19th Century Whaling Tales - Softcover

James Temple Brown

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0896460894 ISBN 13: 9780896460898

Publisher: Vista Books, 1996

Synopsis

Perhaps the sea's highest adventure, next to exploring uncharted waters, was the whaling chase-pursuing the world's largest mammal in boats powered only by oar and sail. The whaling industry flourished for some two centuries, and its traditions continue to haunt the seaports of America. Marine museums often include harpoons and exhibits on whaling. Classic literature--Moby Dick and more--has been written about whaling. This is a reprint of two whaling articles that appeared late in the 19th century, and near the end of the whaling heyday, in Century Magazine, a national magazine of that early day. "Stray Leaves from a Whaleman's Log" came out in 1893; it tells about the chasing of whales on a cruise, from the standpoint of the individual whaleman. "The Perils and Romance of Sailing" appeared in 1890; it gives more of the detail of the subject and also includes a number of anecdotes of episodes from the early days, thus giving more of an historic perspective. To round out the subject and learn how the whales caught were processed to recover their oil, a selection titled "Cutting In and Trying Out" is included from the article "Huntsman of the Sea" in Harper's New Monthly Magazine for 1874. Read these adventurous accounts if you would gain a new insight into the legends of whales, men, and the sea to better understand the tradition of all our coasts--for the whalers left from and came home to Atlantic, Pacific, Alaskan, and Hawaiian shores, often roaming in the interim over much of the watery two-thrids of the Earth in their quest. - William R. Jones, Senior Editor Over 46 engravings/illustrations by various artists. Map on pp. 24-25 supplied by Denver Public Library's Western History Dept.

About this edition

• Publisher: Vista Books
• Publication date: 1996
• ISBN 10: 0896460894
• ISBN 13: 9780896460898
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 48