Racundra's First Cruise - Hardcover

Ransome, Arthur

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1898660964 ISBN 13: 9781898660965

Publisher: *Wiley Nautical, 2003

Synopsis

This new edition of Racundra’s First Cruise includes the original maps, text and photos from the 1923 first edition, of which only 1500 copies were printed.

The book also contains a detailed introduction detailing Ransome’s Baltic sailing in Slug and Kittiwake and includes unpublished articles and essays together with many original Ransome pictures and present day photographs of the area.

The manuscript has been researched, edited and introduced by Brian Hammett, who received critical acclaim for his work on Racundra’s Third Cruise. Details of Racundra’s life after Ransome are also included. It has the full support of Ransome’s literary executors who are delighted to see it republished.

About this title

About the Author

Brian Hammett has compiled this unique edition of Racundra's First Cruise. The preface leads us into a treasure trove of unpublished writings, essays and photographs. The life of Ransome's beloved Racundra is chronicled to its conclusion and there is an explanation of how he came to write the book. The original illustrations are enhanced by the inclusion of present-day photographs of the same locations. Brian Hammett researched the introduction by following Racundra's route through Latvia and Estonia in his 33 foot gaff AVOLA.

From the Back Cover

RACUNDRA'S FIRST CRUISE starts with the famous words:

"Houses are but badly built boats so firmly aground that you cannot think of moving them. They are definitely inferior things, belonging to the vegetable not the animal world, rooted and stationary, incapable of gay transition. I admit, doubtfully, as exceptions, snail-shells and caravans. The desire to build a house is the tired wish of a man content thenceforward with a single anchorage. The desire to build a boat is the desire of youth, unwilling yet to accept the idea of a final resting-place."

Included in this new edition are the original maps, texts and photographs of the 1923 first edition of Racundra's First Cruise. There is an extended introduction, which includes details of Ransome's previous Baltic sailing, the story of Racundra, how he came to write the book, and previously unpublished Ransome essays and photographs.

From the Inside Flap

Did you know?

That Racundra's First Cruise:

• is Arthur Ransome's first really successful book
• is his first book on sailing
• is a classic cruising book
• took place in the aftermath of the first world war
• is one of the very few books about sailing in the Baltic
• formed the basis of his future writing
• taught Ransome cruising and changed the the course of his life

This new edition of Racundra's First Cruise includes the original maps, text and photographs from the 1923 edition, of which only 1500 copies were printed. The book was reprinted many time sin various edition and formats but never in its original form. Details of Ransome's first attempts at Baltic sailing, in his two previous boats slug and kittiwake, are included in the introduction.

About the building of Racundra, Ransome says:

"I took a deep breath and signed the contract. This was among the few wise things I have done in my life, for, more than anything else, this boat helped me to get back to my proper trade of writing."

Edition details

• Publisher: *Wiley Nautical
• Publication date: 2003
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1898660964
• ISBN 13: 9781898660965
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 256