Although we usually read fiction, we crossed to the other side with our September book selection, the true story of ‘To the Edge of the World’ by Tilar Mazzeo. Ronnie Leech, whose choice it was, has written her thoughts on it.
Summer 1856 and nineteen year old Mary Ann Patten and her husband, Joshua, have completed one global voyage. Following that, a new high stakes voyage to deliver supplies from Maine USA to the gold prospectors in California is launched. However, it seems doomed from the start. The First Mate has a serious accident the day before they were due to sail and can no longer do his job. A new First Mate is found at short notice, but he is nothing but trouble. Joshua falls sick, the crew threaten mutiny and the First Mate is put in irons for insubordination. Mary Ann sees no other option but to take her husband’s place; she addresses the crew and is acknowledged by them as Mrs Captain Patten.
Now she has to take this heavily laden and valuable clipper ship round Cape Horn in the teeth of a most ferocious storm, facing sixty foot waves, while in a race with four other ships. Not only has she got horrendous weather conditions to contend with, but she also has to tend to her husband who becomes seriously ill, complete all the records and logs because the newly appointed First Mate cannot read or write, consult and understand navigational charts, cope with the early stages of pregnancy – all while only 19 years of age!
As well as their journey, the book relates the history of the clipper ships built and sailed from Boston, New York and Maine and this is as fascinating as are the lives and tragedies of the mariners from those ports.
This proved to be a popular book with most group members. However, we all agreed that the first third which detailed the background to both families was tedious at times and would benefit from a visual representation of their family trees. Once the voyages were underway, we got caught up in the drama. It is such an unbelievable adventure that it could have been a piece of fiction. Mary Ann’s achievements are phenomenal and, although she was recognised as a heroine at the time, hers is not a name which is broadly known. Non-fiction at its most exciting!
Louise Elsome
Bookworms Group Coordinator