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Eight Bells and Top Masts : Diaries from a Tramp Steamer
The late 1950s, twilight years of the British Empire, saw the end of the era of the 'tramp steamer' - coal-burning merchant ships that 'tramped' from port to port in the days before bulk carriers, hunting for any cargo that needed hauling to any place.
In this marvelous memoir Christopher Lee offers the diaries of a 'Lad' much like himself who, at the age of 17, took his first job aboard the tramp ship Empire Heywood. Over two years this Lad would get to travel through the Suez canal, into the Indian Ocean and across the Pacific - so acquiring a panoramic view of the fading empire - before returning home to England as a man.
The diaries give a splendid account of all the dramas of life aboard ship, with an eccentric cast of characters and a wealth of lively seafaring language. A third-person narrative from the author provides invaluable historical context.
In this marvelous memoir Christopher Lee offers the diaries of a 'Lad' much like himself who, at the age of 17, took his first job aboard the tramp ship Empire Heywood. Over two years this Lad would get to travel through the Suez canal, into the Indian Ocean and across the Pacific - so acquiring a panoramic view of the fading empire - before returning home to England as a man.
The diaries give a splendid account of all the dramas of life aboard ship, with an eccentric cast of characters and a wealth of lively seafaring language. A third-person narrative from the author provides invaluable historical context.
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
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About the author
Christopher Lee
329 books34 followersChristopher Lee was a British writer, historian, and broadcaster, best known for creating and writing the acclaimed BBC Radio 4 documentary series This Sceptred Isle. His career spanned journalism, academia, military service, and historical writing.
After an early life at sea, he studied history at London University before joining the BBC as a defence and foreign affairs correspondent, with postings in Moscow and the Middle East. He later transitioned into academia, becoming the first Quatercentenary Fellow in Contemporary History at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, and conducting research at Birkbeck College. He also served in the Royal Navy's Joint Intelligence Reserve Branch, reaching the rank of captain.
Lee’s This Sceptred Isle, originally broadcast in 1995, chronicled British history from Roman times to the 20th century and was expanded with additional series covering the 20th century and the British Empire. His historical works include 1603, Nelson and Napoleon, and Monarchy, Past, Present… and Future?, as well as an abridgment of Winston Churchill's A History of the English-Speaking Peoples. He was also a prolific radio playwright, penning over 100 plays and series for BBC Radio 4.
Beyond writing, he served as a defence and foreign affairs adviser to the British Forces Broadcasting Service for 30 years and was involved in policy analysis.
He divided his time between Sussex and Florence, Italy, and was married to portrait painter Fiona Graham-Mackay. Lee passed away in 2021 at the age of 79.
After an early life at sea, he studied history at London University before joining the BBC as a defence and foreign affairs correspondent, with postings in Moscow and the Middle East. He later transitioned into academia, becoming the first Quatercentenary Fellow in Contemporary History at Emmanuel College, Cambridge, and conducting research at Birkbeck College. He also served in the Royal Navy's Joint Intelligence Reserve Branch, reaching the rank of captain.
Lee’s This Sceptred Isle, originally broadcast in 1995, chronicled British history from Roman times to the 20th century and was expanded with additional series covering the 20th century and the British Empire. His historical works include 1603, Nelson and Napoleon, and Monarchy, Past, Present… and Future?, as well as an abridgment of Winston Churchill's A History of the English-Speaking Peoples. He was also a prolific radio playwright, penning over 100 plays and series for BBC Radio 4.
Beyond writing, he served as a defence and foreign affairs adviser to the British Forces Broadcasting Service for 30 years and was involved in policy analysis.
He divided his time between Sussex and Florence, Italy, and was married to portrait painter Fiona Graham-Mackay. Lee passed away in 2021 at the age of 79.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 24, 2024
Wonderful evocation of a lost time and vocation, and places changed (often for the better). Ends somewhat abruptly though.
July 26, 2022
This was a delightful read following a 17 year old son of Kent who fell in love with the allure of the sea. A good coming of age tale largely spun from his own diary at sea. An insightful look at the world as the British empire gave up its holdings, certainly a picture of history in-the-making through the eyes of a young man and his shipmates. Want to tour the world in the tumultuous mid-20th century? Have a go at this book.
August 25, 2010
Initially I had a problem with this book. The style is off-putting. The diary entries are interspersed with commentary. The commentary refers to the person writing the diary as 'the lad'. I know when I look back at myself 35 years ago I'm not the same person, but actually I am. The Lad, the author growing up, on his first job chose to work on a tramp steamer as the era of the tramp steamer was ending. It is (eventually) an engaging tale of growing up, and the diary entries show the development and growth of character as the story progresses. This type of life can no longer be experienced so it is a view into another world. The author should have been out of place in this world with his bright observations, but he wasn't and we benefit from that.
The book ends with a few pages on the history of British Shipping - very interesting, but I would have preferred a postscript on what the lad did next.
The book ends with a few pages on the history of British Shipping - very interesting, but I would have preferred a postscript on what the lad did next.
February 11, 2011
The romance of the Tramp Steamer. A too short snippet about a boy becoming a man- in spite of himself! A good read if you are familiar with the naval history of England and post WWII politics and geography. Many local references are made with British coloquial phrases - If you understand Monty Python, well, you will be able to follow it. A good book to start with if you want to delve into the history of steamships and the merchant marine up to the mid twentieth century.
I enjoyed this book. It was a trip back to a simpler time when world events seemed more "local", eg; the Cuban revolution and Castro, the development of Red China, the decay of the British Empire as the rest of her colonies slipped away - all seen through the eyes of a young man who is otherwise occupied!
I wish the choice of an apprentice on a tramp steamer was available to me at 17!
I enjoyed this book. It was a trip back to a simpler time when world events seemed more "local", eg; the Cuban revolution and Castro, the development of Red China, the decay of the British Empire as the rest of her colonies slipped away - all seen through the eyes of a young man who is otherwise occupied!
I wish the choice of an apprentice on a tramp steamer was available to me at 17!
April 30, 2013
This book is the story of a tramp steamer in the late fifties framed by the diary of an anonymous apprentice officer. With much of the book devoted to an elegantly written narrative history that provides context for the diary entries the book is very readable.
While Eight Bells and Top Masts is an interesting window into the life of a tramp steamer at the end of the era of the tramps it is also a love letter to the declining British empire. This can lead to some difficult reading at times as both the historian and the diarist resort frequently to the dated ethnic slurs of the colonial era. The book is hardly a celebration of empire, but it is at times a nostalgic reflection on the supposed superiority of the British people.
A good book for those with a light interest in merchant shipping in the fifties, or in nautical history in general. Recommended with reservations.
While Eight Bells and Top Masts is an interesting window into the life of a tramp steamer at the end of the era of the tramps it is also a love letter to the declining British empire. This can lead to some difficult reading at times as both the historian and the diarist resort frequently to the dated ethnic slurs of the colonial era. The book is hardly a celebration of empire, but it is at times a nostalgic reflection on the supposed superiority of the British people.
A good book for those with a light interest in merchant shipping in the fifties, or in nautical history in general. Recommended with reservations.
September 7, 2013
A young boy goes to sea in the 1950's. During his apprenticeship visits many countries
that most people will never see. Matures beyond his peers ashore and becomes a successful writer.
Sadly, our Merchant Navy today, is but a shadow of what it used to be so, for me, it was a nostalgic trip down memory lane.
that most people will never see. Matures beyond his peers ashore and becomes a successful writer.
Sadly, our Merchant Navy today, is but a shadow of what it used to be so, for me, it was a nostalgic trip down memory lane.
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July 29, 2011Interesting memoir of a British merchant sailor during his coming of age at sea during the 1950's.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews