cover image The Solitary Slocum: Captain Joshua Slocum

The Solitary Slocum: Captain Joshua Slocum

Robert Blondin, Hedley King. Nimbus Publishing (CN), $21.95 (196pp) ISBN 978-1-55109-002-3

Written in the first person, this ``apocryphal autobiography'' of a genuine historical figure--Nova Scotia-born, fiercely independent seafarer Joshua Slocum (1844-1909)--begins by recalling his harsh boyhood and maritime apprenticeship, then chronicles his rise through the ranks to become captain of his own ship. In 1895, when the advent of steam-powered vessels threatened his livelihood and hard-won title of Master of Sail, Slocum sought glory by embarking alone on a three-year, 46,000-mile global voyage. Canadian broadcaster, playwright and novelist Blondin preserves the flavor of the captain's own account, Sailing Alone Around the World (1900), describing exotic lands and encounters with Herman Melville, Paul Gauguin and a pirate impersonating a missionary, among others. Interspersed with the saga of Slocum's commercial enterprises and perilous adventures on land and sea, including two stormy marriages, are philosophical musings that reveal his desperate ambition and craving for fame. A ripping good yarn. ( Aug. )