Off the Deep End: A History of Madness at Sea

(Paperback)

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This horrifying and engrossing book could scarcely be improved upon. A lightly-worn but gripping contribution to the field, well researched and full of anecdote and comparison. The Spectator Marvellous, engrossing and horrifying Off the Deep End is immensely informative and readable, and hugely provocative. The Big Issue Confined in a small space for months on end, subject to ships discipline and living on limited food supplies, many sailors of old lost their minds and no wonder. Many still do. The result in some instances was bloodthirsty mutinies, such as the whaleboat Sharon whose captain was butchered and fed to the ships pigs in a crazed attack in the Pacific. Or mob violence, such as the 147 survivors on the raft of the Medusa, who slaughtered each other in a two-week orgy of violence. So serious was the problem that the Royal Navys own physician claimed sailors were seven times more likely to go mad than the rest of the population. Historic figures such as Christopher Columbus, George Vancouver, Fletcher Christian (leader of the munity of the Bounty) and Robert FitzRoy (founder of the Met Office) have all had their sanity questioned. More recently, sailors in todays round-the-world races often experience disturbing hallucinations, including seeing elephants floating in the sea and strangers taking the helm, or suffer complete psychological breakdown, like Donald Crowhurst. Others become hypnotised by the sea and jump to their deaths. Off the Deep End looks at the seas physical character, how it confuses our senses and makes rational thought difficult. It explores the long history of madness at sea and how that is echoed in many of todays yacht races. It looks at the often-marginal behaviour of sailors living both figuratively and literally outside societys usual rules. And it also looks at the seas power to heal, as well as cause, madness.

Reviews

Marvellous, engrossing and horrifying Off the Deep End is immensely informative and readable, and hugely provocative. My best book of the year. -- Horatio Clare * The Big Issue *
This horrifying and engrossing book could scarcely be improved upon. A lightly-worn but gripping contribution to the field, well researched and full of anecdote and comparison. * The Spectator *
A fascinating and engrossing nose dive into the under-reported depths of nautical insanity. * Kirkus Reviews (US) *
A fun, amusing and engaging history of men and women who went mad at sea. * Blue Water Sailing *
Compton's collection of questionable-sanity stories covers centuries of sailing in a way that is part history, part horror and part hypothesis. Whichever part appeals to you, this book is a fascinating and cautionary tale. * Sailing *
Must-reading for nautical enthusiasts with a strong stomach and readers intrigued by the body-mind connection and other psychiatric matters. * Booklist *
Highly recommended. * Yachting Monthly *

Author Bio

Nic Compton is a widely published author, journalist and photographer. Formerly the Editor of Classic Boat magazine for 5 years, he then branched out into a freelance writing career and has written 5 books for Adlard Coles Nautical: Ultimate Classic Yachts (published to great acclaim),The Anatomy of Sail, Why Sailors Cant Swim, Iain Oughtred, and Titanic on Trial.