Dog-Watches At Sea


Read by Peter Kelleher

(4.5 stars; 74 reviews)

Stanton H. King was from Barbados and followed his brothers to sea at the age of twelve in 1880. He spent only twelve years at sea for reasons given in this book. Thereafter, he became associated with the Sailors' Haven, Boston, Massachusetts and became its director. He was also a renowned Chantie singer and, in 1918, King's Book Of Chanties was published. King views the sailing life from "before the mast", that is, through the eyes of the common sailor. (Summary by Peter Kelleher) (7 hr 35 min)

Chapters

Dedication, Preface, Chapter 1 10:57 Read by Peter Kelleher
Chapter 2 17:36 Read by Peter Kelleher
Chapter 3 25:41 Read by Peter Kelleher
Chapter 4 26:38 Read by Peter Kelleher
Chapter 5 34:47 Read by Peter Kelleher
Chapter 6 29:30 Read by Peter Kelleher
Chapter 7 31:02 Read by Peter Kelleher
Chapter 8 29:56 Read by Peter Kelleher
Chapter 9 35:37 Read by Peter Kelleher
Chap 10 33:58 Read by Peter Kelleher
Chap 11 32:42 Read by Peter Kelleher
Chap 12 31:47 Read by Peter Kelleher
Chap 13 31:09 Read by Peter Kelleher
Chap 14 28:34 Read by Peter Kelleher
Chap 15 32:09 Read by Peter Kelleher
Chap 16 23:22 Read by Peter Kelleher

Reviews

I must read for the nautically inclined, but you don’t need to be nautically-in…


(5 stars)

Unique and enjoyable book that provides a detailed narrative of an ordinary seaman’s life in the late 19th century. I had to consult Wikipedia for various nautical terms and slang. For example a “donkey’s breakfast” is a rudimentary mattress stuffed with straw. I enjoyed the way the reader voiced the first person narrative, as another reviewer has accurately described, this makes the audio seem as if you’re listening to the author himself as he recounts chapters from his colorful life.

A rollicking yarn!


(4 stars)

Travails and adventures of the author as he spends a dozen years becoming a man and a seasoned deep water sailor in the last years of the Age of Sail. Bad food, seasickness, innocence, penury, debauchery and a substantial dictionary of seamanship and shiphandling terms. A great story that should be better known!


(5 stars)

Along the same line as 2 years before the mast, but more about the daily life of an average seaman. Pretty good,good listen, lots of adventures.

Excellent


(5 stars)

I felt I was there with him throughout. Extraordinary!


(5 stars)

greatly enjoyed the story and the reader. thank you


(2.5 stars)

It is as if the reader it's not very familiar with the material. A teacher well be family with the chant of the speech as a student reading an unfamiliar page to the class.