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Sailing Alone Around the World

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Sailing Alone Around the World

By: Joshua Slocum
Narrated by: Bernard Mayes
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About this listen

Challenged by an expert who said it couldn’t be done, Joshua Slocum, a fearless New England sea captain, set out in April 1895 to prove that a man could sail alone around the world. A little over three years and forty-six thousand miles later, the proof was complete. This is Slocum’s own account of his remarkable adventures during the historic voyage of the Spray.

Whether Slocum was more accomplished as a writer or sailor is hard to say. His writing style is fast paced, witty, and exhilarating, an absorbing match to his harrowing adventures - adventures that included being chased by Moorish pirates off Gibraltar; escaping a fleet of hostile canoes; being submerged by a great wave off the Patagonian coast; an encounter with Black Pedro, “the worst murderer in Tierra del Fuego”; and foiling a nocturnal attack by savages by strewing carpet tacks on the Spray’s deck.

Captain Joshua Slocum (1844–1909) was the first person to circle the globe alone entirely by sea. This remarkable achievement made Slocum the most famous North American sailor of all time.

Public Domain (P)1992 Blackstone Audio, Inc. Sailing Sailing & Boating Travel Writing & Commentary Water Sports Sports Heartfelt Witty Pirate Nonfiction Adventure

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Critic reviews

“[A] literate and absorbing yarn…A convincing tale of the intelligence, skill, and fortitude that drove a master navigator.” ( New York Times)
“One of the most readable books in the whole library of adventure.” ( Sports Illustrated)
“A classic book…Slocum’s writing is as elegant as his thirty-seven-foot sloop, Spray, whose crossing of the Atlantic he describes vividly.” ( New Yorker)
All stars
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Great narration of a classic tale for anyone with an interest in sailing the oceans. A must read!

Highly recommend

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Throughly enjoyed listening to this, I was advised to listen to an audiobook in a subject I was interested in to help me get to sleep

Great piece of history

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An amazing story of the first single-handed navigation of the globe. Simply told without conceit. The journey takes three years and passes by wild lands with wilder peoples. Slocum takes it all in his stride and seemingly passes through the toughest storms without batting an eyelid. It is only when he casually mentions that he was 30 hours at the wheel without a break that you realise how hard it must have been in reality.

Great salty sailing story

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Terrific writing that paints a vivid picture of Slocum's voyage around the world circa 1896-99.

Fantastic story to get lost with

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Excellent in every way and keeps you engrossed all through wanting more after each chapter

Enchanting book

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the story is fascinating, though at times it is challenging to follow owing to its period of origin.
ahoy the spray!

good stuff.

epic tale

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loved it, a very brave man for the time, modest to the end. a great navigator.

very interesting

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I have enjoyed this book so much, pure story no adds no exagération, legendary captain S take you around the world so inspiring must read if you are a sailor or nor

Pure and authentic

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This was so much fun.

I really felt like I was along for the ride with Captain Slocum as he told of his solo travel around the world in The Spray. The narrative was written in a charming, matter-of-fact and 'well, I don't see why I can't do the impossible' kind of way that summed up the stoic, hard-working mentality that flowed through this man's veins.

He tells of building his ship, travels to wild lands, his encounters with strange and ferocious people, the kindness of strangers who want nothing more than to see him succeed upon his journey and much, much more. I can only imagine (very well due to the good captain's meticulous account) the loneliness a person must feel when journeying between countries, or the excitement at seeing so many new sites that weren't available at a simple request to Google images.

It takes a very strong-willed and strong-minded person to do what Captain Slocum did; to be responsible for the repairs, the maintenance and the safety of yourself upon such a unpredictable beast that is the oceans of the world. His accounts of far flung places and peoples are very intriguing and respectful of both the people and their traditions. 

If you're interested in anything to do with sailing/the ocean/adventuring etc ... or you're simply an American who wants to revel in the glories of a person from your country's past, dive into this and let Captain Slocum take you around the world with him. He might have been alone at the time, but there's no reason to keep him so. Slip aboard, enjoy the ride, and, if you're like me, just be utterly miserable that it wasn't longer.

A wonderful listen from start to finish

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i believe one must have sailed before to not find this book boring. Still, i recommend it to everyone willing to know how life was on sea over a century ago.

Engaging but specific

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