The Lonely Sea And The Sky [Audio Cassette]

Sir Francis Chichester (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 28, 1991

While still a boy, Francis Chichester opted for life in the fast lane. He left school for a wider education and found it whether flying solo from London to Sydney, hazarding a seaplane journey from Australia to Japan, racing typhoons off the coast of China or battling mountainous seas in the Atlantic. He sought great challenges and met them with courage and determination.

THE LONELY SEA AND THE SKY, written shortly after he won the first Observer Single-Handed Transatlantic Race (OSTAR), is the story of his life. It is remarkable not only for adventure, but for the message it leaves us with -- that no matter the odds, there is always scope for what Herbert Hoover called "the uncommon man."

"A remarkable book by a remarkable individual." (Books and Bookmen)

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

10 1.5-hour cassettes

From AudioFile

Francis Chichester's memoirs are chronicled into a diary of his twentieth- century life of travel and adventure, punctuated throughout by danger and close calls with death. He was knighted by Elizabeth II after he became the first man to circumnavigate the world alone in a 54-foot boat. Emotionally, the hero seems reptilian. For example, while Chichester is away flying, his wife dies, and the only emotion he remembers is "surprise," because she hadn't been sick. Christopher Kay's upper-class British English and precise speech make him a perfect choice to create a live performance from dusty memories. The taped recordings are of low fidelity, making the sound muddy. J.A.H. © AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to an alternate Audio Cassette edition.

Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Books on Tape, Inc. (February 28, 1991)
• ISBN-10: 0736619275
• ISBN-13: 978-0736619271
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6.1 x 2.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,771,897 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars True Adventures of One of our Greatest Navigators, July 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Lonely Sea and the Sky (The Armchair traveller series) (Paperback)

This is an autobiography with adventure. It starts with the young Francis and his early life, which moves well and does not linger too much, but introduces us to his matter-of-fact style of writing. Francis tells of his major flying achievements, which are stunning considering they were done in the early, primitive beginnings of aviation, where a compass, a clock and sextant were the navigational tools. He also is not afraid to tell of his mistakes and mishaps too. He flew solo from England to Australia in the 1930's. Then onwards across the Tasman sea, knowing he would have to find a small island in the middle of the ocean or he would run out of fuel and perish, has the tension of the personal account of a kamikazee pilot. To do this he developed a new technique of navigating called 'dead reckoning' and proved it works by finding the island. The book also details his solo sea voyage around the world, and he tells of curious and amazing adventures while he does it. Mr. Chichester has made his mark in adventuring history with his achievements and has come back to tell about it in an exciting way. The book wastes no words and moves quickly, almost too quickly at times, but the tales he tells easily sit one on the edge of the seat anxiously reading on for more. I recommend this book as a wonderful adventure true story for all ages.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perhaps the most amazing adventure book of all, June 24, 2001

By 

R. Sundrud (SLIDELL, LA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Lonely Sea And The Sky (Audio Cassette)

When I came across this book in the local library a couple of years ago and began reading it, I was amazed that it is not better known.

This is a book of hair-raising early aviation adventure.

Chichester describes setting off solo from the England barnstorming his way to Australia almost before he has learned to fly the plane.

His flight from New Zealand to Australia, lost over the open ocean in blinding rain, low on fuel, flying and navigating with the charts in his lap while rainwater pours down is neck is some of the greatest adventure I have ever read.

This book represents adventure on a grand scale--I will be surprised if some publisher does not re-release it.