Barely 30 years old and the wildly popular author of The Call of the Wild, Martin Eden, and other successful novels, Jack London's determined to follow the example of his boyhood idol, Herman Melville, and explore the islands of the South Pacific. Accompanied by his wife and two crew members, London set sail from San Francisco in 1906 aboard the Snark, a custom-made 55-foot ketch.With wry good humor, London recounts both the exhilaration and hardship of a two-year voyage aboard a small, leaky craft. His vital, colorful narrative carries readers along with the intrepid crew through stormy seas, illness, and navigational uncertainty. These difficulties are counterbalanced by abundant rewards, including panoramic vistas of the natural beauties of Hawaii, Bora Bora, Tahiti, the Marquesas Islands, and other exotic locales. The hospitality of the South Pacific islanders proves even more overwhelming than the scenery; everywhere the Snark ventures, its crew is greeted with feasts, celebrations, and lavish expressions of goodwill.Enhanced with 119 original photographs, this rollicking blend of excitement and adventure represents one of the most interesting and best-written narratives of a sea voyage ever written. Related in the compelling voice of a master storyteller, The Cruise of the Snark promises a memorable reading experience for armchair sailors, old salts, and any lover of nautical adventure.
