Customer Reviews

Two Years Before the Mast

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My wife and I read this book aloud to one another as we traveled about the United States in our Chevy Van camper. Since we were on an adventure ourselves which I was recording for my future book "Hobo-ing America" we felt it to be a perfect fit - and it was.

Being from the Boston area, I was very familiar with Lowell - the destination for the hides bought in California. There were shoe shops there in Lowell and Lawrence when I was growing up. I can still remember the smell of the leather being worked in those shops. We eventually traveled up the coast of California and could then visualize the seamen trudging along and up the cliffs lugging their hides.

I have never forgotten reading this book. Mr. Dana being the son of a ship owner was very reserved in his criticisms. But that is exactly what gave his book its credibility and most likely lead to the improved conditions for the seamen.

Since then I have read "Mutiny on the Bounty" and "Pages from a Workers Life" by William Z. Foster. Foster paints a much harsher picture of life before the mast and his book was written many generations later. So I guess all the accolades for the changes made for the seamen given to Mr. Dana were premature. Things didn't improve all that much or maybe they were reversed as time sailed by.

In any case, I liked Mr. Dana's dignified style and his prose. It was a great adventure even with the abuse and hardships of the sailors minimalized.

Richard Edward Noble - The Hobo Philosopher - Author of:

"Hobo-ing America: A Workingman's Tour of the U.S.A.."

This book was purchased as a gift for someone whose favorite read years earlier was 'Two Years before the Mast.' They were thrilled with the copy.