Two Years Before the Mast is Richard Henry Dana Jr's captivating account of life as a common sailor on board a merchant ship in the early 1830s. Initially an attempt to remedy the author's eye fatigue, the two-year voyage from Boston to California had a transformative effect on Dana, whose diary gives a fascinating snapshot of pre-Gold Rush California. Dana captures the cruel conditions on board ship, the injustices of merchant seamen at the hands of brutally unforgiving captains, and the treacherous icy weather at Cape ...
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Two Years Before the Mast is Richard Henry Dana Jr's captivating account of life as a common sailor on board a merchant ship in the early 1830s. Initially an attempt to remedy the author's eye fatigue, the two-year voyage from Boston to California had a transformative effect on Dana, whose diary gives a fascinating snapshot of pre-Gold Rush California. Dana captures the cruel conditions on board ship, the injustices of merchant seamen at the hands of brutally unforgiving captains, and the treacherous icy weather at Cape Horn. He portrays a rich cast of characters (human and non-human), including the people of Mexican California from whose ranches Dana would load and ship cowhides - then the most active trade along the California Coast. An iconic maritime memoir said to have influenced Herman Melville, Two Years Before the Mast remains one of America's greatest and most vivid seafaring tales. This recording includes Twenty-Four Years After, Dana's nostalgic reflection on his famous adventure.
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Add this copy of Two Years Before the Mast to cart. $96.49, new condition, Sold by Just one more Chapter rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Miramar, FL, UNITED STATES, published 2022 by Naxos and Blackstone Publishin.
A fantastic book that draws you in. This reminds me of Kidnapped or Treasure Island. You are there with the characters and the history is real.
I have always loved stories where the characters are pitted against the elements and must face and overcome what seems like harsh odds. One can still identify with these persons.
Edward B
May 19, 2011
not in a second-hand bookstore...
Not in any second-hand bookstore in Marin or SF I could find. But it has been re-printed and this was a most excellent copy. My #1 son wanted to read it, even though I cautioned him I slogged through it when I was in junior high or high school, and it seemed like two years before it was over. Haven't heard what he thinks of that present yet. Could be he's still slogging away himself.
