Canadian Yachting October 2016 - 65

Readable Relics Book Reviews Reviewed by: R. John Garside AP Most of you have probably seen the Walt Disney Movie (1954) version of this book and were probably quite entertained. I know I was and that led me to finding out more about the French author and his book. Over time I have actually collected several versions of the book and even a French copy! So why would anyone today want to read this book? Because it is still very entertaining and provides an interesting view into the world of Jules Verne and the 1870s. Verne wrote only in French. Any English version you read has been translated and usually extensivley edited. My versions actually vary quite a bit and the one I am featuring here is probably my favourite as it is full of wonderful descriptions of the sea life seen from the famous submarine the Nautilus. It also allows you to travel unleashed through the water with the crew to places that even today are quite remote and only visited by the brave. I quite liked the passage written about their trip to the South Pole as when Verne wrote the book the Antarctic was still a very unknown piece of real estate. This edition of the book has a very nice glossary at the back to help with some of the terms and other language which made the book quite readable for me. And being one of the older editions on the market this volume is full of many original black and white prints and colour illustrations that are often only found in the older French editions. Once you have read the book though you can see why Disney made a movie of it, lots of action, beautiful scenery, and a lead character that was, shall we say, quite unique. The ending, of course, is well known taking place off the coast of Norway but that is really not the end of the Nautilus or of Captain Nemo. Verne actually wrote a sequel! So if you want a colourful and interesting read do delve into the book, but it is also a good thing to have a world atlas by your side so you can keep track of your sea journey. A Girl from Canada Author: Edith C. Kenyon Pages: 284 First Published: Early 1900s Publisher: William Clowes & Sons ISBN: N/A At the turn of the last century there was a vast amount of literature specifically generated to address the proper upbringing of the young working class female in the British Empire. The London Religious Tract Society specialized in books dedicated to illustrating the proper way of living in these turbulent times and this is one of their books. It is set in the very early 1900s and concerns the upbringing of Trixie, an orphan that just happens to be a Canadian, and finds herself transported to England to be brought up by her rather rich uncle. Though the book is written for the early female teenager of 1900, what I found so interesting was the illustration of their social society and norms. Each chapter deals with the trials and tribulations that Trixie experiences in her new home but therein lies the heart of the book for me. The author takes us into the grand homes of England and paints some very interesting pictures. The plot is rather simple but should you be interested, or one of your grandchildren be interested, in the how the grand houses of England operated this could be a good read. My copy, though well-read, was in very good condition and had several coloured plates, also in excellent condition. It would make a most interesting Christmas present for the right person! The Cruise of the Shining Light Author: Norman Duncan Pages: 344 First Published: 1907 Publisher: Henry Frowde ISBN: N/A I came across this book in my local small town bookstore and for a small sum I thought it would be an interesting read. In actual fact the book was not easy to read and and it opened a whole new world to me, the outports of Newfoundland at the turn of the last century. The author, Norman Duncan actually wrote several books on Newfoundland of which this is just one, and he actually spent several summers exploring the colony so that he could provide some local accurate colour. The book, though completely fictional, concerns the upbringing of an orphan in the remote outport of Twist Tickle and paints a very stark picture of the local way of life. The story is told by Dannie the orphan and most of the speech reflects the local accent, and understanding the book was quite a challenge at times. However, after several chapters I began to get the gist of the speech pattern and read confidently onwards. Now why may you ask would you want to read this book? I found it was a fascinating look into the mindset of the general population of the time. However, the biggest surprise was that the book I have and pictured above is not only a first edition, but it was evident that I am the first person to turn its pages and read it! www.canadianyachting.ca 65 THE PORT HOLE Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea Author: Jules Verne Pages: 385 First Published: 1870 Publisher: Winston 1932 ISBN: N/A http://www.canadianyachting.ca

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Canadian Yachting October 2016