
audiobook
by John Dean
Transcriber's Notes:
A London‑built merchantman sets out for Boston in the early autumn of 1710, its crew hopeful and its holds stocked with provisions. Within weeks the vessel is caught in relentless gales, blinding snow and driving rain that push it far off course toward the treacherous coast of New England. On a bleak December day the ship smashes against the jagged rocks of Boon Island, the hull torn and the sails shredded, leaving Captain John Dean and his fourteen men stranded in a desolate, windswept ruin.
The survivors endure cold, hunger and the constant threat of death as they cling to the wreckage and scavenge what they can. Their plight catches the attention of nearby New England settlers, whose unexpected generosity provides food, clothing and a rare kindness that starkly contrasts with the lawlessness of the seas. Through their eyes we glimpse the harsh realities of early 18th‑century maritime travel and the compassionate humanity that can surface amid disaster.
Full title
A narrative of the sufferings, preservation and deliverance, of Capt. John Dean and company in the Nottingham galley of London, cast away on Boon-Island, near New England, December 11, 1710 in the Nottingham galley of London, cast away on Boon-Island, near New England, December 11, 1710
Language
en
Duration
~37 minutes (36K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Kevin Pulliam and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)
Release date
2016-03-15
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
1679–1761
Best known for the gripping account of the Nottingham Galley shipwreck, this English sea captain lived a life full of danger, travel, and unlikely survival. His story moves from naval service and international intrigue to one of the earliest famous disaster narratives in Atlantic history.
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