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A Whaler at Twilight: A True Account of Whaling and Redemption in the South Pacific
Nestled at the bottom of an old leather trunk for well over a century lay a forgotten manuscript—a long-lost story the author's great-great-grandson has now brought to life. At the heart of A Whaler at Twilight is the true account of an American whaler who embarked on a harrowing adventure in the South Pacific during the mid-nineteenth century in search of absolution and redemption. After the deaths of his parents, young Robert Armstrong lived with a successful uncle—a well-respected Methodist shopkeeper in bustling 1840s Baltimore—and attended the nation’s first dental school. But Armstrong threw his future away, drinking himself into oblivion. Devoured by guilt and shame, in December 1849 he sold his dental instruments, his watch, and all other possessions and signed on for a whaling voyage departing from New Bedford. Decades later, Armstrong wrote an autobiographical account based on his travel logs, chronicling his thrilling, gritty experiences during his ten years overseas. His memoirs describe his encounters with other whalers, beachcombers, Peruvian villagers, Pacific Islanders, Maori warriors in New Zealand, cannibals on Fiji, and the impacts of American expansionism. He also recounted his struggles with drink, his quest for God, and his own redemption. Armstrong’s gripping personal account is bookended by thoroughly researched contextual background compiled by Alexander Brash, a noted professional conservationist. Brash fills out Armstrong’s intimate and timeless tale by shedding further light on whaling and its impacts, his ancestor’s religious milieu, and the importance of marine conservation today. A Whaler at Twilight is a fascinating dive into both human morality and American history.
352 pages, Hardcover
Published September 5, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
September 19, 2023
What a cool premise for this book! The author found a manuscript from his great great grandfather detailing his time in the mid-1800s when he was on whaling ships in the Pacific region. The author does his own research to add other perspectives to this story from ship logs and other personal accounts. He even takes his own trip to the waters around Cape Horn to begin to experience the rugged conditions of this part of the world. What results is a fascinating book about Robert W. Armstrong from his early days in Baltimore to going on a whaling ship from New Bedford and traveling around Cape Horn through numerous Pacific Ocean island chains and New Zealand and back home again. To begin to imagine going on an ocean voyage in the mid-1800s on wooden ships with only sails and a compass for navigation is mind-boggling. Then you read about all of the islands that the ships visit, it is truly hard to wrap your head around, but luckily, there is a map that shows you the routes Armstrong took on the two vessels he was on. There are 16 pages of black and white as well as color photos that help give depth to the story. If you have an iPad with the Kindle app, the color photos show up. If you have a Kindle, all photos are black white.
This book is about more than just whalers and whaling. It is Armstrong's journey to find himself and figure out his relationship with God. It is about the different cultures on the many islands he visited as part of the whaling crew. The author, as a birder, made his voyage to Cape Horn about the biodiversity of birds in the inhospitable region as well as trying to get a sense of the journey his relative made, twice.
This book is so well researched and I learned so much about whaling, the ships, the islands and peoples as well as the early days of dentistry and Baltimore. In the 1800s, there really wasn't a dental degree or schools but one was developed and Armstrong was supposed to be a dentist until alcohol addiction ended that career before ending up on a whaling ship. I live near Baltimore and loved reading about all the locations throughout the city where Armstrong or his family lived or worked or attended church or were buried. I may have to take a tour of those locations.
The only thing that I struggled with in this book was the exception detail of dates and names. There were times it became a little difficult to keep it all straight, but in the end it was worth the effort.
If you are looking for a non-fiction book during the 1800s, I would recommend this one. You will learn quite a bit and it will make you think about it and its themes for quite a while.
Thank you Net Galley and Alexander R. Brash for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
This book is about more than just whalers and whaling. It is Armstrong's journey to find himself and figure out his relationship with God. It is about the different cultures on the many islands he visited as part of the whaling crew. The author, as a birder, made his voyage to Cape Horn about the biodiversity of birds in the inhospitable region as well as trying to get a sense of the journey his relative made, twice.
This book is so well researched and I learned so much about whaling, the ships, the islands and peoples as well as the early days of dentistry and Baltimore. In the 1800s, there really wasn't a dental degree or schools but one was developed and Armstrong was supposed to be a dentist until alcohol addiction ended that career before ending up on a whaling ship. I live near Baltimore and loved reading about all the locations throughout the city where Armstrong or his family lived or worked or attended church or were buried. I may have to take a tour of those locations.
The only thing that I struggled with in this book was the exception detail of dates and names. There were times it became a little difficult to keep it all straight, but in the end it was worth the effort.
If you are looking for a non-fiction book during the 1800s, I would recommend this one. You will learn quite a bit and it will make you think about it and its themes for quite a while.
Thank you Net Galley and Alexander R. Brash for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
September 17, 2023
I received this arc in the mail thank you for the opportunity to read it.. I liked the beginning of the book found it interesting like a friend was telling me his stories. If you like dates and history then this book is for you. I wish there could of been more color pictures.
September 26, 2023
When you take the dramatic power of Moby Dick and its ties to the 1800s whaling industry, marry it with the non-fiction research which propelled A Perfect Storm and In the Heart of the Sea into personal narratives, and then combine undertones of a classic coming of age story like The Catcher in the Rye, the melded outcome leaps off the pages of A Whaler at Twilight. At the urging of his mother, Alexander Brash discovers the journals and logbooks of his ancestor, Robert Armstrong. A disillusioned dentist from Baltimore, Robert sets out in 1849 on a ten-year journey of self-discovery amid the high seas, sparsely populated islands of the South Pacific, and open waters in pursuit of the elusive whale. Brash picks up on the personal entries and musings of his ancestor and supplements them with a tremendous amount of research into whaling, native life in Polynesia, New Zealand and other isles which dot the South Seas. A Whaler at Twilight presents a slice of life depicting one man’s struggles to obtain self-acceptance and direction as seas, interior and exterior, roil around him. As a historical fiction author, I greatly admire and applaud the level of added research Brash provided to fill in the gaps from Armstrong’s entries to create an immersive experience and connection to the story and biography. The book wraps with a tribute to the natural world of the past in all its glory so we may more fully appreciate our present and preserve our future. The final take-away? Listen to your mother. She’s often right – there are stories to be told and celebrated from our own family histories. Thank you to the author and Lyons Press for an advance copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
December 1, 2023
The first part of this book contains A Primer in Whaling, a fascinating history of the whaling industry that encapsulates, in a fairly short section, the ups and downs and worldwide extent of whaling done by the fleets from New Bedford and Nantucket. Anyone who has seen the film In the Heart of the Sea will appreciate the background and perspective this chapter adds to the understanding of what that film depicts.
The next section containing Rob Armstrong’s self-recorded history starts out as a compelling read. Here, the author, Alexander Brash, pays great respect to the original writings of his great-grandfather. He lets Rob speak for himself. Armstrong is at a loss for what to do with his life. As a self-described 21-year-old man full of shame and disgrace because of an uncontrollable desire for drink, he signs on to a whaling crew because he has nothing better to do with his life. He sails on the whaling ship Smyrna from New Bedford down the east coast, around Cape Horn and West to South Pacific islands. The author wisely includes a map of the voyages recorded in Rob’s narrative which I referred to often. For this reader, Rob’s narrative bogs down with repetition once he is at sea. Rob’s crew, we are told several times, spend time “gamming” with other whaling crews as their paths cross. They swap stories, but none of the stories are relayed to the reader. The whalers exchange key information—specifically how many bbls (barrels) of oil they have extracted from the whales they have killed, and we learn how many years it has been since they left New Bedford or Nantucket to hunt their prey.
In his journal, Rob’s recording of events and observations is very spare. There are several events that seem horrific, but they are so casually and minimally described - and I read ahead a bit to see the author notes that Rob never provides much self-reflection on his experiences. There are a couple of ways I think about all this. First, the time passage is hard to grasp. Years at sea. A lot of time where nothing happens. A narrative about uneventful hours, days, weeks, and months at sea is necessarily tedious. The reader feels the fatigue. Part of Rob’s experiences include casual observations of the cruelty of man. Spare reports about horrific acts committed by shipmates and others that Rob observes directly, or he hears about second hand, and he offers little in the way of reflection or reaction to these things. Upon arrival in New Zealand, and after four years at sea, he leaves the crew and takes up logging in the primordial forests of trees with massive diameters. This section is a compelling read as he describes how men with large handsaws tackle these enormous, ancient trees, cutting them down and cutting boards from them by hand. Here he gets into details about how hard it is and how he feels about the work. This contrasts with the lack of detail and little introspection about his experiences hunting and killing whales and cutting them up and boiling their flesh for “sperm oil”.
The author fills out Rob’s experience retrospectively in the third section. His research into events mentioned but not elaborated on by Rob complete the picture a bit more, but some of the events he reports on were only peripheral to Rob’s experiences. Rob might have been in the same area or on the same island months before or after a significant event.
The final section describes the author’s following in Rob’s footsteps. Brash is a conservationist and naturalist at heart. He deeply appreciates and knows the workings of the natural world. He is on an adventure of a lifetime and is following the path of his ancestor around Cape Horn reflecting on the hardship this was for Rob and how easy he, himself has it in 2022. He can sleep in a warm cabin through this journey while his ancestor likely nearly froze to death in the 1850’s and was fortunate to survive the journey at all. Brash is taken by the majestic sea birds he sees for the first time. He reflects on his beliefs relative to Armstrong’s belief in God and his search for salvation.
Each section of the book feels different and seems intended to be that way. As a reader of fiction, primarily, I found it a bit disjointed because of this, but appreciate that Brash offers us the varying aspects of what was one extraordinary life story.
The next section containing Rob Armstrong’s self-recorded history starts out as a compelling read. Here, the author, Alexander Brash, pays great respect to the original writings of his great-grandfather. He lets Rob speak for himself. Armstrong is at a loss for what to do with his life. As a self-described 21-year-old man full of shame and disgrace because of an uncontrollable desire for drink, he signs on to a whaling crew because he has nothing better to do with his life. He sails on the whaling ship Smyrna from New Bedford down the east coast, around Cape Horn and West to South Pacific islands. The author wisely includes a map of the voyages recorded in Rob’s narrative which I referred to often. For this reader, Rob’s narrative bogs down with repetition once he is at sea. Rob’s crew, we are told several times, spend time “gamming” with other whaling crews as their paths cross. They swap stories, but none of the stories are relayed to the reader. The whalers exchange key information—specifically how many bbls (barrels) of oil they have extracted from the whales they have killed, and we learn how many years it has been since they left New Bedford or Nantucket to hunt their prey.
In his journal, Rob’s recording of events and observations is very spare. There are several events that seem horrific, but they are so casually and minimally described - and I read ahead a bit to see the author notes that Rob never provides much self-reflection on his experiences. There are a couple of ways I think about all this. First, the time passage is hard to grasp. Years at sea. A lot of time where nothing happens. A narrative about uneventful hours, days, weeks, and months at sea is necessarily tedious. The reader feels the fatigue. Part of Rob’s experiences include casual observations of the cruelty of man. Spare reports about horrific acts committed by shipmates and others that Rob observes directly, or he hears about second hand, and he offers little in the way of reflection or reaction to these things. Upon arrival in New Zealand, and after four years at sea, he leaves the crew and takes up logging in the primordial forests of trees with massive diameters. This section is a compelling read as he describes how men with large handsaws tackle these enormous, ancient trees, cutting them down and cutting boards from them by hand. Here he gets into details about how hard it is and how he feels about the work. This contrasts with the lack of detail and little introspection about his experiences hunting and killing whales and cutting them up and boiling their flesh for “sperm oil”.
The author fills out Rob’s experience retrospectively in the third section. His research into events mentioned but not elaborated on by Rob complete the picture a bit more, but some of the events he reports on were only peripheral to Rob’s experiences. Rob might have been in the same area or on the same island months before or after a significant event.
The final section describes the author’s following in Rob’s footsteps. Brash is a conservationist and naturalist at heart. He deeply appreciates and knows the workings of the natural world. He is on an adventure of a lifetime and is following the path of his ancestor around Cape Horn reflecting on the hardship this was for Rob and how easy he, himself has it in 2022. He can sleep in a warm cabin through this journey while his ancestor likely nearly froze to death in the 1850’s and was fortunate to survive the journey at all. Brash is taken by the majestic sea birds he sees for the first time. He reflects on his beliefs relative to Armstrong’s belief in God and his search for salvation.
Each section of the book feels different and seems intended to be that way. As a reader of fiction, primarily, I found it a bit disjointed because of this, but appreciate that Brash offers us the varying aspects of what was one extraordinary life story.
March 23, 2024
I was on a @tlcbooktour for this book and I just knew my dad would love it! So I gave it to him, he read it, and then sent me his thoughts. How cute is he? Reading is in my blood it seems.
Dad’s review:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Good Morning Sweetie,
I finished A Whaler At Twilight. This novel was an awesome read. Quick overview…Story of a man who lived on the 19th century. He was born in Baltimore and originally became a dentist. But he acquired a drinking problem which became so bad he decided to redeem himself by signing on to a whaling ship out of New Bedford, Ma. A normal trip was 4.5 years. These ships traveled around the Cape Horn at the bottom of South America and on to the South Pacific Islands. I believe where most whales were located. The oil from whale blubber was use for fuel to light lanterns and many other uses. Whaling caused two issues. Devastation of some whale species and a bad relationship with indigenous natives on the islands in the South Pacific. Mainly kidnapping, murder and stealing.
The main character Rob Armstrong
extended his trip to 10 years. He spent 5 yrs in New Zealand, mainly as a lumberjack. He was battling demons of giving his life to God vs how alcohol was ruining his life. He eventually returned to Baltimore and was rehabilitated, got married, and had 6 children.
The author was a descendent of the main character. It was a true story.
So thank you again to @lyonspress and @alexanderbrashauthor for the #gifted copy.
Dad’s review:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Good Morning Sweetie,
I finished A Whaler At Twilight. This novel was an awesome read. Quick overview…Story of a man who lived on the 19th century. He was born in Baltimore and originally became a dentist. But he acquired a drinking problem which became so bad he decided to redeem himself by signing on to a whaling ship out of New Bedford, Ma. A normal trip was 4.5 years. These ships traveled around the Cape Horn at the bottom of South America and on to the South Pacific Islands. I believe where most whales were located. The oil from whale blubber was use for fuel to light lanterns and many other uses. Whaling caused two issues. Devastation of some whale species and a bad relationship with indigenous natives on the islands in the South Pacific. Mainly kidnapping, murder and stealing.
The main character Rob Armstrong
extended his trip to 10 years. He spent 5 yrs in New Zealand, mainly as a lumberjack. He was battling demons of giving his life to God vs how alcohol was ruining his life. He eventually returned to Baltimore and was rehabilitated, got married, and had 6 children.
The author was a descendent of the main character. It was a true story.
So thank you again to @lyonspress and @alexanderbrashauthor for the #gifted copy.
November 3, 2023
A Whaler at Twilight could be described as four non-fiction books in one. The first book describes how Alexander Brash finds his ancestor’s manuscript and after much research creates this book. The second book is the actual manuscript of Robert Armstrong that he kept during his ten years in the South Pacific. This part is followed by two books by Brash giving more detail on whaling in the 19th century, the South Pacific, and the natives and the interaction between two divergent cultures.
Armstrong came from a good family and trained to be a dentist but he was consumed by alcoholism and lost everything. He joined a whaling crew to try to redeem himself. He spent four years on a whaler but that didn’t defeat his demons. He jumped ship in New Zealand and spent five years there pursuing various careers. He finally decided to return home which took another year. I was so shocked when he arrived that he didn’t have one dime to show for all his years of work.
I don’t want to give too much away about his battle with God and his demons. Needless to say if you like stories about whaling, adventures, nautical tales, this is a read you will enjoy!
Armstrong came from a good family and trained to be a dentist but he was consumed by alcoholism and lost everything. He joined a whaling crew to try to redeem himself. He spent four years on a whaler but that didn’t defeat his demons. He jumped ship in New Zealand and spent five years there pursuing various careers. He finally decided to return home which took another year. I was so shocked when he arrived that he didn’t have one dime to show for all his years of work.
I don’t want to give too much away about his battle with God and his demons. Needless to say if you like stories about whaling, adventures, nautical tales, this is a read you will enjoy!
June 28, 2023
“We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men; and among those fibers, as sympathetic threads, our actions run as causes, and they come back to us as effects.”
Herman Melville
Currently, I am working through Henry Melville’s Moby Dick, so the opportunity to read A Whaler At Twilight was difficult for me to pass by, especially since I appreciated the opportunity to gain personal insight into a whaler’s life. Broken down into three sections focusing first on the manuscript discovery, the whalers tale in his own words, an analytical breakdown of the whaler, followed by part Iv, a contemplative discussion of the philosophical, and physical reality of the whaler, Rob Armstrong’s life, and the role going into whaling, changed Rob Armstrong’s life, the personal writings, helped bring into perspective Ishmael’s own spiritual and philosophical journey he experienced in the book, Moby Dick.
Based on actual events pulled from the manuscript, and coupled with the contributing author, Alexander Brash, A Whaler At Twilight, is a spiritual journey into the human soul. Humans as Alex writes in the opening chapter, are a complicated species. Our lives are singular and in many cases seem to rush through life like a quick burning candle. The book is both a soft, and yet candid exploration of American history, the role of historical preservation, and especially what we can learn about ourselves as humans by listening to the voices of the past.
Opening up the book with pieces from Samuel Taylor Coleridge, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, Alexander Brash sets a powerful, soul-rendering tour of the human spirit, our place in life as a whole, and our intertwining roles on a spinning marble we collectively call Earth.
There’s always a slight oddness to reading someone's else journal, especially when it’s centuries before one's own. There is a sudden invasion of capture moments of time, of emotions, and reading Rob’s work also reminds one of how much has changed in the chronicling of life. The writing isn’t based on fads or catchy captions, but a deep contemplation of life, and insight into the inner thoughts and emotions of another human being.
In Part 2 of A Whaler At Twilight, Rob turns twenty-one, his writings capturing a life much different from a modern-day understanding of what it means to turn twenty-one, in a long-passed profession that no longer exists. All of this makes reading the book more intriguing, because reading alongside Moby Dick and on occasion Melville’s focus on the smallest details, Rob's writing encapsulates the impact of simply being at sea for even given time can have on the human soul, and the different perspective it gives humanity, when we move from land which is for the most part, conquered and comfortable, to the still wildness of the water, and nature.
Any academic would connect with Brash account of pursuing research, and it brought this reader, a nerdy chuckle and relating to the work and focus which entails doing research but moving first from the finding of the manuscript, the research, to the manuscript itself, to the latter contemplation of what is learned from Rob’s experience, there is a subtle reminder in the writing of the disconnection sometimes between humanity and nature, especially in a world quickly evolving with technological advances and comfort.
The notes and consulted work detailed the hard work which went into understanding the world Rob Armstrong lived in, and the history behind whaling, but putting the tangible elements of Rob’s journey (Brash, Chapter 25) aside, is an interesting exploration of Rob Armstrong's religious beliefs. There is a mix of both academic reverence and personal inquiry, which makes the book a powerful one, regardless of where one stands when it comes to religion or spiritual beliefs, and embodies the book as a whole, of one of a journey of the human soul. There is something about the act of traveling itself, that changes a person. As a result, A Whaler At Twilight is an interesting read, and especially when combined with a book like Moby Dick.
Writing Aesthetic/Style: 5
Plot/Movement: 4
Character Development: 4
Overall: 4.5
July 3, 2023
My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Globe Pequot for an advance copy of this biography of a man who went to see to escape his life on shore and found adventures, skills and self- worth.
People go to sea for many reasons. Sure some were pressed, but some went for fortune. Some were feeling something on land that made the sea seem safer, a changes in attitude, changes in latitude kind of deal. Some because of shame. When all hope on land is gone, fleeing to the sea might be a chance to renew one's hopes and interests, or maybe aid in that hope to disappear on unknown shores, or to the deep briny depths. Decades after running to sea to escape his demons, a mariner wrote of his exploits, a story left in an old trunk, found by a descendent who passed it on to her son. A memoir about life at sea, whales, exotic locales and places that have long faded from memories. A Whaler at Twilight: A True Account of Whaling and Redemption in the South Pacific edited with commentary by Alexander R. Brash and written Robert W. Armstrong tells of how this manuscript was discovered and brought to life, and the story of a sailor who fell from grace with himself who took to the waves to find reason, purpose, and atonement.
Robert Armstrong lost his parents early and was raised by his father's two brothers, one a wealthy shop owner in the Baltimore area. A sip of wine as a child introduced young Armstrong to demon alcohol, something that dogged him through his young life. Entering dental school, Armstrong was lucky to find a fellow dentist who wished to partner with him in a shared business. Everything seemed good until a birthday party with birthday bourbon reintroduced Armstrong's old foe into his life, and soon he was seen drunk in public and the partnership ended. Not wanting to admit his shame, Armstrong sold first his dental tools, his watch, and finally himself to a whaleing agent, and took to the sea a land lubber with little skills to offer. Armstrong spent almost a decade at see, whaling, traveling to different countries, watching sea companions die, and dealing with both danger and boredom as they came. Alexander Brash's was introduced to Armstrong's story by his mother a descendent, who thought his tale would be interesting to Brash who had spent many years in occupations involving nature. Brash soon was fascinated and began to do more research, filling in gaps, and explaining more about the times that Armstrong lived in and what the whaling world was like.
A very good look at life for sailors in the midpoint of the nineteenth century, where the doldrums could end in terror from weather, whale, rocks, or ice or even a minor cut. Armstrong was a very good writer capturing his own disgust with himself, the occupation he found himself in, and the beauty of nature, and the lands he found himself in. A descriptive writer, Armstrong was very good at conveying life at sea, especially in one scene where he describes a storm striking the boat he was on, while whales frolic around them, knowing somehow that they are safe from the creatures who hunt them. Brash is also good, writing about whaling, the cost to the environment, and expanding on what Armstrong does not mention, Baltimore, more about his family, and of course what happened next.
Recommended for readers of nautical tales of course. Readers of the history on the whaleship Essex will quite enjoy this. A story that is new with a lot of very good writing, and history. This would also be a good reference for those who write historical books, as there are many details that really make it of its time, and writers could learn quite a lot from this for their own books.
People go to sea for many reasons. Sure some were pressed, but some went for fortune. Some were feeling something on land that made the sea seem safer, a changes in attitude, changes in latitude kind of deal. Some because of shame. When all hope on land is gone, fleeing to the sea might be a chance to renew one's hopes and interests, or maybe aid in that hope to disappear on unknown shores, or to the deep briny depths. Decades after running to sea to escape his demons, a mariner wrote of his exploits, a story left in an old trunk, found by a descendent who passed it on to her son. A memoir about life at sea, whales, exotic locales and places that have long faded from memories. A Whaler at Twilight: A True Account of Whaling and Redemption in the South Pacific edited with commentary by Alexander R. Brash and written Robert W. Armstrong tells of how this manuscript was discovered and brought to life, and the story of a sailor who fell from grace with himself who took to the waves to find reason, purpose, and atonement.
Robert Armstrong lost his parents early and was raised by his father's two brothers, one a wealthy shop owner in the Baltimore area. A sip of wine as a child introduced young Armstrong to demon alcohol, something that dogged him through his young life. Entering dental school, Armstrong was lucky to find a fellow dentist who wished to partner with him in a shared business. Everything seemed good until a birthday party with birthday bourbon reintroduced Armstrong's old foe into his life, and soon he was seen drunk in public and the partnership ended. Not wanting to admit his shame, Armstrong sold first his dental tools, his watch, and finally himself to a whaleing agent, and took to the sea a land lubber with little skills to offer. Armstrong spent almost a decade at see, whaling, traveling to different countries, watching sea companions die, and dealing with both danger and boredom as they came. Alexander Brash's was introduced to Armstrong's story by his mother a descendent, who thought his tale would be interesting to Brash who had spent many years in occupations involving nature. Brash soon was fascinated and began to do more research, filling in gaps, and explaining more about the times that Armstrong lived in and what the whaling world was like.
A very good look at life for sailors in the midpoint of the nineteenth century, where the doldrums could end in terror from weather, whale, rocks, or ice or even a minor cut. Armstrong was a very good writer capturing his own disgust with himself, the occupation he found himself in, and the beauty of nature, and the lands he found himself in. A descriptive writer, Armstrong was very good at conveying life at sea, especially in one scene where he describes a storm striking the boat he was on, while whales frolic around them, knowing somehow that they are safe from the creatures who hunt them. Brash is also good, writing about whaling, the cost to the environment, and expanding on what Armstrong does not mention, Baltimore, more about his family, and of course what happened next.
Recommended for readers of nautical tales of course. Readers of the history on the whaleship Essex will quite enjoy this. A story that is new with a lot of very good writing, and history. This would also be a good reference for those who write historical books, as there are many details that really make it of its time, and writers could learn quite a lot from this for their own books.
October 30, 2023
What a gift the author’s mother gave her son when she encouraged him to read a manuscript written by his great-great-grandfather that described his experiences on several whaling ships and cutting kauri timber in New Zealand. How I would treasure the opportunity to see the written word of my ancestors. I was amused by Alex’s admission that for decades he was reluctant to examine the manuscript. I think we sometimes have to reach a certain age before knowledge of our ancestors becomes relevant; perhaps it is when we finally acknowledge our own mortality. He was fortunate that in addition to the manuscript, there were multiple resources available that gave him a pretty clear picture of the extraordinary life of Robert W. Armstrong. So many of us live with the regret that we did not ask questions or know the questions to ask when there were still people around who might have been able to answer them - why didn’t I ask my parents/grandparents more questions is the cry of amateur genealogists everywhere!
It was a brilliant idea for Alex Brash to “co-author” this book with his ancestor. To read Robert Armstrong’s own words and have them complemented by those of his great-great-grandson makes for compelling reading. Alex Brash’s background in life sciences and experience as a conservationist add to the authenticity of the book, but it is his writing style that for me made this a such wonderful read. There are many good writers who can provide the reader with historical or scientific facts, but it takes a Writer with a capital W to enable us to feel those things being described. I was captivated from the first paragraphs; his description of the sighting of a whale that was close enough to touch made me feel like I was there on the boat with him and the other passengers. The same was true of his accounts of the birds he saw on his trip around Cape Horn. I understood his emotion when he visited the area in New Zealand where his great-great-grandfather had once lived and worked. I had a similar feeling earlier this year when I visited my great-grandfather’s birthplace in Ireland. The book is enhanced by some beautiful photographs, both contemporary and historical, in black/white and color. Before reading A Whaler at Twilight I knew very little about whaling other than it is a good thing it is now banned. Besides the details of whaling and the dangers of the job, Robert Armstrong also described the emotional hardships; whaling crews spent years, not weeks or months, between trips home.
I have done a lot of reading in recent years that has given me a completely different perspective on the history I learned growing up in the UK. Alex Brash also provides a different perspective on some historical events when he discusses the frequent misrepresentation of the Pacific Islanders and their interactions with whaling crews. The whaling ship Charles W. Morgan was mentioned in the book. I have seen this ship twice at Mystic Seaport Museum; I do not remember any mention of the dark chapter in this ship’s history. It is the kind of omission that has been all too common in the past, one that needs to be addressed in the way this author does so.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I am grateful to the author and publisher for the opportunity to read this wonderful work. I have to be honest and say it was probably not a book I would have otherwise read, but I am so glad I was given the opportunity to do so. It not only made me appreciate the history described but also the challenge to actively address the future of our planet. It is a book I will definitely read again and recommend it without reservation.
It was a brilliant idea for Alex Brash to “co-author” this book with his ancestor. To read Robert Armstrong’s own words and have them complemented by those of his great-great-grandson makes for compelling reading. Alex Brash’s background in life sciences and experience as a conservationist add to the authenticity of the book, but it is his writing style that for me made this a such wonderful read. There are many good writers who can provide the reader with historical or scientific facts, but it takes a Writer with a capital W to enable us to feel those things being described. I was captivated from the first paragraphs; his description of the sighting of a whale that was close enough to touch made me feel like I was there on the boat with him and the other passengers. The same was true of his accounts of the birds he saw on his trip around Cape Horn. I understood his emotion when he visited the area in New Zealand where his great-great-grandfather had once lived and worked. I had a similar feeling earlier this year when I visited my great-grandfather’s birthplace in Ireland. The book is enhanced by some beautiful photographs, both contemporary and historical, in black/white and color. Before reading A Whaler at Twilight I knew very little about whaling other than it is a good thing it is now banned. Besides the details of whaling and the dangers of the job, Robert Armstrong also described the emotional hardships; whaling crews spent years, not weeks or months, between trips home.
I have done a lot of reading in recent years that has given me a completely different perspective on the history I learned growing up in the UK. Alex Brash also provides a different perspective on some historical events when he discusses the frequent misrepresentation of the Pacific Islanders and their interactions with whaling crews. The whaling ship Charles W. Morgan was mentioned in the book. I have seen this ship twice at Mystic Seaport Museum; I do not remember any mention of the dark chapter in this ship’s history. It is the kind of omission that has been all too common in the past, one that needs to be addressed in the way this author does so.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review. I am grateful to the author and publisher for the opportunity to read this wonderful work. I have to be honest and say it was probably not a book I would have otherwise read, but I am so glad I was given the opportunity to do so. It not only made me appreciate the history described but also the challenge to actively address the future of our planet. It is a book I will definitely read again and recommend it without reservation.
February 21, 2024
Alexander Brash, author of A Whaler at Twilight—A True Account of Whaling and Redemption in the South Pacific, has given his readers two books in one. The first, culled from travel logs and written by Brash's great, great grandfather, is a stark portrayal of life aboard a 19th century whaling ship. In Armstrong's retelling of his life hunting whales in the South Pacific, the reader is privy to the brutality, not only of the decimation of the giant cetaceans roaming the seas and life during the 1850s, but of the brutality inflicted upon South Sea islanders. We are invited to live and think as Armstrong did and experience culture as it existed one hundred and seventy years ago. What makes this book unique, however, is that in the second half of the book, we are introduced to Brash's meticulous research and first hand experience as he traces places where his great great grandfather sailed to, or lived when ashore, during his twelve years at sea. The author enriches Armstrong's telling of his years sailing the South Pacific by offering the reader fascinating backstory and in-depth history, filling out the parts that Armstrong was unwilling to expose or reticent to admit due to his "weak resolution and {a} strong inclination for the accursed stuff." Brash, however, with his rich prose, allows the reader to feel the harshness of Armstrong's choice, all possibly made in a last attempt to maintain moral ground and overcome his struggle with alcoholism. Reading this, I could only reflect on one of sailing's classics, Moby Dick. Ahab was not the only tortured and obsessed man chasing whales. The author beautifully describes the ramifications of the whaling industry and how it has affected the shrinking population of these magnificent cetaceans. This is a must read for any one who loves history, the sea, and a great story.
January 7, 2024
Two men tied by blood and history search the world for meaning. Rob, the dentist, the alcoholic, the whaler, left a written record of his tribulations compelling enough to inspire his descendant to travel the world in his footsteps.
Alexander R. Brash and the reader are taken on a journey through family history and personal triumph through Rob's words. Although not sharing Rob's faith, Brash identifies with many parts of his ancestor’s story. These men share surprising connections of space and time, and even employment. And in poignant moments separated by generations, they gaze upon the same stars in the same distant skies, far from the places they call home.
The structure of the book is unique; the interweaving of experience and research Brash uses illuminates as much about himself as it does about Rob's life. His inability to understand his ancestor’s relationship with God is at times frustrating and sad, but he does his best to connect the dots through nature and the physical world.
Despite a disjointed structure during the second part of this "duet" and Brash's ambivalence toward his forebear's beliefs, this is a highly interesting book. Remarkably, it features one of the clearest descriptions of processing a whale I've ever read. And it's so compelling to watch someone discover personal connections between their own experiences and the life of a long-dead relative.
Thank you to NetGalley for my review copy of this remarkable work. Thank you to TLC Book Tours for my physical copy.
Alexander R. Brash and the reader are taken on a journey through family history and personal triumph through Rob's words. Although not sharing Rob's faith, Brash identifies with many parts of his ancestor’s story. These men share surprising connections of space and time, and even employment. And in poignant moments separated by generations, they gaze upon the same stars in the same distant skies, far from the places they call home.
The structure of the book is unique; the interweaving of experience and research Brash uses illuminates as much about himself as it does about Rob's life. His inability to understand his ancestor’s relationship with God is at times frustrating and sad, but he does his best to connect the dots through nature and the physical world.
Despite a disjointed structure during the second part of this "duet" and Brash's ambivalence toward his forebear's beliefs, this is a highly interesting book. Remarkably, it features one of the clearest descriptions of processing a whale I've ever read. And it's so compelling to watch someone discover personal connections between their own experiences and the life of a long-dead relative.
Thank you to NetGalley for my review copy of this remarkable work. Thank you to TLC Book Tours for my physical copy.
July 8, 2023
Old ancestors call out to him. He answers the call by tugging out his mother's old black trunk. What is inside the trunk will lead him first to Baltimore and then, to New Bedford, Massachusetts. Yes, this is a true story.It is hard to remember that it is not a tale like Treasure Island or Kidnapped. In his mind, he is back in time watching the ladies and gents and others walk down a board walk smeared with every type of fish you can name.
I can not help but recall truth is stranger than fiction. I swoon at the name "Uriah Bunker." Again, it is a step back in time. During the American Revolution, the British destroyed many ships. I suppose you must weep and say all is fair in love and war.
I can not help but recall truth is stranger than fiction. I swoon at the name "Uriah Bunker." Again, it is a step back in time. During the American Revolution, the British destroyed many ships. I suppose you must weep and say all is fair in love and war.
November 6, 2023
Having read a few fictional whaling stories, it was interesting to read a non-fiction account. Alexander Brash's story of how he came upon his ancestor's travel logs and what led him to finally publish it along with his research was interesting. Parts of autobiographical account were a bit monotonous, but keep in mind they weren't written for public consumption. I really enjoyed reading about Robert Armstrong's history, what led him to go out to sea, his struggle with addiction, and his adventures. Brash did a good job filling in the tale with his research and his own journey.
Thank you Alexander R. Brash for the advanced copy.
Thank you Alexander R. Brash for the advanced copy.
May 16, 2024
The story is told based on the journal of Brash's great great grandfather. He kept a travel log which depicts life aboard a whaling ship in 1840's at the height of the whaling industry in New England. There is some great history told here and while the end of the book got a little tedious, I appreciated the fact Brash followed the route around the horn and experienced it for himself. Fascinating tale!!
October 7, 2023
This was an interesting read in the history of whaling and how it has impacted the Pacific. I would highly recommend it to those interested in this field.
May 28, 2024
This book made me incredibly sad. A true tale of whaling.
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