My recommendations: "In the Heart of the Sea," which is fabulous and terrifying. And in poetry, "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, especially with Gustave Doré's illustrations.
If you’re interested in the North American fur trade check out “The Company”, it’s a history of the Hudson Bay company and does a wonderful job describing their influence on the continent. Relevant as a new Duluthian as well as Grand Portage plays a big part in the story.
Philbrick’s “In the Heart of the Sea” is excellent. Currently reading Sancton’s “Madhouse at the End of the Earth” which is Antarctic survival, ship stuck in the ice. On the way is “The Lost Men” about Shackleton’s Ross Sea party. Shipwrecks are a fave genre, looking forward to checking out some of these recommendations ⛵️
I am the same way when it comes to books about ship wrecks. I play this game with my youngest (she made it up) when we go to a bookstore and are browsing, she likes to try to guess which books I have read or want to read. I told her every time I see a book with a shipwreck, assume I want to read it. 😂
Excellent review! I know you're talking about nonfiction, but have you read the novel North Sun by Ethan Rutherford? I don't remember you mentioning it but maybe you have. I read it earlier this year, and I loved it not only for the endurance / harrowing conditions but for the way it was in conversation with Hawthorne, Poe, etc. A really great novel that I am trying to talk up to other readers!
I enjoyed The Mentor, up to a point. And posted my review on Substack today. I’ll check out your recommendations and those of your subscribers. I loved The Wager and also Into the Raging Sea. A few more worth considering, not involving shipwrecks but fine maritime histories are: The Traveller by Andrea Wulf, Lightning Beneath the Sea by James Tabor, To the Edge of the World by Tilar Mazzeo and Madhouse at the End of the Earth by Julian Sancton. Slightly off-topic, but well worth reading is Canal Dreamers by Jessica Lepler.
I do like a shipwreck story, and recommend Batavia's Graveyard by Mike Dash an awful lot. I'm going to read The Wreck of the Mentor, and I'll keep your caveat in mind.
My recommendations: "In the Heart of the Sea," which is fabulous and terrifying. And in poetry, "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, especially with Gustave Doré's illustrations.
I loved In the Heart of the Sea. Great one. And I’ve read parts of Ancient Mariner, but not the whole thing. I’ll definitely do that sometime!
Read:
Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue Sea
by Gary Kinder
I'll look it up - thanks!
If you’re interested in the North American fur trade check out “The Company”, it’s a history of the Hudson Bay company and does a wonderful job describing their influence on the continent. Relevant as a new Duluthian as well as Grand Portage plays a big part in the story.
Oh awesome, thanks for the rec!
Philbrick’s “In the Heart of the Sea” is excellent. Currently reading Sancton’s “Madhouse at the End of the Earth” which is Antarctic survival, ship stuck in the ice. On the way is “The Lost Men” about Shackleton’s Ross Sea party. Shipwrecks are a fave genre, looking forward to checking out some of these recommendations ⛵️
I am the same way when it comes to books about ship wrecks. I play this game with my youngest (she made it up) when we go to a bookstore and are browsing, she likes to try to guess which books I have read or want to read. I told her every time I see a book with a shipwreck, assume I want to read it. 😂
Ha, love it!
Excellent review! I know you're talking about nonfiction, but have you read the novel North Sun by Ethan Rutherford? I don't remember you mentioning it but maybe you have. I read it earlier this year, and I loved it not only for the endurance / harrowing conditions but for the way it was in conversation with Hawthorne, Poe, etc. A really great novel that I am trying to talk up to other readers!
I've not heard of that one — I'll have to check it out. Thanks Craig!
Skeletons of the Zahara. You're so exhausted with the shipwreck. Then the survivors get stranded in the desert and sold into slavery.
I have this! I'll have to go ahead and read it now :D
Oh man, sounds like a good one! I'll look it up.
Interesting you mentioned Philbrick’s book - just finished it last weekend and enjoyed it!
Oh nice, it's a great one! I'm well on my way to being a Philbrick completist.
LOVE shipwreck books! I second Batavia's Graveyard (and Gales, of course )I'm eyeing In the Kingdom of Ice for my next!
Kingdom of Ice is awesome. I listened to that one sometime last winter.
I enjoyed The Mentor, up to a point. And posted my review on Substack today. I’ll check out your recommendations and those of your subscribers. I loved The Wager and also Into the Raging Sea. A few more worth considering, not involving shipwrecks but fine maritime histories are: The Traveller by Andrea Wulf, Lightning Beneath the Sea by James Tabor, To the Edge of the World by Tilar Mazzeo and Madhouse at the End of the Earth by Julian Sancton. Slightly off-topic, but well worth reading is Canal Dreamers by Jessica Lepler.
Nice, I've read about half of those on your list. I'll look up the others! I enjoyed your review, as well.
I do like a shipwreck story, and recommend Batavia's Graveyard by Mike Dash an awful lot. I'm going to read The Wreck of the Mentor, and I'll keep your caveat in mind.
Thanks for the (w)rec(k)!