manner in which he imagines it was most likely sung. His discussion of the wellknown song “South Australia” is perhaps the best example of the wide range of impact and discussion among shanties: Smyth writes that, “Like life itself, the shanty is both/and, rather than either/or.” This wellknown song was used as both a forebitter and as a shanty; it uses the terms “heave” and “haul,” which Hugill explained were generally not mixed in a shanty. This can be found in versions by both Hugill and The Pogues, which makes for two very different interpretations. Though it describes a voyage to Australia, ships on the Australian trade actually did not use shanties much. Despite the song’s title, variations of the tune cite numerous destinations; etc., etc.
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In the late 18th Century a British captain accepts a command to search for unexplored Asian islands and a fabulous treasure . . .
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The volume concludes with a glossary, further reading (and listening), and footnotes, but no index. The table of contents does list the shanties and forebitters included in the volume. As an introduction to shanties, this slim volume packs a punch. It provides easy access to the songs but doesn’t shy away from some of the problematic issues associated with them. Overall, it’s a great introduction and also a valuable addition to any collection about shanties. Peter McCracken Ithaca, New York A Race for Real Sailors: The Bluenose and the International Fishermen’s Cup, 1920–1938 by Keith McLaren (Douglas & McIntyre, Madeira Park, British Columbia, Canada, 2021 (paperback edition), 250pp, illus, maps, appen, gloss, biblio, index, isbn 978-1-77162-267-7; $32.95pb) Schooner racing involving “real” sailors off the Massachusetts coast goes back to at least 1886. These were seriously competitive events, with prize money and even a cup donated by none other than Sir Thomas Lipton for the 1907 races. During the summer of 1920, the reluctance of America’s Cup competitors to sail in winds in excess of twenty knots inspired the Canadians to stage “a race for real sailors.” They issued a challenge to their New England rivals, initiating the first international races between working fishing schooners, and this is where author-mariner Keith McLaren takes up the story. The organizers held an elimination race, which was won by the Nova Scotia schooner Delawana. Gloucester’s Esperanto returned from the fishing banks just in time to be turned around and sent to Halifax to represent the Americans in the first International Fishermen’s Cup Race—which she duly won, 2 to 0 over Delawana. The Canadians were not amused, setting the stage for the design and construction of the legendary Bluenose. Bluenose promptly dispatched three American challengers in a row: Elsie in 1921, Henry Ford in 1922, and Columbia in 1923. Over the years the series grew increasingly acrimonious, in part due to the irascible personality of Bluenose’s skipper, Angus Walters, and in part due to the tendency of both camps to try and fiddle
the rules in their favor. Races were suspended for a few years and did not resume until 1930, when Louis A. Thebaud, a wealthy New Yorker with a summer place in Gloucester, revived the races when he put up a good part of the money to build the Gertrude L. Thebaud. While the new schooner did meet the eligibility requirements by actually fishing on the Grand Banks, the Thebaud was designed with one purpose in mind: beat Bluenose. Bluenose came down from Nova Scotia in 1930 and was duly defeated. The next year, Bluenose reclaimed the cup off Halifax, but by the next year the Great Depression got everybody focused on making a living; racing was out of the question until the crisis was over. In 1938 Bluenose returned to New England and eventually won the series 3 to 2, but it would be the end of international schooner racing between these rivals. War and rapidly changing nautical technology doomed the races forever. McLaren covers all this in grand style. In addition to his use of primary sources, he had access to several of the old Gloucester skippers and Essex shipbuilders for background information nowhere on paper. Themes running through the book are worth mentioning. One is that, as all sailors know, a good big boat will beat a good smaller boat almost every time—Bluenose was larger than all of the schooners she defeated. Second is that the races, initiated by working fishermen, prolonged the life of the Grand Banks schooner simply by creating so much excitement and getting their respective communities deeply invested in the outcome. Neither Columbia (1923) nor Gertrude L. Thebaud (1930) would have been built were it not for the races, and neither were particularly successful fishermen. Things of beauty, to be sure, but beauty of the past. Charles A. Seavey, PhD Rockport, Massachusetts Mediterranean Naval Battles That Changed the World by Quentin Russell (Pen & Sword Maritime, Barnsley, 2021, 256pp, illus, biblio, isbn 978-1-52671-6019; $42.95hc) The Mediterranean Sea has long been a nexus of commerce, culture, and technology. It has also been a nexus of conflict, SEA HISTORY 177, WINTER 2021–22