The Arctic Schooner Bowdoin: A Biography [Paperback]

Virginia L. Thorndike (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

Author Virginia Thorndike's love of sailing and great boats shines through in her lively portrait of this remarkable vessel. The 74-year-old Bowdoin comes alive through the personal journals, published records, and tales from dozens of people whose lives have been changed by their time spent with the schooner. Thorndike traces the Bowdoin's diverse lives from an exploration vessel and conscript in the Navy during WW II, to a museum exhibit and a classroom for Outward Bound. The biography includes historic, black-and-white photos of the Bowdoin and those who have sailed aboard her on more than 25 Arctic voyages, as well as outstanding color photos by acclaimed photographer Tom Stewart. Today, owned by Maine Maritime Academy, the Bowdoin is Maine's Official Sailing Vessel and a National Historic Landmark. -- Midwest Book Review

Product Details

• Paperback: 259 pages
• Publisher: North Country Pr (November 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0945980523
• ISBN-13: 978-0945980520
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,153,955 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A poignant, compelling story, July 29, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Maine) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Arctic Schooner Bowdoin: A Biography (Paperback)

Virginia Thorndike has done a nifty job of turning historical fact into a poignant, compelling story, weaving the voices of her sources to create the varied tapestry of Bowdoin's long, distinguished career. She has a gift for story telling, and for including and explaining shipbuilding concepts (such as "treenails") without interrupting the flow. One felt what it was like to be sailing the Labrador on Bowdoin, or to be struggling to restore her when she had fallen on hard times.

I do have one criticism: any book so filled with people, places and events should have at least a rudimentary index. For shame, North Country Press! I read the book over a series of weekends and found myself wanting to refer back now and then. That's a nit, though: this is a good read!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Could be a great account., July 19, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (norfolk,ma. usa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Arctic Schooner Bowdoin: A Biography (Paperback)

As an avid ex-sailor and amateur historian the Bowdoin has been well known . What is lacking in the book are several ommissions that should be added in the next edition .

Ex. An index would be useful in chasing down facets of information that one might wish to pursue . E.g. "Etah" is mentioned . As I know it is a base in Greenland it is not easy to extract data on this area. {One wonders if the word is a slap at humor-{Backwards it spells "Hate"} Also missing are maps of each major voyage and the time frame that it covered , If the author would get in touch with me I have an historical card and picture of the Bowdoin mailed in 1925 from Canada showing the bowdoin at the three radio operators that manned the Zenith short wave radio as well as the Bowdoin . . The card relates that it was at Etah which is 78 degrees north latitude

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nice portrait of traditional boat & its people, July 28, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Arctic Schooner Bowdoin: A Biography (Paperback)

An engaging and readable account of a famous and much-loved traditional sailing vessel, much of it through the accounts of the people directly involved in sailing the Bowdoin, or restoring her later in her long life. The author is particularly good at presenting the people involved and letting their interests and quirks show through, without becoming intrusive (reminiscent of John McPhee). The writing exceeds the usual standard for enthusiast books about boats.