Roger Taylor - Untold Voyage - book

[bikedaft]

Very good book. His other books are great, but this was gripping reading. Not always pleasant. Very tired today as was up late last night to finish it...

I'll not say much, do not want to give away the plot. Please don't give away what happened when/if you post below. Buy the book. He is some guy!

 

[Mark-1]

Terrific books and he does good public speaking (IMHO).

In general terms what does the book cover?

 

[jbweston]

I bought his English translation of The Adventures of Laforest-Dombourg by Eric Gautier and really enjoyed them.

They are the (fictional) adventures of a young French naval officer in pre-Revolutionary times. Somewhat similar to Hornblower but with an underlying theme through the two large volumes. Not as dense as Patrick O'Brian (who is my favourite of the naval fiction genre) but still with plenty of historical interest.

 

[bikedaft]

A fairly extreme solo sail towards the Arctic Circle.

 

[jbweston]

A fairly extreme solo sail towards the Arctic Circle.

Thanks for the recommendation. I've ordered it.

 

[newtothis]

A fairly extreme solo sail towards the Arctic Circle.

So just like the last three?
I do enjoy his writing and his voyages. Was lucky enough to go on the original Ming Ming when he brought it to a boat show once. Spending two months at a time inside that space takes a certain resilience.

 

[bikedaft]

So just like the last three?
I do enjoy his writing and his voyages. Was lucky enough to go on the original Ming Ming when he brought it to a boat show once. Spending two months at a time inside that space takes a certain resilience.

more extreme than his previous books...

 

[RunAgroundHard]

I have read many of his books and all have been fascinating. I have now ordered it. The quote below, is easily obtainable from a search on the title and in my opinion makes it even more desirable to read.

The Untold Voyage

“One of the best sailing writers on this planet.” Keiran Flatt, Editor, Yachting Monthly

‘There was, however, one voyage… and what happened on that voyage was so far beyond the compass of what I thought possible that I have never, until this moment, said or written a single word about it.’

Solo sailor Roger D. Taylor has written many books about his voyages to the Arctic. Some years ago, he made a voyage about which, until now, he has remained silent. What happened on that voyage was so unexpected and so devastating that Taylor threw all his logbooks and records overboard while still in the Greenland Sea. It was a voyage he wanted to erase from his memory forever.

Time has now healed the traumas of that fateful passage, and Taylor has decided that the moment has come to relate what happened. Using just his memory, he has reconstructed the story of that summer cruise to the Far North and the terrible events that blighted it. In telling this untold story, the author hopes to lay to rest the ghosts which have haunted him for so long.

 

[Slowtack]

Heres an interesting character... Lots of wandering... Some lust too....

 

[Cherete101]

Very good book. His other books are great, but this was gripping reading. Not always pleasant. Very tired today as was up late last night to finish it...

I'll not say much, do not want to give away the plot. Please don't give away what happened when/if you post below. Buy the book. He is some guy!

Likewise, couldn’t put this one down and read it in one late night sitting! Roger Taylor is a superb writer, I think, and I have read his other books, but I didn’t see this one coming…

 

[jlavery]

Finished it late last night. Superb - I found it very moving. I will have the story and situation bouncing around in my head for a long time.

 

[steve yates]

So just like the last three?
I do enjoy his writing and his voyages. Was lucky enough to go on the original Ming Ming when he brought it to a boat show once. Spending two months at a time inside that space takes a certain resilience.

Not really, but you can’t explain it without spoiling it. Just read it.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

I just read it, and it is indeed a gripping read, mainly for its insights into the psychology of a lone sailor. I hope that none of us ever find ourselves in that situation.

 

[Blue Fox]

Yes, a gripping read. Very, very well written, in a style that reminds me for some reason of Edgar Alan Poe. But did it really happen? Especially after the postscript doubt was creeping into my mind. But if so, it still is a fascinating mix of fiction and non-fiction.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

Yes, a gripping read. Very, very well written, in a style that reminds me for some reason of Edgar Alan Poe. But did it really happen? Especially after the postscript doubt was creeping into my mind. But if so, it still is a fascinating mix of fiction and non-fiction.

I must admit the same question entered my mind. The point that had me wondering was simply that unless he was keeping his cabin at much higher temperatures than he indicates, he would not have encountered the problem he described for many more days. It's hard to comment without giving away the story!

 

[Mark-1]

Yes, a gripping read. Very, very well written, in a style that reminds me for some reason of Edgar Alan Poe. But did it really happen? Especially after the postscript doubt was creeping into my mind. But if so, it still is a fascinating mix of fiction and non-fiction.

I haven't read it, but will ASAP.

From the comments I'd heard from people who'd read I was also wondering if there was something of the Tristan Jones about it - seems odd that perhaps his most dramatic and compelling tale would be added as an afterthought.

Certainly doesn't bother me if he's jazzed this one up a bit, I'll still enjoy it just as I enjoy Tristan Jones. I am certain his first three books were totally factual. Or as factual as any first hand account of adventure can be.

 

[Blue Fox]

But that's the point. Just because his books are all factual, your frame of mind reading this is: this must be factual too. In my view he is cleverly manipulating that frame.

 

[bikedaft]

My gut feeling was that this is a factual account - but when? could have been a few years ago.

 

[steve yates]

I agree.

 

[stephen_h]

It was all written from memory so a good get out clause if awkward questions ever get asked.

Quite a read!!