A Mariner's Miscellany - Softcover

Spectre, Peter H

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0954706218 ISBN 13: 9780954706210

Publisher: Gardners Books, 2005

Synopsis

Well-known as the editor of the best-selling annual Mariner's Book of Days, Peter Spectre assembles some of his favorite classic nautical material into an amalgam of practical information about boats, anchors, rope, and ballast, cheek by jowl with poetry, legend, lore, superstitions, language of the sea, art, thoughts about literature, and more. Spectre's unique reverence for boats and literature of the sea, and his many years as an editor of WoodenBoat Magazine, make this book a rich collection of maritime knowledge, and an intriguing reference work of sailor's lore. Spectre is more than the editor of this book; he writes with deep knowledge about the topics covered, and presents among other topics many worthwhile facts about clipper ships, rowing boats, seasick remedies, superstitions, navigational lore, and much more. Chapter heads include: Buy a Boat and You Buy the Sea ; Many times, Beauty is the Difference ; The Search for Comfort Afloat ; Nautical Books, Memorable Opening Lines ; Signaling the Old Fashioned Way; and much more. The book is intended to pay homage to the writers and editors that have inspired Spectre over the years, in the hope that its contents will carry new sailors and readers to what Wm. McFee calls harbors of memory, and C.G.Davis calls the ways of the sea.

About this title

About the Author:

Peter H. Spectre is the author of The Mariner's Book of Days, published annually since 1992. He is also the author of A Passage of Time, A Goodly Ship, Different Waterfronts, and several other books. Formerly editor of WoodenBoat magazine, he is currently editor of Maine Boats & Harbors. He lives in Spruce Head, Maine

Review:

The ancient art of seamanship is celebrated in A Mariner's Miscellany, a beautiful collection of poetry and prose about sailing. Composed of memorable quotes, excerpts, historical facts, and practical maritime knowledge, this compendium evokes a nautical world that has all but disappeared. Inspired by his yearly sailing almanac, The Mariner's Book of Days, Peter Spectre pays homage to a rich tradition of naval history and literature in this collection. From old naval slang and sea chanteys to nautical chronologies and sailing tips, this book contains everything an aspiring sea dog needs to know. Discover what sailors used to eat (and drink), learn how to judge relative distances and wind speeds at sea, and absorb the lyrics and lore the sea has inspired over time. If you weren't already infected by the call of the sea, this book will do the trick. (Sail Magazine)

A SLOP-CHEST of a book; a sea-pie, a pot-mess, a lobscouse of a sea-lore gathered by an author with a feel for his subject. It embraces technology, prose, poetry, song, instruction, history, oceanography, meteorology and seamanship, navigation and boats and ships, monsters and sailors and women, albatross and curses, recipes and clothing, splices and drink, sails and artists, rigs and tides, watches and signals, compass work and superstition. In fact, what it doesn't touch upon hasn't been near the sea. (Nautical Magazine)

A fascinating compendium of all things maritime. Peter Spectre has assembled an impressive array of facts and information on a huge range of subjects to do with the sea and ships. Many of the myths, legends, traditions and ancient lores of the sea are explained in a concise, clear and very readable format. A must for anybody who claims to be, or wishes to be, an expert on all things maritime. Should resolve many an old 'salts' argument. (White Ensign Association)

About this edition

• Publisher: Gardners Books
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 0954706218
• ISBN 13: 9780954706210
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 288