Two Years Before the Mast
Two Years Before the Mast is Richard Henry Dana's account of the voyage he made as a common sailor in 1834, when eye trouble forced him to leave Harvard. He shipped out of Boston on the brig Pilgrim, rounded Cape Horn, and spent more than a year on the coast of Mexican California, curing and loading hides at San Diego, Santa Barbara and Monterey before returning on the Alert. Published in 1840, the book describes the work and the discipline of a merchant ship from the forecastle rather than the quarterdeck, including a flogging that Dana never forgot, and it gives one of the earliest detailed pictures of California before the American conquest. The full text is available to read online in your browser on Vinteuil, and the first chapter is free.
Start reading right away, without signing up. The complete text is included in Vinteuil Reading, or yours forever with a one-time purchase.
Frequently asked questions about Two Years Before the Mast
Two Years Before the Mast by Richard Henry Dana can be read online on Vinteuil, directly in your browser. The first chapter is free for everyone; the complete book is included in Vinteuil Reading ($4.99/month or $39.99/year) or yours forever for $2.99.
Can I read Two Years Before the Mast online?
Yes. Two Years Before the Mast opens right on this page, in a reader designed for long reading: adjustable text size, light, sepia and dark themes, a clickable table of contents and your place saved when you are signed in. No download or app is needed.
Is Two Years Before the Mast free to read on Vinteuil?
The first chapter of Two Years Before the Mast is free, without an account. To read the whole book, either buy its online reading for $2.99 (£2.99 in the UK) and keep it forever, or subscribe to Vinteuil Reading for $4.99/month (£4.99/month in the UK) or $39.99/year, with 1 month free for new subscribers. The subscription opens every book in the library and can be cancelled at any time.
Is Two Years Before the Mast in the public domain?
Yes. Two Years Before the Mast by Richard Henry Dana is a public-domain work. Vinteuil offers a carefully prepared digital edition made for comfortable reading on screen.
How long does it take to read Two Years Before the Mast?
About 11 h 10 min of reading, at an average reading pace. Your place is saved automatically when you are signed in, so you can read in several sittings and on several devices.
What kind of book is Two Years Before the Mast?
Two Years Before the Mast by Richard Henry Dana is filed under "History" in the Vinteuil library.
