The Whalers [Unknown]

By Alexandre (Editor) Maynard, Felix; Dumas

Diary of a French surgeon on whalers in New Zealand waters during voyages from 1837 to about 1846. As far as I can see not one of our reviewers has appreciated the romantic story wrapped up in the recent publication of "The Whalers," a copy of which I have received from my good friend, Mr. F. W. Reed, the noted Dumas authority.... Since then the book has been published by Hutchinson's (London) and will, I am sure, meet with a big sale. However, to the story behind the story as to how two New Zealand literary authorities chanced, after the lapse of nearly a hundred years, to link up with a meeting that took place between Alexandra Dumas and a certain Dr. Maynard, a French surgeon. It was in the year 1854 that Dumas happened upon a parcel of disconnected articles dealing with the sea adventures of Maynard. He arranged to meet the French doctor and prevailed on him to enlarge on his experiences. The articles were in due course edited and probably added to and re-written in parts by Dumas and published in France in 1858. The amazing thing is that although the story intimately concerned the early whaling days in New Zealand it was not until this year of 1937 that it has been published for English readers. For this we have to thank Mr. Reed, who made the translation and who sought the help of Johannes Andersen who wrote a most interesting introduction and provided the notes. The result is no dry historical document but a thrilling story of the old whaling days, reminiscent in parts of the immortal "Moby Dick." We must feel proud of the part this country has played in giving this remarkable book to the world. I am amazed though over the fact that the publishers have failed to make more use of the story behind the story as briefly sketched by me in this paragraph. [from VOLUME 12, ISSUE 3 (JUNE 1, 1937) AMONG THE BOOKS - A LITERARY PAGE OR TWO by Shibli Bagarag.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: Unknown
• ISBN: B000LV8ACS
• Release Date: January 1937
• Publisher: Hutchinson
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.99 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.6" x 5.5" x 7.9"