This time, however, the men were tried for murder after their rescue. Hanson relates the events of the wreck and its aftermath with chilling detail, making this book a grim companion to Nathaniel Philbrick's reconstruction of the Essex sinking, In the Heart of the Sea. That is the question before author Tim Severin as he begins retracing the journeys of both Herman Melville and the fictional Pequod. The result is in part an ethnographic study of the Pacific Islands that real whalers knew quite well. Mostly, it is the log of a mariner searching, not for vengeance, but insight.
Every great story comes with a cookbook.
Although the text includes the historic method of preparation, the recipes are presented for use with twentieth century materials, making some of them quite tempting to try, despite their deliriously high fat content. In any event, these dishes shed an amusing light on Jack Aubrey's oft-mentioned corpulence. The lighthouses of North America, their history, legend and designs, are explored in this beautiful book. Ample color photographs offer excellent views of the structures and their diverse styles, from plain and utilitarian to Victorian gothic. This is a real treat for lighthouse buffs.