CARRY ON, MR. BOWDITCH

Nathaniel Bowditch, of Salem, Massachusetts, was a largely self-taught scholar who rose from an apprenticeship in a ship chandlery to being master of his own sailing vessel. He learned Latin and French, found errors in the navigational tables of John Moore, and wrote his own navigation and mathematics books. Respectful of his crews, he empowered all onboard with the ability to take readings of longitude and latitude. Jim Weiss is a master narrator, especially when it comes to conversation. He takes on each persona easily, male or female, old or young. He brings nuance to Nat's voice and those of his sailing companions and family members. He speeds as the action rises, enunciates slowly to make a point, and creates pregnant pauses for contemplation. As Captain Prince says frequently to this extraordinary sailor, "Carry on, Mr. Bowditch"! A.R. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2010]