Winner of the Stanford Dolman Travel Book of the Year

'Magnificent' - Robert Macfarlane

Our lives depend on shipping but it is a world which is largely hidden from us. In every lonely corner of every sea, through every night, every day, and every imaginable weather, tiny crews of seafarers work the giant ships which keep landed life afloat.

These ordinary men live extraordinary lives, subject to dangers and difficulties we can only imagine, from hurricanes and pirates to years of confinement in hazardous, if not hellish, environments.

Horatio Clare joins two container ships on their epic voyages across the globe and experiences unforgettable journeys. As the ships cross seas of history and incident, seafarers unfold the stories of their lives, and a beautiful and terrifying portrait of the oceans and their human subjects emerges.

Why Novel North Recommends

‘An incredible and lyrical insight into those who traverse our oceans on vast ships, contrasting the chaotic and precision. Tales of piracy and unimaginable storms, alongside the pressure with which goods are shipped around our oceans and those who journey with them. It’s a read both inspiring adventure and cementing an appreciation and new found awe for the food and items we see on the shelves of high street shops and supermarkets and the journey they took to be there!’

Author : Horatio Clare

Edition : Paperback, Vintage, 368 pages

ISBN : 9780099526292

Weight: 255g
Dimensions: 198 x 129 x 22mm