Two Years Before the Mast Audiobook By Richard Henry Dana cover art

Two Years Before the Mast

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Two Years Before the Mast

By: Richard Henry Dana
Narrated by: Bernard Mayes
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Richard Henry Dana referred to this book as "a voice from the sea". It influenced Conrad and Melville, and has become a maritime classic that has inspired legions of men with a passion for the sea.

Dana, a law student turned sailor for health reasons, sailed in 1834 aboard the brig Pilgrim on a voyage from Boston around Cape Horn to California. (Hence the city name Dana Point.) 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.

(P)1995 Blackstone Audio Inc. Adventurers, Explorers & Survival Biographies & Memoirs Travel Writing & Commentary Water Sports
Authentic Seafaring Account • Vivid Historical Descriptions • Excellent Narration • Fascinating California History

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Some of the sailing talk and terms is a bit tedious, but stories of harbors work and the Kanakas is something you don't get much of in a 1st person account from such an open minded person, in 1832. A true mind of the enlightenment is Dana and his story of California before the gold rush is not to be missed.

Love the narrator. Stories of a way by gone era.

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This is a great story not only for its historical significance but also for the quality of writing and the fantastic job done by the narrator. I have just listened to it once and can't wait to listen to it again! We love sailing stories and have our own podcast at The Sailing Podcast where we have also left a review there. Come and join Carina and I on our journey...

It was just like being there!

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This book, a long favorite of mine, is even better as an audiobook. Somehow, rigging and reefing the top'sls makes more sense when read outloud--you can realize what action is taking place aloft. The story--well, it's amazing. And it's American history in a capsule that is incomparable; from the time of Andrew Jackson to the start of the Civil War and the founding of California. It is amazing to realize that from the 1830's to the 1850's, California went from a frontier to a vigorous, urbanized society --in 20 years! Astonishing. Dana covers the changes in his afterward written 24 years after his sea voyage as a youth. The only problem with Mayes' recording is that there is a lot of technical sloppiness--one part has background over-recording of some other voices, and in one part, the recording markers, to be removed, are left in. Mayes has a kind of fruity, British voice, yet he gets excited during the worst tales of storms and conveys the words of the author with emotion.

Great as an audiobook, recording has issues

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Wonderful book! WELL worth the time to listen. Well Done and Thank You to all involved in bringing this book to Autable.

Fantastic history!

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A very important work that informed so much about the history of California. Keep a nautical dictionary at hand to be able to follow some of the more exciting parts.

Nautical Dictionary required

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