BOOK REVIEWS

Selkirk's Island-The True and as a privateer was a thinly veiled excuse ings in Eriksson's day. He took her advice Strange Adventure of the Real for murder, theft and torture. Life and commissioned a ship to be built in Robinson Crusoe aboard ship was constantly an exercise Maine to the specifications of an authen- by Diana Souharni, Publisher-Harcourt. in survival. Starvation, disease and putrid tic Viking cargo vessel known as a Knarr. 2001. 246 pages. $24.00 living conditions were commonplace. Specifications were taken from an A handful of photographs per- archeological find in 1960 of a tenth cen- Reviewed by John F. Bash mits the reader to gain a glimpse of Sel- tury wreck at Roskilde Fjord near University of Rhode Island kirk's Island as it appears today. More Copenhagen, Denmark. The resulting Narragansett, Rhode Island maps would have been helpful. An ship was an open, square-rigged boat of extensive set of end-notes reveals the fifty-four feet. Maine boat builder Rob iana Souharni is a gifted writer and depth and breadth of this well researched Stevens crafted the vessel and came Dhas given the world a thoroughly book. The index was found to be helpful along as ship's carpenter. Snorri was the researched account of Alexander Sel- for the reviewer to revisit many of the name given to the Knarr. kirk, the real Robinson Crusoe. With books interesting characters and places. Snorri was sailed to Boston uncanny clarity Souhami brings the The book is short at 246 pages but covers then shipped to Greenland via Iceland reader into the early 18th century to illumi- the subject well without being repetitive. to start its voyage from Brattahlid, nate the life of a rogue, adventurer, hero Selkirk's Island is a fascinating Greenland the site of the farm of Erik the and cad. From his humble beginnings Sel- read and a historical jewel recom- Red, Liefs father. The plan was to pro- kirk took up the life of a seaman in pur- mended for readers of non-fiction sea ceed north along the Greenland coast, suit of plunder, riches and adventure. In adventures as well as those history dev- head east across Davis Strait making a paradox through failure he became otees that are intrigued by 18th century landfall at Baffin Island then proceed famous, famous enough to be the sub- life. The book makes an important contri- south to L'Anse aux Meadows. The termi- ject of Daniel Defoe's novel. This was bution to appreciating European expan- nal point was chosen as the onlyauthenti- possibly the first English novel and one sion onto the world scene. cated site in North America where that has never been out of print. remains of a Viking village have been The author, through meticulous found. research, sets the stage for this (mis) An Illustrated Viking Voyage by The photographs make the adventure and brings the reader into the Russell Kaye (Photographer); W. book. One can visualize the raw courage brutal, conniving and greedy lives of Hodding Carter (text) needed to sail a Knarr in Arctic waters pirates, privateers, adventure seekers Publisher: Pocket Books. 2000. 147 over the horizon to lands unknown. The and poor souls caught in the web of early pages. $34.95. photographs reveal the rugged beauty of imperialiSm. The "hero" of the true story Greenland's coast and the awesome size became marooned on Juan Fernandez Reviewed by John F. Bash and power of a free-floating iceberg. Fog Island 300 miles off the coast of Chile University of Rhode Island shrouded scenes of both icebergs and where he spent four years and four Narragansett, Rhode Island majestic mountains accurately depict the months alone. He survived on his wits, backdrop for this adventure and suggest faith and the basic instinct for life. Sou- A n Illustrated Viking Voyage, Retrac- the challenges of the early Viking explor- hami's description of his island both then .L'"1.ing Lief Eriksson's Journey in an ers. The graceful and sturdy lines of and now tempts the modem adventurer Authentic Viking Knarr is a coffee table Snorri come to life with the informative to follow Selkirk's steps. book filled with magnificent photographs photos. Here in lies the value of this book "Sea winds met the coast, rose by Russell Kaye and a running text by The scanty text is well placed high over the mountain crests, then W. Hodding Carter. The book could eas- and interesting reading. Samples of Car- cooled, condensed and fell as rain which ily be read in a single sitting but one ter's prose follow. "There is probably no drenched the ridges, gushed in torrents would be missing the author's objective. greater intoxicant than hope, especially down the mountains, and in the lush It is to be read and viewed over and over to a bedraggled, tired crew of adventur- green valleys turned to fast-fiowing again garnering the multitude of stories ers" and "The barren land is fitting. The streams. Cloud shrouded the mountains told in the photographs. cold wind invigorating. Goose bumps while sunshine bathed the western Carter dreamed of retracing the dance down my body, and my eyes hiUs. Winds gusted in the valleys in vio- thousand year old voyage of Lief Eriks- water with delight, exhilaration and lent squalls. In the humid spring, rain- son. His first plans were less ambitious even sadness". bows arched the bays. Summer came in hoping to follow Eriksson's trail on foot The book is recommended for December and lasted until March. " and public conveyance. His wife encour- adventurers, wooden boat lovers and The brutal realities of 18th cen- aged him to take the leap to have a boat Viking history buffs. It is a book to be tury life at sea also came to life. Sailing built and sail it as was done by the Vik- digested slowly, studied.

MTS Journal • Vol. 36, No.3. 57