"The Last Grain Race" My Pick for Best True 20th Century Tall Ship Sea Story

 How to describe this story?  I'd say, take Irving Johnson's landmark film footage of "Round the Horn",( his experience as an apprentice seaman on the Barque "Peking"), and blow it into an epic circumnavigation, with a higher level of insight, humor, terror, exhilaration, over a six month voyage.  

This is Englishman, Eric Newby's 8 month autobiography of his apprenticeship as an 18 year-old aboard the Swedish/Finnish 4 Masted Barque "Moshulu", in 1938-1939.   He later went on to serve in Her Majesty's Special Boat Service, was taken prisoner, sitting out 1942-1945 as a POW.  He has since authored a number of books.

Capt Dan Cleveland turned me on to this book during a visit with him over the holidays. Into the first few chapters, I began to feel a bit hurt that he never brought up this book during all his time in command.  I guess Irving Johnson was an easier sell to most kids and crew aboard, after all it was a video. 

This book proves the point, why nothing so far in film can really match a well-written story.  It's an excellent, engaging read, perfect for this gloomy period when the uplands are freezing and the harbor just looks and feels dreary cold.   

It's available out there in audible, ebook and some soft cover, so not too hard to find online.  I'm lending my copy to the Ship's Library, in the Saloon.  But if you like a library of this genre, I'd recommend  acquiring your own copy.

https://www.amazon.com/Last-Grain-Race-Eric-Newby/dp/0864427689