justindemetri's Full Review: Joseph E. Garland - Down to the Sea: The Fishing S...
Joe Garland is not Gloucester's historian by mistake, the man can spin a good yarn. In his work Down to the Sea, Garland distills centuries of Gloucester fishing and vessel design into one great read. As a researcher, I am slogging through much of the original material Garland used in his research. Let me tell you, Joe Garland has done all the heavy lifting for you and is a delight to read, vividly bringing to life the grand old schooners of Gloucester's past as well as the men who worked them.
Down to the Sea starts at the beginning - the dawn of the schooner in the early 18th century and finishes up with the swan song of the age of sail: the international fishermen's races. The tale in between is one of men and fish, wood and canvas, triumph and tragedy told in Garland's way of making you feel like you lived it yourself.
As well-written the book is, the text is surpassed by the many large and excellent photographs. The images and illustrations are scattered throughout the book, giving the reader an easy reference point. As far as I'm concerned these images are priceless and fully complement Joe's telling of the beauty and power of these fishing schooners. There is a reason why yacht designers were influenced by the design -they were that rare blend that has been called "fast and able".
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