Over a few beers last week, one of my sailing buddies, David Duquette and I were chatting about things nautical, as you do on a wet winter's evening. We got to discussing books about the sea. I was blathering on about all my sailing books and the merits of Robin Knox-Johnston versus Moitessier. A long discussion about Patrick O'Brian's masterwork ensued. David then said: "..and of course there's Melville." "Ah, yes", I said sheepishly inspecting my shoes. Pregnant silence. I had to confess that I have not read Melville or the "Greatest American Novel", Moby Dick. Embarrassing really, for a so-called lover of books about the sea. I grew up in England and it was not on the curriculum at school. We had Dickens, Jane Austen and that crowd rammed down our throats. I am sorry, it was hard for me to enjoy something that's supposed to be a pleasure...
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