The Custom Of The Sea. A Shocking True Tale Of Shipwreck, Murder And The Last Taboo.
Published by Doubleday & Co., Inc. 1999.
- First Edition
- Hardcover
- Used
Seller: Tacoma Book Center, Tacoma, WA, U.S.A.Tacoma Book Center
AbeBooks seller since January 10, 1998
Condition: Used
US$ 15.00
Quantity: 1 available
Add to basketItem description from seller
ISBN 0-385-60083-6. Hardback. First Printing. Near Fine Condition book in a Near Fine Condition Dustjacket. Tight, bright, attractive copy with no markings to the book. Copy One.
Seller Inventory # 113495
- Title
- The Custom Of The Sea. A Shocking True Tale Of Shipwreck, Murder And The Last Taboo.
- Author
- Hanson, Neil
- Publisher
- Doubleday & Co., Inc. 1999.
- Dust jacket
- Dust Jacket Included
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN 10
- 0385600836
- ISBN 13
- 9780385600835
- Edition
- 1st Edition
- Printing
- 1st Printing
"Synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
Review
In 1884, Captain Tom Dudley and his three-man crew were faced with just such a predicament. Dudley and his men were aboard the Mignonette, a small yacht they were delivering from England to Australia. Hit by a rogue wave in a storm, the Mignonette sank, leaving the four men in a 13-foot dinghy with two pounds of turnips and little else--no other food and no water--in the middle of the Atlantic. After nearly two weeks, Dudley announced they would have to resort to "the custom of the sea": drawing lots to decide who would be sacrificed and eaten to save the others. Two crewmen argued against lots, pointing out that the young cabin boy, Richard Parker, was delirious and on the verge of death. Dudley refused to kill the boy, and a few more days passed. Finally, on the 19th day adrift, Dudley killed young Parker while his crew watched. Three days later, the three survivors were rescued. Upon their return to England the three men were arrested and charged with murder.
Neil Hanson tells the story of the Mignonette and its crew in Custom of the Sea. At its best, the book reads like an adventure story along the lines of The Perfect Storm or Endurance. The story lags a bit when the survivors get entangled in the Victorian court and penal system--which is understandably a bit less gripping than the shipwreck and its ensuing survival cannibalism. It does, however, provide a fascinating window into the legal system and the power of the press in influencing public opinion.
Captain Simonsen of the Moctezuma, having rescued the Mignonette survivors, realized what they had done and tried to comfort Dudley by saying, "Desperate straits require desperate measures." Custom of the Sea does an excellent job of putting readers in a position to wonder if they too would take such desperate measures. --Sunny Delaney
"About the title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Tacoma Book Center
Tacoma, WA, U.S.A.
AbeBooks seller since January 10, 1998
Shipping rates within U.S.A.
| Item | 5 to 14 business days | 3 to 6 business days |
|---|---|---|
| First item | US$ 5.50 | US$ 18.00 |
Payment methods
Store description
General used book store. 30 years in business. Large stock covering most fields. Specialities include Science fiction, Mysteries, Children's Books, Military, Transportation, Religion. Open seven days a week, 10 to 6.
Specialty
Childrens, Military, Mysteries, Science Fiction, Fantasy, SuspenseSeller's business information
Tacoma Book Center
324 East 26th Street
Tacoma, WA U.S.A. 98421
Terms of sale
ORDERING BOOKS : Since our internet stock is stored in a separate warehouse, email is a virtual
necessity for the initial inquiry. Please email orders using the Advanced Book Exchange order buttons.
If you use your own forms, we need the book number and book title to locate the book. If you
telephone first, please have our book inventory number and
title ready and please be prepared to call back later when we have had time to pull the book from
storage.
HOLDING BOOKS: After we confirm that a book is available, that book is placed on a temporary hold,
usually 24 hours or until 1 PM of the day following our confirmation whichever is less, to give you time
to order through ABE.
SHIPPING: We cannot quote shipping rates unless you give your full address. Domestic orders are sent
Media mail unless you request Priority mail. Media mail with delivery confirmation is $4 for the first
book and $1
for each additional book within the U.S. Media mail will usually take one to two weeks but can be
slower, especially near holidays.
Priority mail starts at $6 for the smallest books and goes up depending on the size and weight of the
book. This is available for domestic orders only and usually takes 3 to 4 days from the day we actually
mail the book.
These are the estimated delivery times that the Post Office gives us. These times cannot be guaranteed
due to the vagaries of the USPS.
Foreign orders will be quoted shipping based on location and the size and weight of the book.
Insurance is optional on foreign orders, but we will not be responsible for damage or loss if you choose
not to pay for insurance.
If an insured order does not arrive within 30 days of mailing, we can file an insurance claim to cover
your loss. This will require that you sign and return to us the insurance claim form that the Post Office
provides. We are not able to track or make any other inquiries about your order until 30 days have
passed.
RETURNS: Books may be returned for any reason within seven days of delivery. This delivery date will
be confirmed by USPS Delivery Confirmation which we place on every order within the USA. All we ask
is that a reason for the return must be given prior to you sending the book back to us. Books without
this prior return notification will be handled at our discretion and may be subject to additional handling
charges.
PAYMENT: Please pay through the ABE site.
SALES TAX: Washington residents will be charged sales tax at 8.5% unless they provide a valid
Washington UBI(resale) number with their order.
Name of Business - Tacoma Book Center
Form of Legal Entity - Partnership
Email address - tacbook@harbornet.com
Phone number 253 572 8248
Any consumer complaints should be addressed to the above physical address, email address or phone
number.
Authorized representative - David Killian
Federal EIN - 91-2031479
Washington State UBI - 602 020 079
Shipping terms
Orders usually ship within 2 business days. Shipping costs are based on books weighing 2.2 LB, or 1 KG. If your book order is heavy or oversized, we may contact you to let you know extra shipping is required. If shipped within the U.S. we automatically add delivery confirmation to insure your order has its best chance to get to you.