The Skipper and the Skipped Being the Shore Log of Cap'n Aaron Sproul

by Holman Francis Day

This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.

288 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1911

About the author

Holman Francis Day (November 6, 1865 – February 19, 1935) was an American author, born at Vassalboro, Maine, and a graduate of Colby College (class of 1887). In 1889-90 he was managing editor of the publications of the Union Publishing Company, Bangor, Me. He was also editor and proprietor of the Dexter, (Me.) Gazette, a special writer for the Lewiston, (Me.) Journal, Maine representative of the Boston Herald, and managing editor of the Lewiston Daily Sun. In 1901-04 he was military secretary to Gov. John F. Hill of Maine.

The Holman Day House, his home Auburn, Maine, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Reviews

[Charles van Buren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holman Day was a Maine newspaperman and author who wrote in the late 1800's and early 1900's. This particular humorous novel was written about 1911 so do not expect modern political correctness. There is a cock fight and the occasional use of the derogatory version of negro. However it is, overall, a mild and humorous account of a retired, wealthy sea captain attempting to settle peacefully in a small Maine town. The captain encounters many travails in this attempt to lead a peaceful life. Not the least of them being caused by his new wife's relatives. No date is given for the setting of the story but the captain commanded sailing ships and speaks of clipper ships. The only part of the novel which disappointed me was the handling of the outlaw armed with dynamite. That man wouldn't have lasted 2 minutes in an 1800's Mississippi town. I suspect that he wouldn't have lasted long in a real Maine town of the period either. Other than that I liked it well enough that I am planning to try another of Mr. Day's novels. He is an artist with prose and the vernacular of the time and place. I did have to look up some expressions and a few archaic words.

This review is from the free Kindle edition published March 24, 2011 by Amazon Digital Services.

[Philip Baumbach · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was being given away at a charity shop. A name was written in it dated 1914.
It is set in the USA and concerns the life of an ex captain in a small town. It is fairly light hearted and really consists of a series of short stories. I read the first few and quite enjoyed them but I am not a fan of short stories, so I did not read further.