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Late this afternoon, and in preparation for writing my annual review of [mostly]
recently published nautical books I drove up to the pointy end of the Vineyard. The views as highlighted
by the westering sun -- of the marshes, coastal ponds, dunes and beaches, the Elizabeth islands and Noman’s Land, the
moors of Lobsterville and Moshup’s Trail, along with Vineyard Sound and the Atlantic Ocean, those great waters which
surround our island home – are, at this time of year mesmerizing, compelling, and drop dead gorgeous.
I was reminded of the line: “though every prospect pleases and only man is vile.”
Being in a scholarly frame of mind I spent some time researching this line and discovered that it is in a well known
missionary hymn FROM GREENLAND’S ICY MOUNTAINS, composed by the early 18th century British cleric Reginald
Heber, and actually the words in the hymn were in response to his years in India and most specifically a visit to Ceylon.
Mathatma Gandhi took exception to the words, interpreting them as a slur against his countrymen but others have written
that what was really intended was in accord with the 17th/18th century religious thinking which was
that man himself (any human in fact) is but an imperfect version of their maker. This was interesting
because I had been thinking that it was enlightened environmentalism, particularly for almost 200 years ago.
In any event the sights
of the sea around us and a bowl of Kristine and Betsy’s fabulous seafood chowder set the tone for an evening of maritime
literature.
First to come to hand is Francis B Cooke’s CRUISING HINTS.
Published in June by Lodestar Books in London, this is the 7th edition (although this is a bit confusing)
in the publisher’s words and is a compilation of the 2 dozen books that F B Cooke wrote, beginning in 1883, about yacht
design and construction, yachting, seamanship, outfitting, and maintenance, over the course of a very long life on the waters
of the British Isles. The descriptive material comments that FB Cooke was all about “yachting
with economy.” The foreword is by Charles Stock who just retired at 83 from sailing after having
sailed over 75,000 miles in his small gaff rigger over 40 years on the Thames estuary. That is about
2000 miles a year which is impressive by any measure. I have a number of Cooke’s books
and didn’t need one more but this book is compelling in its content and presentation. With
over 700 pages including numerous sketches, plans, photos, and all sorts of valuable information it is everything that you
could wish to find in his books, all carefully organized, annotated and indexed. I had
to order a copy for myself, and then a copy for my son as well as copies for two special friends. It is
only available by order from the publisher -- I ordered directly from: Richard.wynne@lodestarbooks.com – in England but by ordering four copies at once the postage was significantly
reduced. I ordered the books on a Sunday and they were delivered to me, FROM LONDON (!!!) on Tuesday.
This is a lovely old fashioned book with all the charm, engaging commentary and details to
be found in books by the likes of Uffa Fox, Claud Worth, Dodson Bowman, L F Herreshoff, Harrison Butler, or even Eric Hiscock.
It is an incredible book and an incredible bargain; published
in a limited edition I urge you to order immediately lest you be disappointed.
JAWS, MEMORIES FROM MARTHA’S VINEYARD, by Matt Taylor (photos
compiled by Matt Taylor and Jim Beller) with a Foreword by Steven Spielberg, published recently by Moonrise Media is another
book which should be at the top of your gift list – both for yourself and for the film aficionado who has everything.
With 296 pages and all sorts of material included this mighty tome has been a several year project and labor of love
for Matt, whose island roots run deep, and who I suspect was not even born when the original JAWS was first filmed.
For some of us it is a true trip down memory lane, and even just thinking about it I can hear the dramatic background
“music” which signals JAWS! This has to be one of the most carefully researched,
well written, well presented, and well produced books of its genre. In fact I would guess that it
is going to be an award winner. This book includes lots (!!) of interviews with island participants,
lots of photos of local characters and local scenery along with clippings, scrap book contents and just about everything else
that you can possibly imagine. All this voluminous quantity of material was compiled from the “archives”
(many of which have never before seen the light of day) of islanders, and from of the movie as well as the archives of the
GAZETTE. This is another book similar to that above and the one below in the sense that all deserve
a lot of time, further each entry leads to many others as well as other resources. And for
those or you who have never seen the original JAWS, or experienced the long term effect (one of my kids wouldn’t wash
their hands for a month because of fear of water) of watching it, even now just the sound of the dum, dum, dum, dum beat makes
our hearts start to race.
Another entry in the must have nautical
books is FLY RAILS AND FLYING JIBS: Coasting Schooner Photographs, by Robert H. I. Goddard, compiled by
Thomas P. I. Goddard and Caroline Hazard Goddard, with interpretive captions by Douglas K. and Linda J. Lee. Published
by Mystic Seaport Museum, this 280 page book about 20th century coasting schooners – the 18 wheelers of the
20th century, as Maynard Bray has described them -- is extensively researched and beautifully
produced with detailed and extensive captions by the Lees (based on detailed annotations from Mr. Goddard) for each boat included.
There are a number of photos of Captain Zeb Tilton’s ALICE S WENTWORTH showing
her “dressed up” for a stock holders cruise in August of 1940 and again, ghosting into Vineyard Haven Harbor in
the summer of 1941 with the yawl boat pushing her. She looks very tired but her sheer
is still quite fair and the hull and rig are in seemingly reasonable order. There is also a photo
of the ALICE L PENDLETON, a coasting schooner wreck that was “tied up” in Noank, Connecticut when we were living
in Mystic in the 70’s. My son commented that he can still remember passing her daily when he
was mate on a charter schooner sailing from Mystic around 1979 or 1980. She’s gone now as are all
the rest of the enormous fleet of 2 to 7 masted schooners which carried the bulk of the freight along the American coasts
– truly the eighteen wheelers of the sea.
The foreword quotes Moses Goddard (son of Robert and brother of Thomas) writing about
his father’s photos and collections: “The impression that he left me with is that he believed
that as a young man he witnessed a time when there was an incredible legacy of commercial sailing vessels whose time was coming
to an end – slowly at first, and then the door to that era just slammed shut with the Second World War.
He saw this legacy as including not only the magnificent boats that were ultimately ground into oblivion in a series
of increasingly ignominious roles, but also as the wisdom and experience of the seamen, the captains, and the shipwrights
who made that whole technology work for hundreds of years. It’s not that he had any disrespect
for the vessels that replaced the sailing fleet – as we all know he was extremely drawn to the newer boats as well.
The old working sailboats were what really attracted his love and fascination all of his life. He
was philosophical about the inevitability of the demise of the commercial sailing fleet, but still he could hardly bear watching
these boats disappear, never to be replaced. He left me with a reverence for the skill and wisdom
of the men who built and sailed those things.”
Thomas Goddard notes “While this
book is dedicated to the subject of coastal schooners, my father’s collection of images and material on square-riggers
is as equally substantial. I look forward to the challenge of a second volume.”
It is kind of frightening
to realize that so many facets of seemingly indelible maritime history are fast disappearing from our own memories and from
our waters – even here on the island where we are surrounded by water and where hardly a day goes by without a glimpse
of ocean or sound. For some of us the memories could be the coasting schooners, for some the
ubiquitous wooden fishing vessels – the coastal and inshore draggers -- of the middle part of the last century, or the
sight of classic yachts passing through the Sound – the annual New York Yacht Club Cruises of the late 40’s come
to mind. It could be a memory of the great yacht MANXMAN sailing into Edgartown Harbor, rounding up and
picking up her mooring under sail, or the large ketch ATLANTIS, one of the original oceanographic vessels, sailing in through
the Sound – returning to WHOI from foreign waters and distant oceanographic research. For some the
memory could be the lovely steamers NOBSKA and MARTHA’S VINEYARD (or a trip on board), a picture of a fish house festooned
with the tails from harpooned swordfish, or a fishing vessel with her sword fishing rig and stash of dories, or even the much
loved ISLANDER plowing resolutely back and forth on her daily round. The sight (and sound) of a multi
storied white monster power boat tied up (generator running), a go fast modern racing boat or even the ISLAND HOME underway
just doesn’t cut it. We are fortunate however as we have a fabulous collection of traditional and
classic boats – one that is certainly unique and noteworthy, even world class -- in
Vineyard Haven. They’ll generate memories of their own. And yes, I know that I
am displaying my age.
FACE TO FACE – OCEAN PORTRAITS by Huw Lewis-Jones published this year by Conway in England is another visual
feast with a wide ranging focus (no puns intended). The Foreword is by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston
(pictured) and there are all sorts of photo portraits from all over the world from the late 1800’s to date.
The contents are divided into several sections and not only are the photographs extensively captioned and annotated
but there are chapters about the state of the sea, bibliographies and indexes as well as resources for further reading.
This is a book that leads you ever onward…dip into the selections and you’ll be hooked; you’ll just
have to look for more information and books. For instance: read
about Richard Wheeler, a Buzzards Bay resident, who in 1991 at the age of 60, undertook a 1500 nm trip from Newfoundland to
Buzzards Bay along the migratory path of the now extinct Great Auk, and from that he made an award winning documentary entitled
THE HAUNTED CRY OF A LONG GONE BIRD. His mission for the past 20 years has been to further our understanding
of the marine environment. Or look at the photo of Starling Burgess perched on the upper most
fin of a submarine conning tower – dated 1938 in the Gulf of Maine. Or Sylvia Earle,
the Cousteaus, Eric Tabarly. Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Charlie Barr, Sir Francis Beaufort, Nathaniel Philbrick, or Frank Beken.
This is an obsessively addictive book!
Samuel Llewellyn is a well known and successful writer of popular marine fiction – with
punchy titles such as RIPTIDE, MAELSTROM, BLOOD KNOT, DEADEYE, and DEATH ROLL. As you might
guess these are all gutsy books full of skullduggery, a hapless but capable hero (capable of sustaining almost endless hard
knocks) and nefarious criminal activities on board various boats, usually in British waters. Last
winter Mr. Llewellyn switched gears and moved to pursue a long cherished dream. He is now the editor
and publisher of THE MARINE QUARTERLY (www.marinequarterly.com) which is a handily sized and beautifully produced little soft cover book full
of short articles, stories, book reviews and various works of art. This is not a glossy
magazine found on any newsstand nor have I seen it advertised anywhere; you have to subscribe at the substantial expense of
55 GPB annually (in the US). There is no advertising and this is the type of semi scholarly journal for
a nautical collector of “lovely things.” Alternatively you could find some of his
thriller fiction although it won’t have the same collector cachet. In the latest issue there is a
lovely painting on the front cover by James Dodds, who is a marine painter currently very much in vogue.
Messum’s Gallery
in London just held an exhibition of Mr. Dodds’ iconic paintings, and the catalog is available for 15 GBP, or there
is a standard hardback edition with jacket for 35 GBP. It is very difficult to describe
his paintings but once you see one you’ll never forget it. They are detailed but simple
and you get just the boat without any extraneous detail or background. If you want a catalog:
info@messums.com.
For the past couple of years I’ve been writing about, and waiting in almost breathless
anticipation for, the definitive history of the Sparkman and Stephens yawl DORADE. The book, by Douglas
Adkins, has been promised for so long that I’ve about expired from lack of breathing. But
the end is in sight and I’ve been told by Louie Howland, of Howland and Company in Jamaica Plain (617-522-5281) that
copies may be available just before Christmas. I believe that Louie has performed some mid wifery
for the book and certainly he will have copies for sale. I haven’t seen any samples yet
but knowing the principals involved this will be an incredible book, and one that has to be added to any maritime book collection.
I understand that there will be a standard edition and a deluxe edition with an original photo of DORADE included.
While carrying on with his own business Louie has been working on a biography of Starling Burgess.
And in case you are looking for a really significant gift, he still has copies of the two volume set about MARIETTE
AND THE HERRESHOFF SCHOONERS as well as new and stunning books about Six Meters, Twelve Meters, etc.
In fact for a pleasurable evening request his latest catalog. You are sure to find a must
have treasure, probably a whole shelf full.
THE LITTLE BLACK DOG HAS PUPPIES by Joyce Spooner
with illustrations by Terre Lamb Seeley was published last May as the third in the series and it is just as engaging and charming
for kids of all ages as the first two books were. It is, of course, about the original black dog owned
by Captain Bob Douglas of SHENANDOAH, the dog who whelped the Vineyard whitefoot pups, and whose image has launched an awful
lot of boats. The book – both narrative and the lovely pictures – are enchanting.
If you are thinking of sending a book to a favorite niece, nephew, or looking for an ideal stocking present for a grand
child, this is the book. My grandsons love this series and even though they are now growing
up they still enjoy having me read these books to them.
Nathaniel Philbrick has just written WHY READ MOBY-DICK?, a slender
intellectual treatise encouraging all of us to read what has been described as the greatest piece of American fiction.
MOBY-DICK, by Herman Melville, has inspired films, cartoons, comic books, festivals, all sorts of other events and
even some rap music while remaining an allegorical and classic novel. Philbrick, from our neighboring
island, describes MOBY-DICK as “one book that deserves to be called our American Bible,” and he wants all of us
to read it. Right up front I have to admit that not only have I never read MOBY-DICK but I
have steadfastly refused to read it, based mainly on a biased and contrarian belief that anything that is being so highly
touted, or so ruthlessly analyzed by one and all, is not for me. I’ve read many other
maritime classics (some several times) and loved most if not all but at MOBY-DICK I baulk. Mr.
Philbrick is, however, an award winning writer for virtually everything he publishes and on that basis alone I’m sure
that this book is well worth reading. Published by Viking Adult, this book has only been on the stands
for a week. Just a note, Philbrick’s IN THE HEART OF THE SEA: THE TRAGEDY
OF THE WHALESHIP ESSEX recounts the real-life shipwreck which served as the inspiration for Melville’s book.
So this year there are two sure to be best seller books about white sea creatures, this book and JAWS!
THE EXPLORER’S
CODE by Kitty Pilgrim is a recently published romantic thriller with several exotic protagonists, wild plot lines, snappy
dialog, a cruise on the Cunard liner QUEEN VICTORIA, stops at some wonderful places between Monaco and Turkey, and if all
that isn’t enough there are stops in Paris, the English country side, the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and of course
there are the evil Russian criminals, Texas religious fanatics, and a lot of intrigue and a whole lot else.
The jury is still out on this book because I haven’t had a chance to read it yet – further the title is
off putting because THE DAVINCI CODE was so awful in every way that I couldn’t bring myself to read past the second
chapter. I’m hoping that Ms Pilgrim hasn’t cloned or channeled any hint of that
plot! And I am hoping that this isn’t all breathy, gushy prose. There
is a Vineyard connection as Ms Pilgrim spends much of the summer in Menemsha on a boat.
SAILING, YACHTS AND YARNS:
by Tom Cunliffe, published by Wiley Nautical. Tom is a raconteur par excellence – if
you want to watch a brilliant example of Tom “at work” order a copy of the BBC TV’s THE BOATS THAT BUILT
BRITAIN (excellent and highly recommended) which comes in American format DVD form. S, Y &
Y is a compilation of many of the columns that he’s written for the fine British sailing magazine YACHTING MONTHLY.
The columns range from the sacred to the profane, most are loaded with more than a soupcon of humor and informative
prose, and each chapter is a stand alone piece. Tom’s introduction notes that being a journalist
allows one to express one’s own thoughts and opinions, and that the column has given him a soap box.
Those of us who have been privileged to hear Tom speak, or to spend some time with him know that he’s never short
of an opinion and that he is a very common sense, practical sort of person, as well as a seaman (and teacher as well as yacht
master certificate examiner) of the first rank. Just read the first piece entitled “Holy Cow”
and you’ll be hooked.
G L WATSON: This book with several authors,
and to be published by the Irish company Peggy Bawn Press, is another book about which I’ve written in the past.
G L Watson, a Scottish yacht designer operating mainly in the late 1800’s was the designer cited by Olin Stephens
II as the designer that all other yacht designers ought to study. I wish that I could give you more
information about when it will be published but efforts to find out have, so far, not turned up any firm publishing date.
This is another book, however, that should be a beauty. And expensive.
Without any shame I have
to recommend to you my own recently published cook book FRESH FROM THE VINEYARD. Written to showcase
(and support) our own farmers and fishermen, and to promote local produce, meat, dairy, fish and shell fish, and all the rest,
every recipe has to have at least one ingredient and preferably several which can be sourced locally. A
portion of the proceeds will be used to support farm to school programs and the Vineyard Conservation Society’s assistance
with Agricultural Preservation Restrictions. Copies are available locally at the Bunch of Grapes,
and various farm stands or stores, or you can call me if you would like a dozen or so! I’d
be glad to autograph or personalize them and there is an insert map of island farms and other valuable info.
Water colors from the late Juliet Kraetzer illustrate the ring bound book. I’ll
even mail them for you although I do not wrap.
For many of us lucky to have an island painting or two, there is a group of local painters
whose works we revere (and lust for) more than those of [perhaps] wider currency and greater value. Thinking
quickly I can name: Stan Murphy, Julia Mitchell (for her incredible tapestries), her sister
Lucy Mitchell whose works defy an easy description (detailed, realistic, covetable!), Lucy’s husband Res Williams (his
series of paintings of fishing vessels documents a passing era of the maritime world), Allen Whiting, whose seascapes –
whether his native island or from Bequia – always enchant, and Kib Bramhall. When I sailed
from Hawaii to Port Townsend, WA in 1999 and again on a trans-Atlantic sail in 2004, posted in a prominent spot in my galley,
was a postcard of apainting of butterfly weed in bloom in a field at the edge of the sea. It
kept me grounded. Kib has now published, through our own Vineyard Stories (Jan Pogue in Edgartown)
BRIGHT WATERS, SHINING TIDES, Reflections on a Lifetime of Fishing. He attributes the title to his
two favorite books, one of which is West Tisbury resident Nelson Bryant’s FRESH AIR, BRIGHT WATER (also a favorite of
mine). Kib’s recollections of fishing expeditions and the accompanying paintings are magical.
The jacket cover is a painting of Everett Bramhall but as Kib agreed it could be Kib or it
even could be the late Danny Bryant. This is a great book for the outdoors person in your life
or for your own book shelf. Place it so the cover faces outward so you can admire the painting!
There are two island
centered kids’ books which would be handy for stocking stuffers, particularly for kids who are far from woods or the
ocean and ponds. The first is JEROME & THE SPOOKY WOODS by Robert J Taylor (father of Matt of the JAWS
book) “A Scary Childhood Adventure on Martha’s Vineyard.” Published back in 2008,
a second edition was published last year. This is a story based on happenings “out in
the woods” back when the author was 10 and living in Chilmark; it became a bed time tale that he told his kids and now
you can read it to yours.
CODE NAME KC: A True Account of One Osprey by Linda Zeltzer with photography
by Julian K. Robinson. This is a paper back book that I overlooked back when it was published in 2006 –
and like JEROME ( FRESH FROM THE VINEYARD) it was published by the Tisbury Printers and guided by Janet Holladay.
This is the life and times of KC an osprey from Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary and there is an informative, engaging
narrative, wonderful photos and lots of additional resources and information.
My final book offering
is a tried and true hit. Back in 1978 Dorothy Cottle Poole, for many years one of the Chilmark
School teachers and always a historian/writer, published VINEYARD SAMPLER. It is an anthology
of Vineyard history, folklore, fishing and farming tales, apocryphal stories and it is a book that should be on every island
book shelf. Carefully researched and with wonderful period photos, it was originally
published by the Dukes County Historical Society. It went out of print but several years ago Everett
Poole, her son, sponsored a reprint and recently he got an additional printing. You can buy it from
Everett at The Chilmark Chandlery (call 508-654-2212) for hours, and while you are purchasing copies make sure that you have
time for a gam with Everett whose wit, wisdom and humor have been honed for some years now.
Occasionally I find useful
and unusual sailing products. One that I’ve read about but have not been able to locate in
the US is called the Safasail cap. Designed to resemble a baseball cap, it has a well hidden hard
hat interior to help protect from head injuries. It is available from Nauticalia in England
and unfortunately the shipping is so expensive (in relation to the cap) that I decided not to order a sample.
It is a product with such a sensible design and purpose that presumably some American company will make something similar
available. Now if someone could only make a product that allows you to move around the
deck barefooted but avoid cleats, fair leads and other painful obstacles………….
My final suggestion for
those of you who like a practical gift, do consider a robust fire extinguisher or a small medical kit. Let me know about any good books
that you’ve read.
Copyright 2011 by Virginia Crowell Jones
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