Sailing alone

[Kathy]

Slocum seems like a free spirit and totally enjoys his time alone. I'm not sure that I would like that much solitude. He does spend his share of shore time with people so in that way it makes the trip more palatable in my view.

[C.E.]

This voyage took place after his wife's death, when he was contemplating retirement, and after other books about his sea voyaging career had failed to make any impact. He was at loose ends, and I'm betting this cured him.

I found it odd how much of the story is focussed on who he meets, and how little he plays up anything that was difficult about the voyage - despite the occasional danger, he made it sound like a pleasure cruise! I think a writer today would have taken an entirely different tone.

[Lysergius]

I loved the alarm clock... precision time keeping essential for round the world navigation...

[Feliks]

What a world of difference between this way of life and the way that we have to tolerate today. I can only name one individual I know personally who is even capable of taking on an adventure like this.

[A.J.]

C.e. wrote: "This voyage took place after his wife's death, when he was contemplating retirement, and after other books about his sea voyaging career had failed to make any impact. He was at loose ends, and I'm..."

Slocum had nothing he needed to be 'cured' of.
The reason that the narrative focuses on the people, is that for him, that was the novel aspect, and the reason for the voyage.
I don't know about making it sound like a pleasure cruise, but he was certainly very modest and understated when it came to his courage and seamanship. The same is true for, Voyage of the Liberdade, perhaps more so.
Sailing Alone Around the World, inspired many others to undertake ocean adventures, and still there are many Spray replicas being sailed across the oceans of the world.

[J.]

The Spray was a derelict, but for Slocum she would have probably gone to the breakers.

Slocum was a clipper/wind jammer captain at the end of the era. He was watching the beautiful ships he was trained for, have their rigging ripped off so that they could be towed as barges. His way of life was over, and he was contemplating the old sailor's home. Rebuilding the Spray and setting off with her saved him.

Years after his famous voyage, Captain Joshua Slocum cast off heading south. Neither he nor the Spray were ever seen again.

They saved each other, and then they met their end together. To me, their is a certain melacholy beauty in their story.