Two Years Before the Mast by Richard Henry Dana, Jr.

Dana wrote this book about his years on board a ship in the1830s. He had just finished law school and signed on for two years to a merchant ship that would end up sailing around the tip of Argentina and to the coast of California to buy hides for return to Boston. The story is well-told by a well-schooled man with a way with words. Harrowing events surround the whole trip, and it paints a thoroughly unpleasant picture of the sailor's life at that time. It was back-breaking work and the work could be for days at a time with no rest if required. It is quite amazing that they make it at all, let alone with a load of hides. The most irenic period is when he is put ashore to help manage the hide-house near San Diego, when he forms friendships with locals and is somewhat comfortable, if bored.

Near the end, I was wondering why anyone would go to sea given the conditions and the absolute sovereignty of the captain over his men, (in his case a capricious one, which sounds not uncommon.) And in his conclusion he reveals that his purpose for writing was to dissuade young men from taking to the sea with any romantic notions of the nobility of the profession.

I heard about this book when we visited California in June. A woodworker at the Santa Barbara sidewalk art show talked to me for quite awhile about the history of the area and where he lived, which was up in Lompoc. He mentioned this book and I got it from the library. I've mentioned it to several people and their boys had all read it when they were young. I guess i missed the book since I have daughters.

The woodworker also told me about the 1923 naval accident at Honda, up the coast a bit from Santa Barbara near Lompoc. I found a book on that which I am reading now.

I finished this book in early July I think.