THE WAY OF A SHIP

Part documentary, part fiction, Derek Lundy's book recreates a voyage on a square-rigged sailing vessel from yesteryear. Lundy's ancestor, Benjamin, signed up for sea duty in the 1880s and traveled to the Americas. Lundy speculates about how the trip might have gone, wrapping in extensive research about life aboard ship. Richard Easton provides additional color, singing along with rowdy sailors and complaining with disgruntled seamen as he captures the drama of an unwieldy ship in an unforgiving sea. Showing amazing versatility, Easton seamlessly weaves together the hard talk of the bawdiest sailor, the emotions of the captain's wife, and quotes from Conrad and Melville. H.L.S. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine [Published: DEC 03/JAN 04]