Two Years Before the Mast

By: Richard Henry Dana

Narrated by: Bernard Mayes

Richard Henry Dana referred to this book as "a voice from the sea". It influenced Conrad and Melville, and has become a maritime classic that has inspired legions of men with a passion for the sea.

Dana, a law student turned sailor for health reasons, sailed in 1834 aboard the brig Pilgrim on a voyage from Boston around Cape Horn to California. (Hence the city name Dana Point.) Drawing from his journals, Two Years Before the Mast gives a vivid and detailed account, shrewdly observed and beautifully described, of a common sailor's wretched treatment at sea, and of a way of life virtually unknown at that time.

(P)1995 Blackstone Audio Inc.

Love the narrator. Stories of a way by gone era.

Some of the sailing talk and terms is a bit tedious, but stories of harbors work and the Kanakas is something you don't get much of in a 1st person account from such an open minded person, in 1832. A true mind of the enlightenment is Dana and his story of California before the gold rush is not to be missed.

It was just like being there!

This is a great story not only for its historical significance but also for the quality of writing and the fantastic job done by the narrator. I have just listened to it once and can't wait to listen to it again! We love sailing stories and have our own podcast at The Sailing Podcast where we have also left a review there. Come and join Carina and I on our journey...

Great as an audiobook, recording has issues

This book, a long favorite of mine, is even better as an audiobook. Somehow, rigging and reefing the top'sls makes more sense when read outloud--you can realize what action is taking place aloft. The story--well, it's amazing. And it's American history in a capsule that is incomparable; from the time of Andrew Jackson to the start of the Civil War and the founding of California. It is amazing to realize that from the 1830's to the 1850's, California went from a frontier to a vigorous, urbanized society --in 20 years! Astonishing. Dana covers the changes in his afterward written 24 years after his sea voyage as a youth. The only problem with Mayes' recording is that there is a lot of technical sloppiness--one part has background over-recording of some other voices, and in one part, the recording markers, to be removed, are left in. Mayes has a kind of fruity, British voice, yet he gets excited during the worst tales of storms and conveys the words of the author with emotion.

Fantastic history!

Wonderful book! WELL worth the time to listen. Well Done and Thank You to all involved in bringing this book to Autable.

Nautical Dictionary required

A very important work that informed so much about the history of California. Keep a nautical dictionary at hand to be able to follow some of the more exciting parts.

California before it was CA

great book talking about California before he was eveb close to what it is today. what are now major cities in major locations or nothing more than a shoreline

Amazing story of life at sea

Not your usual adventure-at-sea novel. Instead it tells the story of daily life, which in many respects is more interesting. Enjoy!!

Excellent Listen

What did you love best about Two Years Before the Mast?

I felt as I was there aboard ship with the treatment the author and reader put forth. I was afraid it could be dull in some places, but it never was.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Two Years Before the Mast?

When the author relayed the experiences of the captain's authoritarian control of the ship, right or wrong, in the flogging incident on the brig, "Pilgrim". The author's intensity magnified the moment.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Bernard Mayes?

Yes

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Two Year Before the Mast.,,a real look into the hardships of 19th Century Sailing.

Any additional comments?

A must read for those that are into sailing ships of the 1800's.

Fascinating history

I am not a sailor but I am a Californian. This books recounts Dana’s adventures at sea with a wonderful description of the California coast around 1837-38. The reader was excellent. (I did get a small volume of nautical terms so I could visualise the detailed descriptions when he was a ship.) What was also so interesting is that the author returned to the California coast 25 years later to describe all the changes.

Interesting historical prospective

Sign of times with somewhat xenophobic views by Dana and the US thinking of that era. Manifest Destiny was the rule of the day.