Sixpence for the Wind; by Brian Archibald; Whittles Publishing, 1999; ISBN 1-870325-57-5; £13.95; CA 15405

There is scarcely a seasoned sailor who does not admire and respect the beauty, power, and grandeur of the sea. It is place for hubris, and experience tells us that we should always try to be on the lookout for signs that may warn of encroaching danger even when everything seems to be going smoothly.

For some, however, superstition, myth and folklore play strong roles, and this book seems to have been written for them. “Man has created monters from the unknown, and gods from the dark recesses of his own mind. Some lie within (these) pages waiting to reveal their secrets”. It has chapters on such subjects as pirates, mermaids, ghost ships, and drink. It is illustrated with a few fine photographs of whalers from about the turn of the century, but I found its staccato, strange-but-true style very irritating. - DWB

Page added 4 March 1999

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