- Paperback: 336 pages
- Publisher: Da Capo Press Inc (10 Nov 1996)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0201441977
- ISBN-13: 978-0201441970
- Product Dimensions: 22.9 x 14.7 x 2.5 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,933,201 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- See Complete Table of Contents
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More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
The China Voyage is the extraordinary story of how Tim Severin and his crew made maritime history by sailing across the Pacific on a bamboo raft. Their purpose: to test the theory that Asian mariners reached America some 2,000 years ago. Their experience provides armchair explorers with one of the most remarkable sea voyages ever, and offers a unique perspective on what happens when historical theories are literally put to the test.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
If you are not a big fan of sailing stories don't let the scenario put you off. Yes, Severin is a sailor through and through with most of his adventures based on sea voyages. However he has spent enough time on land to appreciate that not every one wants the day to day details of picking weevils out of ships biscuits. My favourite is the first part of the book before the actual sea crossing. Here the author sets the scene, reviewing the debate on the possibility of cross-pacific travel by sailing craft 2000 years ago. Severin is extremely well read on the subject. His efforts to learn and understand from experts in bamboo raft construction are also admirable. The part of the book chronicling the time spent with local fishermen in Vietnam is very enjoyable. The journey itself is packed with incidents: these involve the sea, the weather and the crew and are all thoughtfully written about. Severin does his utmost to make you feel like you were there. Thankfully he doesn't feel like he has to log the experiences of every single day even if nothing interesting happened. The book is a well balanced combination of the incidents on the journey and background information on why they have embarked on this adventure. There is plenty for non-sailor and sailor alike.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Most people would baulk at just the idea of crossing all that distance in a well-found ship, let alone a flimsy bamboo raft. This is Tim Severin's life-blood...
Whereas academics will agonise over theories and postulates about cultural migration, Mr. Severin just goes out and does it - generally it works.
Whereas academics will agonise over theories and postulates about cultural migration, Mr. Severin just goes out and does it - generally it works.
I first read about this trip in a one-page National Geographic article, which didn't do the trip nor Tim Severin and his crew justice.
A long-time fan of Mr.Severin, I know what to expect from his books; very intense, often repetitious eulogies on the strengths and weaknesses of the craft; the pros & cons of his theories and the methods used to explore the possibilities opened up by these theories.
This book is no exception, refusing to take any modern assistance (except mandatory safety equipment), insisting on traditional materials and building techniques, he constructs a raft which has never been seen outside Vietnam for a century, in order to test his theory that Asian culture could have migrated via the Pacific (either by accident or design) to the Americas.
The trip is punctuated by storms, any one of which would destroy your average 60foot yacht, but Hsu Fu calmly lets the mightiest waves run right through her, barely disturbing the crew at their supper.
A bonus is that the raft needs no helmsman, once set on a tack she steers herself, her attendant shoals of fish ensure continuous supplies of fresh food, the only problem is after 5 months at sea, she's falling apart at the seams.
Having seen the original Sindbad dhow (parked on a roundabout in Muscat, Oman), I can attest to the workmanship and attention to detail that goes into each one of Mr.Severin's boats, so it must have been heart-breaking for him to see his journey cut short by the break-up of the raft, due to no fault of his own, and so near to the final goal.
I'd love to see the videos that they took on the voyage - the narrative gives you a real feeling of being at one with the sea, but I'd like to compare the picture in my head with the real thing.
Thoroughly recommended reading, lots of photos and drawings by the crew illustrate a wonderful voyage.*****
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4 reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Well written adventure
28 Oct 1999
Format:Paperback
In this book, Tim Severin has demonstrated the sense of scholarly adventure of Thor Hyerdahl while showing the enthusiasm for new experiences of Richard Haliburton. His adventure has purpose in trying to understand how the ancients may have been able to make trans-pacific voyages. He makes the reader feel as if the reader is experiencing the adventure with the others on the raft. This involvement is achieved through an exploration of the human struggles as well as the physical struggles that such an epic adventure requires. It struck me while reading the book that this would be a good book for managers to read to learn about teambuilding skills. This book is instructional, well researched, and entertaining to read. If you have enjoyed Tim Severin's previous books, you will certainly enjoy this book.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
More brilliant testing of theory.
16 May 2002
Format:Paperback
Cross the Pacific in a raft made from bamboo - You must be joking!
I first read about this trip in a one-page National Geographic article, which didn't do the trip nor Tim Severin and his crew justice.
A long-time fan of Mr.Severin, I know what to expect from his books; very intense, often repetitious eulogies on the strengths and weaknesses of the craft; the pros & cons of his theories and the methods used to explore the possibilities opened up by these theories.
This book is no exception, refusing to take any modern assistance (except mandatory safety equipment), insisting on traditional materials and building techniques, he constructs a raft which has never been seen outside Vietnam for a century, in order to test his theory that Asian culture could have migrated via the Pacific (either by accident or design) to the Americas.
The trip is punctuated by storms, any one of which would destroy your average 60foot yacht, but Hsu Fu calmly lets the mightiest waves run right through her, barely disturbing the crew at their supper.
A bonus is that the raft needs no helmsman, once set on a tack she steers herself, her attendant shoals of fish ensure continuous supplies of fresh food, the only problem is after 5 months at sea, she's falling apart at the seams.
Having seen the original Sindbad dhow (parked on a roundabout in Muscat, Oman), I can attest to the workmanship and attention to detail that goes into each one of Mr.Severin's boats, so it must have been heart-breaking for him to see his journey cut short by the break-up of the raft, due to no fault of his own, and so near to the final goal.
I'd love to see the videos that they took on the voyage - the narrative gives you a real feeling of being at one with the sea, but I'd like to compare the picture in my head with the real thing.
Thoroughly recommended reading; I'm just about to start on 'The Spice Islands Voyage - In Search of Wallace', which should combine two of my favourite subjects:- Exploration and Evolution ... more on that later.
Awesome Book
3 May 2012
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Such an awesome book. Full of adventure and inspiration for someone who's interested in building their own bamboo raft, or anyone who loves traveling.
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