchant sailing ships of the first half of the 19th century, two years before the mast is also part suspense yarn, with the heros return to his native land in serious doubt due to events beyond his control.
Sea shanties are the work songs used on ships during the age of sail. A film adaptation under the same name was released in 1946. Twenty years before the mast was published in 1896 towards the end of erskines life. Sailing to california from boston around cape horn, two years before the mast is both an adventure and an eloquent account of life at sea in the early nineteenth century.
Being recollections of the first four years of my sea life frank thomas bullen 25 downloads. It is the story of a sailor s life from the forecastle, not a captain, nor a. Two years before the mast read book online for free. Two years before the mast read book online for free read free online. William clark russell 24 february 1844 8 november 1911 was an english writer best known for his nautical novels at the age of russell joined the united kingdoms merchant navy, serving for eight years. While there are many books upon the subject of sea life, there are few that can compare with two years before the mast. Ned myers, or, a life before the mast james fenimore cooper 25 downloads. Meanwhile, melville had read the sea novels of james fenimore cooper and was recently reading richard henry dana jr. This ebook of two years before the mast a personal narrative of life at sea with an introduction and notes by homer eaton keyes, b. Two years before the mast were but an episode in the life of richard henry dana. Twenty years before the mast by charles erskine nook. While attending harvard in the early 1800s, he became ill, and upon recuperating he decided to sail a bit before continuing his education. Two years before the mast a sailor s life at sea richard henry dana jr.
While at harvard college, dana had an attack of the measles, which affected his vision. The book was a great favorite with the jack tar of danas day, and two thousand copies are said to have been sold to liverpool sailors in a single day. He was well educated in his youth and had started college before going to sea as an ordinary sailor. Two years before the mast audiobook by richard henry dana.
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