Under Sail

Having escaped the horrors of his Central American exploits, young James Dunbar returns to Suffolk, full of a lust for life and art. Love's young dream, in the shape of the free-spirited Julia, encourages his artistic bent and tries to divert his path from the sea to that of an artist. She fails, despite baring her soul to him, for he is too callow and introverted to understand her underlying goal (as most men are with women). He is intent on gaining experience of sail, as an addition to his steam ticket, so he signs up as deck-hand on a 4-master bound for Australia. They part on an ambivalent note, and a 4-year separation and lost letters do nothing to cement the relationship, resulting in a disappointment for both as he returns - the saving grace being his continued painting during the trip. Now passed for Master, he rejoins his ship, after gaining artistic fame through Julia's contacts, foiling a plot against the Govt. and vastly disillusioning himself with life. More travels and escapades ensue as the world descends into The Great War, culminating in near-tragedy for James and an unexpected twist to the tale which completes a cycle of intrigue begun in 'Waterfront'. Quite different to Mr. Woodman's Nathaniel Drinkwater series, in that it is set a century later in a soon-to-be-shattered peacetime on a merchantman, and focuses on James' personal life, rather than naval tactics. However, it still has that master's touch of fluid, easy reading, combining vivid descriptions of handling a square-rigger in both storms and fair winds with tender handling of a young man's aspirations to art and love. Highly recommended