The First Mate The Story of a Strange Cruise By: Harry Collingwood (1851-1922)
In "The First Mate: The Story of a Strange Cruise" by Harry Collingwood, readers are taken on a captivating journey filled with adventure, mystery, and unexpected twists. Set against the backdrop of a thrilling nautical expedition, this novel delves into the life of a courageous and resourceful first mate. The story transports us to the high seas, where we meet the protagonist, a young and ambitious first mate who finds himself unexpectedly thrust into a perilous situation. From the very beginning, Collingwood's descriptive writing immerses us in the maritime world, bringing to life the vastness of the ocean and the undeniable allure of life at sea. As the narrative unfolds, we witness the first mate's resilience and determination, as he navigates treacherous waters and encounters a range of compelling characters. Collingwood skillfully presents a diverse crew, each with their own distinct personalities and motivations. This creates a dynamic and engaging environment where alliances are formed, loyalties are tested, and friendships are forged amidst the challenges they face. One of the most intriguing aspects of the novel is the captivating mystery that arises during the voyage. Collingwood masterfully weaves together suspense and intrigue, ensuring that readers are kept on the edge of their seats throughout. The plot takes unexpected turns, revealing hidden secrets and unmasking individuals with ulterior motives. This element of suspense adds an additional layer of excitement, making the story even more compelling. The character development in "The First Mate" is thorough and thoughtfully executed. Our protagonist undergoes a significant transformation throughout the course of his adventures, evolving from a determined but inexperienced sailor to a seasoned and respected member of the crew. Collingwood expertly portrays the emotional and psychological growth of the first mate, allowing readers to connect with him on a deeper level. While the novel is primarily a thrilling tale of maritime exploration, it also explores themes of loyalty, trust, and the power of human resilience. Collingwood conveys these themes through the interactions between the characters, highlighting the importance of camaraderie and teamwork in the face of adversity. However, despite its many strengths, "The First Mate" does have a few areas that could be improved. At times, the pace of the story feels slightly uneven, with certain sections dragging on while others rush by too quickly. Additionally, some readers may find Collingwood's intricate nautical terminology slightly overwhelming, especially if they are not familiar with maritime jargon. Overall, "The First Mate: The Story of a Strange Cruise" is a captivating and thrilling novel that will appeal to fans of maritime adventures and mystery. With its engaging plot, well-developed characters, and expertly crafted narrative, Harry Collingwood delivers a tale that will keep readers eager to turn the pages until the very end. First Page: The First Mate, by Harry Collingwood. The hero of this story is Walter Leigh, who takes a job as second mate aboard a gasoline powered yacht owned by a Mrs Vansittart, whose husband is an American industrialist. Julius Vansittart is a rather nasty 12 year old, who, despite his life being saved by Leigh, when he had fallen overboard, hates the English, and never misses an opportunity of being as unpleasant as possible, even to the point of stupidity. There are numerous disasters in this story, with the First Mate's death occurring soon after the start of the book, and Leigh's promotion to the position. After that there are an attack by pirates, a shipwreck, an attack by hostile natives, all of which Leigh does his best to cope with. Eventually even the dreadful Julius becomes a bit more civilised, and apologises for his bad behaviour hitherto. They drop a large number of floating messages asking for help, into the sea, and eventually they are rescued. This is not a very long book, taking only 8.5 hours to read as an audiobook. THE FIRST MATE, BY HARRY COLLINGWOOD. CHAPTER ONE. THE "STELLA MARIS" AND MRS VANSITTART. "Well, young man, what do you think of her?" The question was addressed to me in a very pleasantly modulated female voice, carrying just the slightest suspicion of an American accent... Continue reading book >>

The First Mate The Story of a Strange Cruise By: Harry Collingwood (1851-1922)

In "The First Mate: The Story of a Strange Cruise" by Harry Collingwood, readers are taken on a captivating journey filled with adventure, mystery, and unexpected twists. Set against the backdrop of a thrilling nautical expedition, this novel delves into the life of a courageous and resourceful first mate.

The story transports us to the high seas, where we meet the protagonist, a young and ambitious first mate who finds himself unexpectedly thrust into a perilous situation. From the very beginning, Collingwood's descriptive writing immerses us in the maritime world, bringing to life the vastness of the ocean and the undeniable allure of life at sea.

As the narrative unfolds, we witness the first mate's resilience and determination, as he navigates treacherous waters and encounters a range of compelling characters. Collingwood skillfully presents a diverse crew, each with their own distinct personalities and motivations. This creates a dynamic and engaging environment where alliances are formed, loyalties are tested, and friendships are forged amidst the challenges they face.

One of the most intriguing aspects of the novel is the captivating mystery that arises during the voyage. Collingwood masterfully weaves together suspense and intrigue, ensuring that readers are kept on the edge of their seats throughout. The plot takes unexpected turns, revealing hidden secrets and unmasking individuals with ulterior motives. This element of suspense adds an additional layer of excitement, making the story even more compelling.

The character development in "The First Mate" is thorough and thoughtfully executed. Our protagonist undergoes a significant transformation throughout the course of his adventures, evolving from a determined but inexperienced sailor to a seasoned and respected member of the crew. Collingwood expertly portrays the emotional and psychological growth of the first mate, allowing readers to connect with him on a deeper level.

While the novel is primarily a thrilling tale of maritime exploration, it also explores themes of loyalty, trust, and the power of human resilience. Collingwood conveys these themes through the interactions between the characters, highlighting the importance of camaraderie and teamwork in the face of adversity.

However, despite its many strengths, "The First Mate" does have a few areas that could be improved. At times, the pace of the story feels slightly uneven, with certain sections dragging on while others rush by too quickly. Additionally, some readers may find Collingwood's intricate nautical terminology slightly overwhelming, especially if they are not familiar with maritime jargon.

Overall, "The First Mate: The Story of a Strange Cruise" is a captivating and thrilling novel that will appeal to fans of maritime adventures and mystery. With its engaging plot, well-developed characters, and expertly crafted narrative, Harry Collingwood delivers a tale that will keep readers eager to turn the pages until the very end.

First Page:

The First Mate, by Harry Collingwood.

The hero of this story is Walter Leigh, who takes a job as second mate aboard a gasoline powered yacht owned by a Mrs Vansittart, whose husband is an American industrialist. Julius Vansittart is a rather nasty 12 year old, who, despite his life being saved by Leigh, when he had fallen overboard, hates the English, and never misses an opportunity of being as unpleasant as possible, even to the point of stupidity.

There are numerous disasters in this story, with the First Mate's death occurring soon after the start of the book, and Leigh's promotion to the position. After that there are an attack by pirates, a shipwreck, an attack by hostile natives, all of which Leigh does his best to cope with. Eventually even the dreadful Julius becomes a bit more civilised, and apologises for his bad behaviour hitherto.

They drop a large number of floating messages asking for help, into the sea, and eventually they are rescued. This is not a very long book, taking only 8.5 hours to read as an audiobook.

THE FIRST MATE, BY HARRY COLLINGWOOD.

CHAPTER ONE.

THE "STELLA MARIS" AND MRS VANSITTART.

"Well, young man, what do you think of her?"

The question was addressed to me in a very pleasantly modulated female voice, carrying just the slightest suspicion of an American accent... Continue reading book >>

Genres for this book
Fiction
Sea stories
Teen/Young adult

eBook links
Wikipedia – Harry Collingwood
Wikipedia – The First Mate The Story of a Strange Cruise

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