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The Cruise of the Snark

AUTHOR: Jack London
ISBN: 0792262441
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	National Geographic Traveler

Editorial Review

The Cruise of the Snark
- Book Review, by Jack London

Book Description
In 1906, Jack London set out from San Francisco with his wife and two crewmembers on a voyage across the Pacific. Newspaper readers were horrified by the proposed trip, which was inspired by Joshua Slocum’s Sailing Alone Around the World. London knew little about navigation, and his schooner, the Snark, possessed numerous defects, including a tendency to leak. London’s account of this extraordinary trip is charming and fascinating by turns, and a wonderful display of his eye for poetic and ironic details. Navigating more by feel than by skill, London visited Hawaii, the Marquesas, Tahiti, and the Solomon Islands. For the most part, the voyagers were greeted with South Seas hospitality, though the trip had its dangers—including head-hunting natives. London claimed that sailing the Snark gave him his greatest sense of personal accomplishment, and The Cruise of the Snark is saturated with his enthusiasm and sheer love of adventure. An exciting new volume in the Adventure Classics series, this edition includes a new National Geographic map and excerpts from his wife Charmian’s out-of-print account of the expedition, offering new insights into London’s personality, and into his remarkable voyage.

Download Description
No, adventure is not dead, and in spite of the steam engine and of Thomas Cook and Son. When the announcement of the contemplated voyage of the Snark was made, young men of "roving disposition" proved to be legion, and young women as well--to say nothing of the elderly men and women who volunteered for the voyage.

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Book Review

The Cruise of the Snark
- Book Reviews, by Jack London

Cruise of the Snark

FROM THE PUBLISHER

In 1906 Jack London, author of The Call of the Wild and The Sea Wolf, decided to set out on a grand adventure of his own: a seven year, round-the world cruise aboard the Snark, a 43-foot ketch custom built for the voyage. This book tells the story of the building of the Snark and of the voyage itself, undertaken with his wife Charmian and a small crew. Though the Snark had a tendency to leak and London struggled with the mysteries of navigation, the crew gamely set sail for the South Seas. In Hawaii London tried surfing and became one of the first Americans to write about the "royal" sport. As they sailed from the Marquesas to the Solomons to Bora Bora the crew of the Snark encountered adventure, beauty, and the welcoming spirit of the islanders -- as well as the occasional eccentric like the "Nature Man," who lived a vagabond life in paradise. Though the trip was cut short by London's sudden illness, The Cruise of the Snark is an engaging adventure tale by a master of the genre. Originally published in 1911 this sweet, delightful book is armchair travel at its best.

SYNOPSIS

Vital, colorful narrative transcends stormy seas and navigational doubts for breathtaking accounts of natural beauties and hospitality of South Pacific islands. Enhanced with 119 original photographs.

FROM THE CRITICS

Library Journal

Inspired by the stories he loved in his youth, London ventured to sail around the world. He gathered up his wife, a skeleton crew, and the manuscripts for several stories he was developing and packed them into the 45' Snark and departed from San Francisco in 1907. The author of The Sea Wolf was mostly seasick on the voyage, but his record became this 1911 title. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

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