Two years before the mast is a memoir by the american author richard henry. The literary style provides a concrete description of a seamans life to serve as a practical guide, and not as an adventure novel. This book is available for free download in a number of formats including epub, pdf. 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. Last week, around 30,000 people downloaded books from my site 8 people. At length those peculiar, longdrawn sounds, which denote that the crew are heaving at. Nothing is more common than to hear people sayare not sailors very idle at sea. Two years before the mast by richard henry dana the. 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.
This page contains details about the nonfiction book two years before the mast by richard henry dana published in 1840. In the summer of 1998, i was working in the basement mailorder department of a washington, d. Two years before the mast is a book by the american author richard henry dana, jr. Yet a sailor s life is at best but a mixture of a little good with much evil, and a little pleasure with much pain. While at harvard college, dana had an attack of the measles that affected his vision. It is the story of a sailor s life from the forecastle, not a captain, nor a. Two years before the mast is a memoir by the american author richard henry dana, jr. 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. While at harvard college, dana had an attack of the measles. This is a true life adventure of two years of the life of an american sailor in the 1830s. This is a breathtaking true story of adventure on the high. Two years before the mast audiobook by richard henry dana. The book was a great favorite with the jack tar of danas day, and two thousand copies are said to have been sold to.
Two years before the mast richard henry dana audiobook. Two years before the mastchapter iii wikisource, the. Two years before the mast a sailor s life at sea richard henry dana jr. Librivox recording of two years before the mast, by richard henry dana, jr. 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. Omitting, then, as unnecessary any account of the intervening events narrated in two years before the mast, the autobiographical sketch resumes the narrative by restating the opposition.
A sailor, seaman, mariner, or seafarer is a person who works aboard a watercraft as part of its crew, and may work in any one of a number of different fields that are related to the operation and maintenance of a ship the profession of the sailor is old, and the term sailor has its etymological roots in a time when sailing ships were the main mode of transport at sea, but it now refers to. Sorry, we are unable to provide the full text but you may find it at the following locations. His services in fields other than literary occupied the greater part of his life. Two years before the mast by richard henry dana, jr. The beautiful is linked with the revolting, the sublime with the commonplace, and the solemn. While at harvard college, dana had an attack of the measles which affected his vision. Two years before the mast audiobook richard henry dana jr. We forget the hardships that made prefer jail to a sailor s lot.
A film adaptation under the same name was released in 1946. As opposed to the culture associated with books, the sailor s life offers health as well as romance and freedom. Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app. Two years before the mast is a remarkable book, part travelogue and part seafaring adventure. Jul 12, 2019 it is the story of a sailor s life from the forecastle, not a captain, nor a passenger, but a regular hand. Dec 22, 2008 two years before the mast is a book by the american author richard henry dana, jr. Temporality and two years before the mast richard henry dana, jr. Two years before the mast were but an episode in the life of richard henry dana. It is the story of a sailor s life from the forecastle, not a captain, nor a passenger, but a regular hand. In his classic memoir, two years before the mast, dana remembers the raging.
Publication date 1910 topics voyages and travels, sailors. While attending harvard in the early 1800s, he became ill, and upon recuperating he decided to sail a bit before continuing his education. I wondered at his memory, which enabled him to recite so beautifully a long prose passage, so much more difficult than verse. A personal narrative of life at sea, richard henry dana, jr. Herman melville, author of moby dick a true american classic adventure book. Historically unique and surprisingly readable firstperson account of life at sea on a merchant. A thoroughly impractical guide for going to sea boatus.
In the tradition of cooper and melville, the story chronicles life at sea in the 1800s. 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. Two years before the mast by richard henry dana overdrive. Sorry, we are unable to provide the full text but you may find it at the following location s. Notes on sea chanties in two years before the mast recently i reread two years before the mast by richard henry dana, jr. Two years before the mast audiobook richard henry dana. Two years before the mast masterpieces of american literature. Two years before the mast a sailors life at sea richard henry dana jr. Dana gives a vivid account of the life of a common sailor at sea as it really is. 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.
Two years before the mast by richard henry dana full. Two years before the mast is a captivating account of. While there are many books upon the subject of sea life, there are few that can compare with. 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. Omitting, then, as unnecessary any account of the intervening events narrated in two years before the mast, the autobiographical sketch resumes the narrative by restating the opposition i will take this journal up, again, from the place where my published narration ends. Being recollections of the first four years of my sea life frank thomas bullen 25 downloads. 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. 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. Two years before the mast was conceived as a protest and written to improve the lot of the common sailor. Call it sailors luck when at some dire moment a hand shoots out, rough as oak. This elibron classics book is a reprint of a 1853 edition by g. Two years before the mastchapter iii wikisource, the free.
This is a breathtaking true story of adventure on the high seas. 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. It is the story of a sailors life from the forecastle, not a captain, nor a passenger, but a regular hand. Two years before the mast by richard henry dana full text. Two years before the mast masterpieces of american. 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. Aug 26, 2016 while there are many books upon the subject of sea life, there are few that can compare with two years before the mast. While there are many books upon the subject of sea life, there are few that can compare with two years before the mast. While at harvard college, dana had an attack of the measles, which affected his vision. Two years before the mast 1911 is based on the diary dana kept while at sea. Two years before the mast, free pdf, ebook global grey. Two years before the mast by richard henry dana the 976th. First published in 1841, it is one of americas most famous accounts of life at sea.
Tall ships prompt dreams of life on the historic high seas. Compared with what ive found in other late 19th century and early 20th century sailor memoirs, there are surprisingly many references to specific songs. Jan 22, 2016 when i first left port, and found that we were kept regularly employed for a week or two, i supposed that we were getting the vessel into sea trim, and that it would soon be over, and we should have nothing to do but to sail the ship but i found that it continued so for two years, and at the end of the two years there was as much to be done as. This book is the 976th greatest nonfiction book of all time as determined by.