North America's best-known sailor – the first man to sail single-highhandedly around the world. Joshua Slocum is widely known for his Sailing Around the World Alone; the story of his solo circumnavigation. The Voyage of the Liberdade; his first book; is equally compelling. In it he recounts his journey to Brazil and back - he sailed down on the Aquidneck; his own ship; and returned on the Liberdade; which he built there. What happened? Slocum describes sailing from port to port in Brazil; trying to take in and deliver enough cargo on the Aquidneck to make her voyage profitable. Through a series of mishaps he is saddled with a crew which turns out to be composed of brigands; not sailors: "My pirates thought their opportunity had surely come to capture the Aquidneck; and this they undertook to do. The ringleader of the gang was a burly scoundrel; whose boast was that he had "licked both the mate and second mate of the last vessel he had sailed in; and had "busted the captain in the jaw"...Near midnight; my wife; who had heard the first footstep on deck; quietly wakened me; saying; "We must get up; and look out for ourselves! Something is going wrong on deck; the boat tackle has been let go with a great deal of noise..." My first impulse was to step on deck in the usual way; but the earnest entreaties of my wife awoke me; like; to a danger that should be investigated with caution. Arming myself therefore; with a stout carbine repeater; and eight ball cartridges in the magazine; I stepped on deck abaft instead of forward; where evidently I had been expected…†Slocum; who landed in jail for shooting a one of the mutineers; eventually lost the Aquidneck on the reefs. Not wanting to remain a castaway in Brazil; he and his family built the Liberdade; the ship that would bring them home: "Her dimensions being - 35 feet in length over all; 7-1/2 feet breadth of beam; and 3 feet depth of hold; who shall say that she was not large enough? Her model I got from my recollections of Cape Ann dories and from a photo of a very elegant Japanese sampan which I had before me on the spot; so; as it might be expected; when finished; she resembled both types of vessel in some degree. Her rig was the Chinese sampan style; which is; I consider; the most convenient boat rig in the whole world. This was the boat; or canoe I prefer to call it; in which we purposed to sail for North America and home. Each one had been busy during the construction and past misfortunes had all been forgotten. Madam had made the sails - and very good sails they were; too!" Join the self-reliant and intrepid Slocum on his voyage and gain a glimpse into the romantic era that vanished when steam took over. And perhaps his book will inspire you to follow in his footsteps in your own Liberdade!
#1421815 in Books 2016-09-13Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.60 x .80 x 5.70l; .76 #File Name: 1509511903180 pages
Review
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Not what I expected; best for the well-informed readerBy Vickie T.This is a difficult book to review because I am definitely not a member of the target audience. For me; personally; it would get 2 or 3 stars; but I really feel like it's unfair to penalize the book just because I'm not the person who should be reading it. And I think it now goes without saying that this book was not what I expected.So; what is the target audience for this book? Someone with a deeper knowledge of the Arab world and Islam than I possess. Someone with a more philosophical and intellectual bent than I have; with at least a passing acquaintance with the great philosophers. Someone with sufficient knowledge to evaluate the arguments put forth and statements made by the conversationalists in the book. I felt very much at a disadvantage because there were many places where I was not familiar with individuals or events that Adonis or Houria Abdelouahed seemed to take for granted that the reader would know. And times when statements were made that were not consistent with what I knew (or thought I knew); but I did not feel confident enough in my own limited level of knowledge to truly challenge the authors.I believe that the right reader will enjoy this book immensely. I can easily see this book provoking discussion in a college class on Arab culture or Islamic philosophy.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Astonishing read that will open your eyes and certainly expand your understanding of IslamBy D. MatlackThis is an incredible and essential read for the Westerner. In today's politically correct driven society we have clumped Islam into one big cultural bag full of everything we don't have the time or interest to know anything about so we'll blindly accept it and it is biting us in the rear world wide.This is a very brief book of 180 pages but you will certainly spend a good deal of time reading; and re-reading and taking notes. Adonis (his nom de plume in honor of secularized and historical poetry.) is a Syrian born poet and Historian while Houria Abdelouahed is an Iranian; female psychoanalyst both currently residing in France. The entire book is clearly a transcript of a conversation they share in which they describe how by their very proffessions they are apostates by their chosen proffesions: both are scholars he dares to study and write of the History of the pre-Islamic East that is currently being surppressed and obliterated by modern Islam which deny's historical truth because fact and history do not in fact support Islam and she for being not only an educated woman (women are possessions and treated as objects and cattle.) but as a psychoanalyst (also not supported by Islam.) she has handled and studied the Quran and dissected it at great length (women are not allowed to touch or study the Quran and is punishable by death - they must accept the faith blindly.) and quite frankly if these two were not living in France they would both be dead.This book is an absolute must for understanding Islam; as Adonis and Houria describe it as a tribal culture that endorses power; pleasure and ownership and has historically fought against civilization and growth including education and creativity and compared to every other religion that has ever existed from Polytheism (Greek/Roman/Eygptian/ Hinduism) to other monotheism faiths (Christianity/judaism) and even Buddhism; etc. Islam is the ONLY "religion" that does not invite critical thought or analysis. In other faiths openness of thought often strengthens belief and inspires depth in thought and even secular creativity. Adonis and Houria's conversation points out that Islam can not be supported by and would easily be dispelled as essentially a false faith if it were studied to closely and thus the arab world makes it a crime to do so. Interestingly they both discuss how the so-called faith of Islam which is constantly caving in on itself is getting extra life thanks to the blind and ignorant acceptance of the west and that European and North American countries are helping Islam surpress secularism and cultural growth to better control these areas.The authors have a very frank discussion of the lack of value that Islam actually produces in fact it is entirely deconstructive and violent and turns on it's own history and culture denying even the basic truth of History and have gone so far as too even eliminate words in the Arabic language that would contradict Islam. This does not seem possible; but it is because of this extensive list of forbidden language that we read of poets and authors being put to death; simply because they were using the wrong words.The topic of this book is so much more inflammatory than Rushdie's "Satanic Verses" ever was and before you are even halfway through you will be worrying for the safety of Adonis and Houria.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Muslims destroying their own culture and history through violenceBy Connie (She who hikes with dogs)I have had an interest in Islamic culture since my collegiate days. I was teaching myself about the Koran when it was still unheard of to do so for a non-believer. I wanted to understand Islam better to better understand the mindset of the Islamic terrorists of the 1980s.Adonis is a Syrian-born French citizen. His real name is Ali Ahmad Said Asbar; but that's not important to know. What is important to know is his staunch criticism of modern Islam as it relates to the rise of al-Quaeda; ISIS and other extremists. He is extremely bitter by the violence and total destruction of Islamic culture through these violent groups. Throughout this short book he mentions how Islam is all about power and submission and not about compassion and humanity. Groups like ISIS are killing other Muslims and in turn destroying their own culture; their own history.One does not need to be familiar with Adonis' poetry to understand the man. One is better off understanding his attitude about the current state of the Islamic world. Adonis was influenced by Shi'ite writers; although he grew up in an Alawite home. While there are sections in this book where he quotes philosophers; this conversation he has with Houria Abdelouahed at times repeat his anger and distaste toward the Islamic extremists who want to yield power over the rest of the world. Islam was founded on violence the moment Muhammed died. Muslims can not question; judge or critique their own faith; they must simply obey and submit. Some sections are difficult to comprehend; but Adonis' mindset comes out clearer in other sections to give the reader a better understanding of his views.For novices I suggest they read "the Last Word" at the back of the book first; then go over the glossary to familiarize oneself with the many Muslim words.
