Author Johnston explores the history of maritime New England at sea and re-tells many of the stories that have given the region such a wealth of maritime lore. He delves into piracy (including Blackbeard), the fishing and whaling industries, the ships used during the Revolutionary War, and exploration by sailing ships. With anecdotes and snippets of biography, the author offers a snapshot of a colorful, adventurous period in the development of a country. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
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In The Yankee Fleet: Maritime New England in the Age of Sail, James C. Johnston Jr. recounts the famous tales that have given the Northeast such a storied maritime tradition. From the stern Puritan fathers to Francisco Ruiz, New England's last known pirate, Johnston canvasses the accounts of the men and women who fished, fought, explored and marauded in sailing craft over the region's fickle--yet fertile--waters. With occasional forays into the nautical history of the Chesapeake and trans-Atlantic realms, The Yankee Fleet offers a colourful and offbeat exploration of Yankee sailors and the world they made.
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