The Great Clippers

by Jane D. Lyon

Against great odds, a small group of patriots built a fleet that proved one of the decisive factors in the American Revolution and the War of 1812. These wealthy men had founded the first banks in the United States and built its first railroads, factories, and steamships. Now, they were to cap their achievements by making their young country equally superior in size, and in the process, producing the greatest, swiftest, and most beautiful craft the world had ever seen - the clipper ship. This book not only traces the origins and achievements of the clipper but enlivens the dry bones of historic fact with the flesh and blood of clipper captains and crews. A great era comes to life with their courageous, tenacious stories.

135 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 11, 2016

Reviews

[Bob Pearson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written by a woman, which is important, The Great Clippers tells the story of the American mastery of sailing ships shipbuilding between 1840 and 1880 and includes the role of women in the design and sailing of the American "clippers" that cut the sailing time to Europe and to China dramatically during the 1840 to 1880 period. One anecdote will suffice. In 1856 off treacherous Cape Horn in winter, the captain of the Neptune's Car clipper fell ill with "brain fever", rendering him deaf and blind. The first officer was under arrest for insubordination. The captain's wife, nineteen year old Mary Patten, who had learned navigation on a previous voyage, helped by an illiterate but faithful second mate, commanded and sailed the ship west through the storms of the Horn to safety in San Francisco. The story of the women on the clippers is just one of the intriguing stories of life on the sea in the years before iron, steam and coal took the romance away from sailing ships.

[Dan A. Foster · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clippers

While looking forward to reading a book about these magnificent ships, I found this book to be simplistic in its recitation of various ships and their speed records. While apparently well researched, it was like reading a listing of the historic winners of the Kentucky Derby, naming the jockies, and occasionally identifying some of the spectators. Couldn't give more than 3.

[Louise H. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good information

Interest in sailing and historical events. Good term paper material. That’s all folks duh let see if I can do I.....

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable read on a topic in which I was completely uninformed. The achievements of the mid-19th century maritime industry were truly remarkable. They were a preamble to the modern global transport system that focuses on speed and trade.

[Ray Savarda · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Nice overview of many of the great clipper ships, their best times to destinations, records set,. and some about their life adventures and death/ disappearance.
Some very famous clippers never mentioned, though - no Thermopolaye, no Cutty Sark.