The Arctic Schooner Bowdoin: A Biography

By Virginia L. Thorndike

Book Overview

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0945980523
• ISBN13: 9780945980520
• Release Date: January 1995
• Publisher: North Country Pr
• Length: 259 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.8" x 6.3"

Customer Reviews

Good picture of the man who was captain

I spent summers in Provincetown.I went to Mac Millian lectures at the Methodist Church now the town museum. He would be on his bulkhead and shout tips to me trying to sail my home made sail boat. I finally sailed my own boat to Provincetown many years later Plume

A poignant, compelling story

Virginia Thorndike has done a nifty job of turning historical fact into a poignant, compelling story, weaving the voices of her sources to create the varied tapestry of Bowdoin's long, distinguished career. She has a gift for story telling, and for including and explaining shipbuilding concepts (such as "treenails") without interrupting the flow. One felt what it was like to be sailing the Labrador on Bowdoin, or to be struggling to restore her when she had fallen on hard times.I do have one criticism: any book so filled with people, places and events should have at least a rudimentary index. For shame, North Country Press! I read the book over a series of weekends and found myself wanting to refer back now and then. That's a nit, though: this is a good read!

Nice portrait of traditional boat & its people

An engaging and readable account of a famous and much-loved traditional sailing vessel, much of it through the accounts of the people directly involved in sailing the Bowdoin, or restoring her later in her long life. The author is particularly good at presenting the people involved and letting their interests and quirks show through, without becoming intrusive (reminiscent of John McPhee). The writing exceeds the usual standard for enthusiast books about boats.