Product Description

"Two Years Before the Mast is a book by the American author Richard Henry Dana, Jr., written after a two-year sea voyage starting in 1834 and published in 1840. A film adaptation under the same name was released in 1946.

While at Harvard College Dana had an attack of the measles which affected his sight. Thinking it might help his sight, Dana, rather than going on a Grand Tour as most of his classmates traditionally did (and unable to afford it anyway), and being something of a non-conformist, left Harvard to enlist as a common sailor on a voyage around Cape Horn, on the brig Pilgrim. He returned to Massachusetts two years later aboard the Alert (which left California sooner than the Pilgrim).

He kept a diary throughout the voyage, and after returning he wrote a recognized American classic, Two Years Before the Mast, published in 1840, the same year of his admission to the bar." (Quote from wikipedia.org)

About the Author

"Richard Henry Dana Jr. (August 1, 1815 - January 6, 1882) was an American lawyer and politician, and author of the book Two Years Before the Mast.

Dana was born into one of the first families of Cambridge, Massachusetts, grandson of Francis Dana, and attended Harvard College. Having trouble with his vision after a bout of the measles, he thought a voyage might help his failing sight. Rather than going on a Grand Tour of Europe, in 1834 he left Harvard to enlist as a common sailor on a voyage around Cape Horn to the then-remote California, at that time still a part of Mexico. He set sail on the brig Pilgrim (180 tons, 86.5 feet long), visited a number of settlements in California (including Monterey, San Pedro, San Juan Capistrano, San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Santa Clara), and San Francisco. He returned to Massachusetts two years later as a deckhand on the Indiaman Alert, after making a winter passage

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #165604 in Books
• Published on: 2008-10-16
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 378 pages

Customer Reviews

Journey of life and the power of the sea
I read this book after reading some poetry by Pablo Neruda, in which he sparked a renewed love for the sea and its mysteries within me. This story is about a boy reaching manhood and the battle that he fights within himself, and the battle without against man and the unrelenting power of nature. At points it is difficult reading if one is not familiar with ships of the 1830's and 1840's, but that is part of it. He too had to learn and adapt to his situation; he was entering into a world new and unknown. It is concurrent with London's stories of struggle because it is not crowded with the survival of the fittest motif but rather it paints this very struggle without the preaching. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and the full circle ending. He returns to the world he once conquered to find that it is no longer the same place that he left it and he is now on a different journey.

A fine read!
The book descriprion on this page is good and I enjoyed this edition of the book with the help of the glossary provided in this edition which contains definitions of sailing terms and and few archaic usages that are in this book. It made it much more enjoyable and understandable.

I liked the grueling portarit of life at sea, reading some first written observations of early California, a fine and admiring description of a very able-bodied seaman that Dana encountered and many other points.

I think to that this challenging adventure for Mr. Dana restulted in restored vision for his failing eyes after he removed himself from life perhaps largely behind a desk. Could the neccessity of challenge and needed to see have contributed?

There are many facets and admirable points in this book. I think you would enjoy it.

HISTORY ALIVE
A fascinating account of a mid-19th century sea voyage undertaken by a 19 year-old whose studies have been interrupted. His decision to sail with the Pilgrim on the trading route round Cape Horn to the western coast of America changes his life (the land route was yet to be opened up). He writes with vivacity, accuracy and humor, and provides us with a window on to the arduous life of a merchant sailor, constantly kept at work on sea and on land (with the hide trade) by domineering captains and first mates (some better than others). As a result of his two year voyage, he came back Boston and finished his training for the law. He dedicated a good part of his life to the cause of sailors to improve their working conditions. His story is an inspiration.