- Paperback: 224 pages
- Publisher: Oxford Paperbacks; New edition edition (21 Jan 1999)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0192837400
- ISBN-13: 978-0192837400
- Product Dimensions: 19.8 x 13 x 1.1 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,568,510 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Captains Courageous (Bantam Classic)
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Product Description
Review
"Throughout the world his voice commanded more respect than any citizen other than heads of state."
--This text refers to an alternate
Paperback
edition.
Product Description
Harvey Cheyne is the over-indulged son of a millionaire. When he falls overboard from an ocean liner he is rescued by a Portuguese fisherman and, initially against his will, joins the crew of the We're Here for a summer. Through the medium of an exciting adventure story, Captains Courageous (1897) deals with a boy who like Mowgli in The Jungle Book, is thrown into an entirely alien environment. The superstitious, magical world of the sea and the tough, orderly, physical world of the boat form a backdrop to Harvey's regeneration. Kipling describes the fascination skills of the schooner fishermen who would soon be made redundant by the twentieth century, and makes the ship function as a convincing model for a society engaged in a difficult and dangerous task. The introduction to this edition examines its place among other maritime novels and among Kipling's own work, and explanatory notes clarify the seafaring terms and historical and geographical references.
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First Sentence
THE weather door of the smoking-room had been left open to the North Atlantic fog, as the big liner rolled and lifted, whistling to warm the fishing-fleet. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt
THE weather door of the smoking-room had been left open to the North Atlantic fog, as the big liner rolled and lifted, whistling to warm the fishing-fleet. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Kipling is difficult to figure out. On the one hand is his notoriety as almost an apostle of imperialism. On the other hand stands the Kipling who spoke fluent Hindi, wrote virulent criticisms of British rule, & was even, for that very reason, politely shown the door from British India.
In that line it would be easy to claim that Captains Courageous - ostensibly a wholly *American* novel about the maturing of a spoiled Californian boy on a Massachusetts fishing ship - has nothing to do with anything British or imperial.
Nevertheless his familiar ideals, of self-reliance earned by strenuous, often manual endeavour, supervised by stern but benevolent mentors, animate Captains Courageous. But the trick is, in this case, that whether or not the reader endorses Kipling's message, he or she may easily abstract from it & enjoy a simply excellent story, beautifully written.
The novel opens as young Harvey falls overboard from his pampering mother & a luxury liner, almost into the arms of a Portuguese fisherman, part of Captain Troop's crew. Harvey is soon forced to abandon his old brat antics. As Troop's son has quickly taken to this unexpected companion, he is gradually taught the wearisome, but organic team work required on a cod schooner. The practice of the time - individualistic only on appearance - was that each of a ship's fishermen would row out, from the anchored mother ship, in his personal little boat or "dory", & get his large catch with hooks & baits.
Later we learn how unimaginably dangerous this livelihood is, but what Harvey doesn't know doesn't hurt him, & he soon proves a very acceptable member of the crew.
The relation between Harvey & his own tycoon father is also explored, with spectacular richness & complexity. Cheyne Sr will prove fully equal to the frugal Captain Troop - or is he entirely equal? Either way, the story would be intolerable without Kipling's flair for minute details & dialogue, effectively "discovering" the New England cod schooner of the 19th Century. Just as Melville, with Moby Dick, immortalized the whaling ship of that age.
In that line it would be easy to claim that Captains Courageous - ostensibly a wholly *American* novel about the maturing of a spoiled Californian boy on a Massachusetts fishing ship - has nothing to do with anything British or imperial.
Nevertheless his familiar ideals, of self-reliance earned by strenuous, often manual endeavour, supervised by stern but benevolent mentors, animate Captains Courageous. But the trick is, in this case, that whether or not the reader endorses Kipling's message, he or she may easily abstract from it & enjoy a simply excellent story, beautifully written.
The novel opens as young Harvey falls overboard from his pampering mother & a luxury liner, almost into the arms of a Portuguese fisherman, part of Captain Troop's crew. Harvey is soon forced to abandon his old brat antics. As Troop's son has quickly taken to this unexpected companion, he is gradually taught the wearisome, but organic team work required on a cod schooner. The practice of the time - individualistic only on appearance - was that each of a ship's fishermen would row out, from the anchored mother ship, in his personal little boat or "dory", & get his large catch with hooks & baits.
Later we learn how unimaginably dangerous this livelihood is, but what Harvey doesn't know doesn't hurt him, & he soon proves a very acceptable member of the crew.
The relation between Harvey & his own tycoon father is also explored, with spectacular richness & complexity. Cheyne Sr will prove fully equal to the frugal Captain Troop - or is he entirely equal? Either way, the story would be intolerable without Kipling's flair for minute details & dialogue, effectively "discovering" the New England cod schooner of the 19th Century. Just as Melville, with Moby Dick, immortalized the whaling ship of that age.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
“Captains Courageous” tells the story of how Harvey Cheyne, young son of an American multimillionaire, travels back to America on a fishing schooner called the “We’re Here”, by one of whose crew he was saved from drowning. He’s taught in turns by all the crew different skills every fisherman has to have and hears wild, colourful stories round a table. Kipling’s vivid descriptions add to the enjoyment of this classic book, which I think can appeal to most children, and also to some soft-hearted adults.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I read this book, and absolutely enjoyed it! It's a fast reading, adventorous book, with a slight twist. Not only do you get to read a great book, but this book actually teaches you about boating, have you ever heard the term Dory, or a jonah, or where we got the term "Teach you the ropes" This book is great, and full of wonderful information you otherwise wouldn't think to learn, yet it's very intruiging!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Good but not Great
Nice little story of a spoiled brat who turns good, having said that the story is rather predictable and the dialogue [of the different nationalities onboard] difficult to follow... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Boubepo
The great man stumbles
I have always had time for Kipling; a great writer. However, this novel left me feeling "here's a great short story, but when is it going to end". Read more
Published 14 months ago by cutsie06
Very pleased
The book was carefully packed and it arrived very fast. I am very pleased !
Published on 8 July 2009 by Dr. Byzantine
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