Overview

Peter Spectre, the well-known author of the annual Mariner's Book of Days, assembles some of his favorite classic nautical material into an amalgam of practical information about boats, anchors, rope, and ballast, cheek by jowl with poetry, legend, lore, superstitions, language of the sea, art, thoughts about literature, and more. Spectre's unique reverence for boats and literature of the sea, and his many years as an editor of WoodenBoat Magazine, make this book a rich collection of maritime knowledge, and an intriguing reference work of sailor's lore. Spectre is more than the editor of this book; he writes with deep knowledge about the topics covered, and presents among other topics many worthwhile facts about clipper ships, rowing boats, seasick remedies, superstitions, navigational lore, and much more. Chapter heads include: Buy a Boat and You Buy the Sea ; Many times, Beauty is the Difference ; The Search for Comfort Afloat ; Nautical Books, Memorable Opening Lines ; Signaling the Old Fashioned Way. The book is intended to pay homage to the writers and editors that have inspired Spectre over the years.

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9781574091953

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Reviews

The ancient art of seamanship is celebrated in A Mariner's Miscellany, a beautiful collection of poetry and prose about sailing. Composed of memorable quotes, excerpts, historical facts, and practical maritime knowledge, this compendium evokes a nautical world that has all but disappeared. Inspired by his yearly sailing almanac, The Mariner's Book of Days, Peter Spectre pays homage to a rich tradition of naval history and literature in this collection. From old naval slang and sea chanteys to nautical chronologies and sailing tips, this book contains everything an aspiring sea dog needs to know. Discover what sailors used to eat (and drink), learn how to judge relative distances and wind speeds at sea, and absorb the lyrics and lore the sea has inspired over time. If you weren't already infected by the call of the sea, this book will do the trick. Sail Magazine A SLOP-CHEST of a book; a sea-pie, a pot-mess, a lobscouse of a sea-lore gathered by an author with a feel for his subject. It embraces technology, prose, poetry, song, instruction, history, oceanography, meteorology and seamanship, navigation and boats and ships, monsters and sailors and women, albatross and curses, recipes and clothing, splices and drink, sails and artists, rigs and tides, watches and signals, compass work and superstition. In fact, what it doesn't touch upon hasn't been near the sea. Nautical Magazine A fascinating compendium of all things maritime. Peter Spectre has assembled an impressive array of facts and information on a huge range of subjects to do with the sea and ships. Many of the myths, legends, traditions and ancient lores of the sea are explained in a concise, clear and very readable format. A must for anybody who claims to be, or wishes to be, an expert on all things maritime. Should resolve many an old 'salts' argument. White Ensign Association

Are you interested in knowing what L. Frances Herreshoff and many others: Joseph Conrad, E.B. White, and William Atkin, among the had to say and write about boats? Or the many names for rum, rope, knots and all things nautical? Then this is intelligent reference work and compendium of maritime knowledge by a former editor of Woodenboat magazine. -- Cruising World Cruising World, April 2006

Author Information

Peter H. Spectre is the author of The Mariner's Book of Days, published annually since 1992. He is also the author of A Passage of Time, A Goodly Ship, Different Waterfronts, and several other books. Formerly editor of WoodenBoat magazine, he is currently editor of Maine Boats & Harbors. He lives in Spruce Head, Maine

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