I just finished reading "Sailing Alone Around the World". First published in 1900, it is the true account of the first solo circumnavigation of the world. It's written by Captain Joshua Slocum himself, who completed his voyage in 1898 after three years and three months. He journaled his entire trip which was not non-stop, and so it contains details about ports and people he visited on six continents, as well as all of the different kinds of water he sailed. It could probably be hundreds of pages longer, but he keeps it short and concise...and interesting.
If you're like me and this story was unknown to you, and you've somehow missed it in it's first 110 years in publication, I highly recommend it. It is full of real adventure, sailing savvy (duh!), human insight and humor too. Not to mention a huge dose of respect for the human spirit in the Captain. Really an amazing feat of endurance and discipline, and written amazingly well for a man who only completed third grade!
Not a tale of the sea, but better: real.
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