The Greatest Sailing Stories Ever Told: Twenty-Seven Unforgettable Stories [Paperback]

Christopher Caswell (Editor)

Book Description

Series: Greatest | Publication Date: April 1, 2004

For thousands of years, man has sailed into battle, sailed for rumored wealth, and sailed for pure adventure. And for nearly as long, stories about the sea have entertained, intrigued, and inspired readers. The Greatest Sailing Stories Ever Told brings together some of the most compelling writing of the millennium. Here is Peter Goss's wrenching narrative of incredible courage in the world's most desolate ocean; Ernest Shackleton's understated and awesome account of one of the most daring small-boat journeys ever taken, where failure meant certain death for his long-suffering crew. But sailing is much more than headlong dashes into roaring seas. You'll also find William F. Buckley Jr. on idyllic cruising; James Thurber on the arcane and often impenetrable language of sailors; the legendary Joshua Slocum on sailing alone around the world.
The Greatest Sailing Stories Ever Told is a treasure trove: tears, adrenaline, laughter, and adventure abound. With contributions from:
- James Thurber -William F. Buckley Jr. - Ann Davison - Sterling Hayden - Ernest Shackleton - Tristan Jones - Samuel Eliot Morrison - Joshua Slocum - E. B. White - C. S. Forester - Cleveland Amory - Weston Martyr - Peter Goss - David Kasanof

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A fascinating and entertaining collection."--The Tampa Tribune

"Some of the most compelling writing in the history of man and the sea is embraced in this one volume. It will keep you aloft on the yard till dawn. This book is awash with entertaining narratives." -- Southern Boating

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Back Cover

In "The Boat Journey" Ernest Shackleton calmly recounts perhaps the greatest small-boat sailing achievement ever; in "Close Encounter" an around-the-globe solo adventurer describes how it feels to undertake an epic rescue mission in the world's most tempestuous ocean; in "The Sea and the Wind that Blows," celebrated author E.B. White looks at his passion for sailing with a wry but elegant eye; raconteur Tristan Jones describes part of a voyage he undertook to "set a record that will not be broken until man finds water amongst the stars." Sailing stories, like the sea itself, can evoke many sentiments. Here is the entire spectrum. With contributions from: James Thurber, Ann Davison, Ernest Schackleton, Samuel Eliot Morison, E.B. White, Cleveland Armory, Pete Goss, and many more. (6 1/4 x 9 1/4, 304 pages)

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Lyons Press; 1st edition (April 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592283195
• ISBN-13: 978-1592283194
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #144,269 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

OK, I admit it...that's me in the photo. The short one with the wide cuffs and the spiffy yacht. Obviously, I've had the boating bug for a long time.

I've been an award-winning boating journalist for more than four decades (yipes!), including a decade as the Senior Editor of Yachting Magazine and seven years as the Editor of Sea Magazine. I really got my start as the West Coast editor for One-Design Yachtsman Magazine (now Sailing World) and, after figuring out I needed to know what I was doing, I earned a Master's in Journalism from UCLA.

I write regularly for most of the major boating publications, and I've had a monthly column in Sailing Magazine for 14 years, during which time they haven't edited a single one of my precious words. I guess that's either good news or bad news.

I've owned more boats than I want my wife or banker to know about, but the fleet is always changing. I'm no purist, either: I've had both power and sail and more than few powered by oars, too.

In addition to writing about boats, I hosted the Marine Voyager cable television series seen weekly on the Speed Channel and Outdoor Life networks. Get this: I even appeared on Oprah! as an expert on the boating lifestyle: what a giggle that was! I never knew so many people watched daytime TV!

My boating career has been great fun, ranging from TransPacific Races to one-design sailing to charter cruising in exotic places like Thailand and Tahiti, and I've been involved in every America's Cup since 1970.

You know what? I'm just plain crazy about boats! (I wish I still had Dad's woody station wagon, though!)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good addition., December 11, 2005

By 

Tampa Sailor (Tampa, FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Greatest Sailing Stories Ever Told: Twenty-Seven Unforgettable Stories (Paperback)

A broad selection of sea stories -- you have probably already read some of them -- combined as a collection of short stories. An enjoyable addition to an onboard library.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable assortment of stories, February 16, 2007

By 

abismom (NM, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Greatest Sailing Stories Ever Told: Twenty-Seven Unforgettable Stories (Paperback)

As a one-time sailor, I was taken back to the "old days" by many of these stories. Some are humourous, some awe inspiring, but I think most would be enjoyed by mariner and landlubber alike.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Enjoyable Read on a Cold Winter's Night, August 23, 2005

By 

Mark L. Corson (Lakewood, Ohio) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Greatest Sailing Stories Ever Told: Twenty-Seven Unforgettable Stories (Paperback)

I do not know if these 27 stories are the greatest, but they are certainly great. Caswell picked a wonderful cross section of sailing stories spanning time and space. These stories will be worth reading and re-reading decades from now. Classics.