Imprint
- Abacus
- Abacus
Prose: non-fiction, Travel writing
A beautifully written, funny and touching account of an unlikely journey from the coast of Chile to Easter Island
Nick Thorpe was innocently travelling around South America with his wife, Ali, when he came across an American adventurer planning to sail from Chile to Easter Island on a Bolivian boat made of reeds. Inspired by the great Thor Heyerdahl, Phil Buck had recruited seven men to join him on this experiment to discover whether it might have been possible that Polynesia was first settled from South America rather than Asia. But when one of them dropped out a place in the crew became available for Nick.
What followed was a somewhat bizarre expedition undertaken by a rather makeshift vessel, a couple of ducks (one of which could have only guessed at its fate) and a group of men, who, when all was said and done, weren't quite sure how to sail a boat...
Brilliantly told, EIGHT MEN AND A DUCK is a feel-good, hilarious tale of storms, amateur seamen and the occasional shark.
More books by Nick Thorpe
Praise for Eight Men And A Duck: An Improbable Voyage by Reed Boat to Easter Island
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Thorpe's imagery is exquisite (and) the account of Viracocha's voyage is so funny... If you enjoy chuckling during your armchair travels, my advice is: Rush and Reed - Tim Severin
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Thorpe is an accomplished storyteller. He chronicles the voyage of the Viracocha with an easy, unforced humour... Thoroughly entertaining - DAILY TELEGRAPH
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Thorpe may be a poor sailor but he is an accomplished storyteller... he chronicles the voyage of Viracocha with an easy, unforced humour. It's hardly surprising that it's an inspiring story. - TELEGRAPH
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An exciting, involving read. - INDEPENDENT ON SUNDAY
Nick Thorpe
Nick Thorpe is an award-winning journalist based in Edinburgh. He has worked for a range of publications, including the Scotsman, Guardian, Independent, Daily Telegraph, The Times, Sunday Times, Scotland on Sunday and the BBC World Service. His first book, EIGHT MEN AND A DUCK, was critically acclaimed.
Previous Books:
Eight Men and a Duck
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