Rounding the Horn by Dallas Murphy
With the heart of a sailor and the narrative skill of a novelist, Dallas Murphy explores the enduring allure of the mythic Cape Horn. Located at the southernmost tip of the Andes, Cape Horn is a place where the storms are bigger, the winds stronger, the geography more dangerous for a seafarer than anywhere else in the world. From when it was named in 1611 until the present day, Cape Horn has had a rich history filled not only with the horrors of sailing disasters but also with the pleasures of Darwinian research into flora and fauna. The author uses his own voyage around Cape Horn to weave together the history of explorations, along with tales of Indians who lived there, the oceanography and meteorology of the region (with echoes of The Perfect Storm), the science of navigation and the natural history of the area. The result is the story of a sailor testing his own limits as well as a truly captivating depiction of one of the most usual areas on earth.
"an enjoyable primer, compellingly salty in its retellings.. a highly readable and meticulously researched homage to the world's most ragged extremity." -- NICK THORPE DAILY TELEGRAPH 'Rounding the Horn' is an enthralling book that covers plenty of ground and water...Dallas Murphy writes with the authority of someone who has been to the places he describes...That point of view is especially agreeable when it results in a book as good as this one' ASSOCIATED PRESS 'A delightful book that mixes history and travel. Murphy brings to life people, places and the past, exploring uncharted waters with Columbus, da Gama, Balboa and Magellan...I can't remember the last time I had so much fun reading, curling up comfortably for such an articulate adventure. Murphy's writing SEATTLE TIMES "Cape Horn is the southernmost point of South America, in the Tierra del Fuego archipelago. Murphy, a novelist and Journalist, sailed to Cape Horn in 2000. He chronicles the history of the cape and describes in detail the many ships that have made the voyage, battered by the unique weather with its treacherous winds. Francis Drake and Robert FitzRoy are two of the many explorers whose voyages Murphy recounts here." BOOKLIST "Much of the book deals with Murphy's own trip to Cape Horn. In vivid prose, he describes the ship and observes and wonders about birds and other animals; he makes readers experience the island wilderness as if firsthand, and feel for themselves the driving rain and wind that he encountered." BOOKLIST
The author is a novelist whose detective works have just been optioned by Columbia Tristar television. He is also a journalist and broadcaster.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780297847663 |
| ISBN 10 | 029784766X |
| Title | Rounding the Horn |
| Author | Dallas Murphy |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Orion Publishing Co |
| Year published | 2004-07-08 |
| Number of pages | 384 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |