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Product Description
"Seaspray and Whisky" is a classic story of maritime misadventure. This genuinely entertaining read tells a true story of how a 'dodgy' crew of misfits drank their way through a cargo of whisky as they crossed the Atlantic in their tramp steamer. Only to face arrest when they reached America. The worst trip of the author's life that turned out to be the best. The only second-hand copy in the UK on Abe Books is going for GBP30 and its had some good reviews: 'Writes Katherine A. Powers, of "The Boston Globe" , 'I read "Seaspray and Whisky" in one enthralled sitting. It is a memoir of a young Irish Radio Officer who has the exotic misfortune to sign up for a tour of duty on a ship commanded and crewed by a collection of topers. The ship's most notable presence is a cargo of Scotch whisky. The author, who is a teetotaler and a bit of a priss, observes with awed restraint as the voyage from Liverpool to New Orleans and on to Houston disintegrates into a binge, the consequence of 960 bottles of Vat 69 disappearing during transit. Freeman's powers of description are stunning: the voyage comes alive with its curious assemblage of seamen, all exceptionally human in their cunning and folly, in their aspirations and failures'. Alun Richards, editor of the "Penguin Book of Sea Stories": 'I thought it was marvellous and read it avidly. I was on one of these hooligan boats myself and Norman Freeman has captured it perfectly'. This could fit into our maritime list as well as apeal to a wider readership that we are reaching with our growing narrative non-fiction list.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
As an ex Merchant Navy Radio Officer myself I was transported back many years to my time at sea. No-one who has not had the mutual experiences I share with the author could have written such a wholly accurate and perceptive frolic. I have sailed with carbon copies of several of his characters whom Norman Freeman brings to life with a descriptive narrative that immediately makes them visable again in the mind's eye. I walked around a ship again, sat on watch in the radio room, stood again on the bridge at night with the 3rd mate on the 8 to 12, ate again in the saloon, felt the deck move under my feet and went ashore again to the nightclubs, brothels and seedy bars which were all a part of a seamans experience.
A truly superb book which I only wish had been longer and I had written it myself! For those who have not been at sea the story may seem almost far fetched, but from fond memory I can find nothing unbelievable in it. I have not seen 960 bottles of whisky disappear but do not doubt for one moment that even the smallest detail in this book is absolutely true. Truly un-put-down-able! a must for ex sailors and all who wish to re-live life at sea as it was not so long ago.
A truly superb book which I only wish had been longer and I had written it myself! For those who have not been at sea the story may seem almost far fetched, but from fond memory I can find nothing unbelievable in it. I have not seen 960 bottles of whisky disappear but do not doubt for one moment that even the smallest detail in this book is absolutely true. Truly un-put-down-able! a must for ex sailors and all who wish to re-live life at sea as it was not so long ago.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
An excellent book, well written. Its appeal is to those interested in the sea, and who remember life in the middle of the 20th Century.
I enjoyed the book; in fact I couldn't put it down.
I enjoyed the book; in fact I couldn't put it down.
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As an ex-radio officer (Sparks) of the Belgian merchant navy , i was delighted to read Norman Freeman 's sea story.
It brought my spirit some "souvenirs" that I lived myself !!......50 years ago !!
Francois BROSE
It brought my spirit some "souvenirs" that I lived myself !!......50 years ago !!
Francois BROSE
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Absolutely Fantastic Narrative
Picked this book up in a second hand book shop a few days ago and found it compelling reading,
the author's dry narrative of his fellow shipmates and the developing drama... Read more
the author's dry narrative of his fellow shipmates and the developing drama... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Dav45
A wonderful read
This book is a must for anyone who wants to know how life really was for merchant seamen in the early 1960's
The descriptive writing brings to life all the characters on board... Read more
The descriptive writing brings to life all the characters on board... Read more
Published 11 months ago by N. K. Bullock
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