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UK Authors - Historical non fiction - |
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The Life and Adventures of John Nicol, Mariner |
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| The Life and Adventures of John Nicol, Mariner Editor: Tim Flannery Canongate Press 198 pages, 2000 ISBN 0862419921 Reviewed by our UK Editor Rachel A. Hyde Back in 1822, a chance encounter between a philanthropic bookbinder and a destitute old mariner caused a little book to be printed. It enabled the worthy old salt to end his days comfortably, and even to leave £30 in his will. John Nicol has a wonderful tale to tell and reveals himself as a delightfully uncomplicated, sunny-natured and observant storyteller who is miles away from the stereotypical seadog of fiction. In admirably economical terms, Nicol tells how he circumnavigated the world twice, hunted whales, saw Hawaii just after Captain Cook’s murder, befriended slaves in Grenada and went out on the second convict ship to Australia where he met the love of his life. It is the frankness and unexpected details that truly bring this book to life. Nicol is a sober fellow who reads his Bible when he first comes aboard, hates strong language and is very naïve about sex. China doesn’t impress him much. He remarks how nothing ever changes and how, for all their much-vaunted skills, there are many practical objects that are beyond their craftsmen’s limits. Nails with heads for example. The slaves in Grenada impress him with their cheerfulness, in a way that their white masters fail to. Even their songs are cheerful and he records a few. Some of the introduction felt redundant, as it is all explained very plainly in the actual text, except for the highly interesting details about Nicol’s benefactor and his ultimate death in relative comfort. I was most impressed by the actual narrative. It won’t take long to read this book but it stays in the mind for some time afterwards. One for the keeper shelf. |
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