Down To The Sea In Ships

Wonderful… Clare’s account of his journeys with the officers and crews of container ships is gripping and stomach-churning in equal measure * Daily Telegraph * [A] beautifully written account of seafaring life -- Ian Critchley * Sunday Times * A lyrical, heartfelt but eye-opening chronicle... Both romantic and realistic, written from the heart but crafted with a seafarer’s “passionate precision”, [Clare’s] book will steer you into the new year on a course that may deepen your grasp both of that world, and of ourselves -- Boyd Tonkin * Independent * If you can't run away to sea (though I recommend you do), Clare's book is a warm and captivating companion to it * Guardian * Stupendous and extraordinarily exciting... What Clare demonstrates, even beyond his undoubted gifts as writer, is his basic humanity. I read his wonderful book with gratitude for his insight – but also with increased admiration for the men to whom we owe almost everything in our comfortable and secure lives -- Philip Hoare * Times Higher Education * Rich and dense, full of old sea-dog stories, with barely a word wasted, it’s a triumph of quiet artistry -- Marcus Berkmann * Daily Mail * This is a warm and lyrical book about a tough trade in tough times -- Sara Wheeler * Observer * Wonderful... Clare’s writing is fluid, light and eminently readable, but perhaps his greatest asset is his empathy -- Philip Hoare * Sunday Telegraph * Clare’s powers of plain description are tremendous -- Libby Purves * The Times * A fabulous account... There is Conradian insight in Clare’s portrayal of the crews to which he is supernumerary, from the captain who hums as he negotiates narrow channels to the first mate constantly crunching carrots -- Giles Foden * Condé Nast Traveller *