An unparalleled account of merchant men at sea in the early 19th century This is a well known book with a familiar title. Its contents are probably less known to many. It is the account of one young man's experiences serving on board a sailing brig-the Penelope-bound for California, between the years1834-36.What makes it exceptional is not that it is the literary effort of a common seamen of the time-though they are rare enough-but that it is quite the opposite. Dana came from a well-established middle class American family whose patriarchs had practised law since early colonial days....
An unparalleled account of merchant men at sea in the early 19th century This is a well known book with a familiar title. Its contents are probabl...