Alan Villiers went to sea at 15, and became one of the last captains of a commercial square-rigged sailing ship. He later captained the Mayflower II on her celebrated 1957 Atlantic crossing, commanded square-riggers for films including Moby Dick and Billy Budd, advised on Mutiny on the Bounty, and wrote for National Geographic through the 1950s and 60s. He served as a Trustee of the National Maritime Museum, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his role commanding landing craft at Normandy in WWII.
Vanished Fleets gathers his stories of Van Diemen's Land's maritime history across four sections: the early days of river and coastal navigation, including Captain James Kelly's circumnavigation of Tasmania by whaleboat; the convict ships, including the wreck of the George III and the story of transportation; the whaling era, including Captain Tregurtha's own log and the story of the whaleship Essex, sunk by a sperm whale in 1820 and the inspiration for Moby-Dick; and the later Hobart clipper ships.
BOOK DETAILS
- Hardcover book with dustjacket.
- Published 1974 by Cat & Fiddle Press, Hobart.
- 297-pages.
- Illustrated with black/white photos.
CONDITION
Used but generally good condition for its age. A little wear to dustjacket. Cover mottled. Faint age spots to outer edge of page block.
DELIVERY & IN-STORE PICKUP
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