Lone Voyager: The Extraordinary Adventures Of Howard Blackburn Hero Fisherman Of Gloucester

(Paperback)

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Lone Voyager is a fascinating story of sailing and adventure and a heart-felt celebration of a man who remains an iconic figure among all sailors who take to the sea alone. Howard Blackburn set sail from Gloucester Harbor in 1883 and, following the routine of legions of fishermen in the area, he and another man fished from a dory. But when a sudden squall erupted, they confronted a situation that was anything but routine. Alone in a small boat on the empty Atlantic, the two men battled freezing wind and rain. When his companion died, Blackburn rowed for 100 miles, finally reaching the Newfoundland coast. The horrific journey cost Blackburn all of his fingers, but could not kill his spirit. Despite his disability, he went on to break the record for the fastest lone voyage across the Atlantic. From the story of his epic survival to tales of his later adventures, Lone Voyager captures a man of rare courage and determination.

Reviews

Sebastian Junger author of The Perfect Storm Brings alive the struggles of the Gloucester men at seas in the era of fishing under sail like no other book I've ever read...A wonderful, beautifully written book. Mark Kurlansky author of Cod: A Biography of the Fish That Changed the World The only name I can think of that is more Gloucester than Howard Blackburn is Joe Garland. This is the great New England fishing legend definitively told. Henry Beetle Hough The New York Times Book Review One of the most remarkable feats of survival in the history of seafaring...It is one for all whose interest runs to the never-ending conflict between man and the sea. Richard Adams Carey author of Against the Tide: The Fate of the New England Fisherman Howard Blackburn is legendary even today among North Atlantic fishermen, and Joe Garland's lyrical book reveals the even more astonishing man behind the legend. A terrific read: brisk, poetic, and full of the sea.

Author Bio

Joseph E. Garland, a former newspaperman, has written extensively on social, maritime and medical history, including thirteen books about Gloucester and Boston's North Shore and some 350 columns in the Gloucester Daily Times. A longtime sailor, he and his wife, Helen, live on the Eastern Point shore of Gloucester's outer harbor.