Sailing Alone : A History

Sailing Alone by Richard J. King is an extraordinary literary work that deserves a place among the true masterpieces of maritime literature. Peter Nichols, the acclaimed author of Sea Change and A Voyage for Madmen, rightfully declares, "Sailing Alone belongs on the very small shelf of the true classics of the sea." The Times commends the book's "colourful and inventive" narrative.

Embarking on a solitary voyage across the vast expanse of the ocean, far from the sight of land, can evoke a myriad of emotions – exhilaration, terror, captivation, or tedium – sometimes all within the span of a single morning. It is an adventure that stands in stark contrast to our typical, sociable lives, undertaken while afloat on a medium inherently hostile to human existence. Yet, the deep ocean also presents a remarkable opportunity for profound contemplation.

Richard King's immensely engaging and inquisitive new book pays homage to the debt we owe to solo sailors: men and women, young and old, who have ventured out alone. Spending weeks and months in solitude, slowly and quietly gliding across the ocean's surface, creates the world's largest laboratory – an ever-changing, capricious, and startling environment in which to observe oneself, the weather, the stars, and a myriad of marine creatures, from the tiniest to the most massive and threatening.

This is a book that will captivate anyone fascinated by sailing, solitude, and the vast seas that cover a significant portion of our planet.