A Splendid Madness: A Man, a Boat, a Love Story [Hardcover]

Thomas Froncek (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2004

How does a sensible middle-aged family man suddenly find himself clinging to the tiller of a runaway sailboat and shouting for joy? The answers are found in this highly entertaining account of one man's late-blooming love affair with sailing. Froncek got his first taste of sailing in college, but it was not until he was facing a mid-life crisis that he was tempted to try it again. Before long, he was swept away by an unexpected passion. Many of his new sailing buddies were also late-bloomers - and just as loopy as he was about all things nautical. Together they endured many rites of passage, from learning the difference between a sheet and a scupper to getting home safely after a big blow, and from finding an equilibrium between wind and water to balancing need and desire, boat and family, love and obsession. A Splendid Madness will stir fond memories among old sailing hands and newcomers alike. It will encourage those who dream of someday sailing their own boat, and will enable puzzled friends and family to better understand the strange obsession that grips those who adore boats and sailing.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Reading a love story is always a treat, especially one that begins with shy overtures that lead to passion, commitment, then comfort, but the love Froncek writes about is not that of a man for another human being, but rather a man's love for sailing. Froncek first sailed in a college phys-ed class but didn't seriously pursue it until well into adulthood. Information about a sailing class came by chance; he enrolled on a whim and from then on was captured by a passion that led to owning his own boat. His sailing venue is New York's Hudson River--beautiful, changeable, even treacherous; yet this is no Perfect Storm, but rather an Everyman's account of the joy and excitement that comes from learning to sail single-handedly. He has had scary moments, especially when his skills were not the best, but overall, sailing has provided him with all he hoped for and more. Froncek's self-effacing and pleasant tone makes this a fine weekend read for all who sail or want to. Danise Hoover
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

A Splendid Madness is Thomas Froncek's story of how he fell in love with boats and became a sailor when he was already well into middle age. …Froncek brings both an eloquence and enthusiasm to his subject that belies the fact that he's only been sailing for a few years. His insights are fresh and so infused with enthusiasm that he makes them genuinely his own. His sense of place for the Hudson River on which he learned to sail makes for wonderful reading. That which is good in this book is very good. And when this book is very good, it is inspired. --SAILING magazine

A common love story uncommonly well told. --Portland Press Herald/Sunday Telegram

The subtitle of Thomas Froncek's A Splendid Madness says it all: A Man, A Boat, A Love Story. For some reason even he doesn't entirely understand, Froncek decided to take sailing lessons. His new obsession with the sport eventually led him to buy a secondhand boat and learn the ropes on the tricky waves and in the fickle winds of the Hudson. While those who share the sailing bug will probably appreciate the book more (there's a lot of detail about what a financial drain it is), Froncek's descriptions of the passing landscape and his harrowing near misses, as well as his attempt to explain why we suddenly become passionate about something, should strike a chord in any reader. --Hudson Valley magazine

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Sheridan House (May 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1574091794
• ISBN-13: 978-1574091793
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,757,294 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

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4.0 out of 5 stars A fifty year old man rediscovers his love of sailing, April 11, 2011

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This review is from: A Splendid Madness: A Man, a Boat, a Love Story (Hardcover)

This book could have been set anywhere, but it takes place on the Hudson River, a half hour North of NYC. It is written by an editor by trade, and it shows. It is a well written book! It explores the writers chance notice of an ad for a beginners sailing class, and how that class reawakens a former love of sailing. Then it goes on to his adventures and misadventures as he continues to learn the art of sailing and then goes on to buy his own boat, a 22 foot tanzer, and join a local club. It has a lot of detail about this section of the Hudson River, but very little about other areas. The brigde in the background of the bookcover is the Tappan Zee. An enjoyable read, nothing earthshattering, a nice story of why sailing is so appealing to those of us with busy lives, a chance for some adventure!