At Any Cost: Love, Life and Death at Sea

By Peter Tangvald

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• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 094442807X
• ISBN13: 9780944428078
• Release Date: January 1991
• Publisher: Cruising Guide Pubns
• Length: 327 Pages
• Weight: 1.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.5" x 1.0" x 6.5"

Customer Reviews

Tangvald Maltese

Like my friends who also knew Peter's son, Thomas, at university, I feel very lucky to have had the enlightening experience of knowing Tom at least for a few years. It is obvious from reading their reviews of Per's book and their comments about Tom and what we knew of his life that he is an inspirational character. From what I know of Tom, I think he'd find the fact that all these people had written about him vaguely bizarre - although to use a word like bizarre in this case is hardly appropriate. Normality and the challenging of social "norms" are, in a way, exactly what Peter, and Thomas, and indeed the wider sailing fratenrnity are all about. Having met Tom at university (a time traditionally associated with breaking away from the norms) it was he, more than anyone or anything, who prompted me to look around me and try at least to experience the world in a different way. As far as Tom was concerned, right and wrong, real and imaginary, even up and down, were matters for debate and challenge. I tihnk this is because, as a community, sailors are not subject to the same, downward-grinding restrictive elements of modern, land-based society. The dislocation they experience allows for true objectivity to permeate their experiences and, therefore, for real progress to be made on the quest for truth. I read Peter's books and also some other recommendations from Tom - Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance as well as some of the works of the Shamanistic Carlos Cantaneda are two in particular which would highlight the comments I've already made. Some people would argue that, without a more solid frame of reference or grounding for one's beliefs and value systems (land based, profit centred society) the 'search for truth' is meaningless - after all, what is truth if you don't have a context for it? I would disagree. I think that courage, adventure and independence of thought are a prized asset nowadays and would love to be able to exercise them myself in greater measure, to experience the freedom of the sea-gypsy. Anyway, my lunch hour is up now so it's back to tele marketing cold calls!!!

Thomas Tangvald Connections

Having shared student accommodation with Thomas Tangvald, son of the author, I was fortunate enough to read this book. Thomas studied Mathematics at Leeds University from 1994-1997. Living next door to him, I learnt lots about his life and I was able to read his copy of this epic book. Thomas was one of the most popular characters at University and was a genius. I lost contact 3 years ago but I have a feeling he might be with his guardians in Andorra. On the other hand, he may have ventured back to the seas. Who knows ?

A "Must Read" for all seamen

Peter Tangvald was a man with great courage and a true seaman. I could not put "At any cost" down, and would wonder from chapter to chapter what Peters fate would be from port to port. He had much heartbreak in life loosing his wives and yet bringing up his children and putting their welfare first made you understand how all the women in his life must have seen the wonderful qualities in him, as a man as a father and husband. He definately was supplimented with his wives being very strong and determined women. It was shocking to learn that he and his daughter perished at sea and we will never know what or how it even happened. I am wondering how Thomas Tangvald survived and what he went on to do with his life and how it was he found his fathers writings. Did he ever see his step mother Florence and sister Carmen? It was wonderful that he did and a great tribute to his father to have them published.