North Cape

by F.D. Ommanney

The author ships out on a North Sea trawler just before the start of WWII. He performs some deck hand duties but is really a spectator to the life and trails of the fishermen he is living with. The voyage lasts three weeks and provides a slice-of-life view into working sailors from a different age.

252 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1939

About the author

Born 1903, died 1980.

Reviews

[Warren S · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would not have selected this book if I'd come across it in a store or on-line, but since it was a present from a relative, I finally opened it and started to read. The author is able to take what would be a dull and ordinary three week commercial fishing trip and turn it into an enthralling slice-of-life tale. He captures every sight, smell, and sound and thus puts the reader into the middle of a unique crowd of men working hard for a living. Reading it today, their world seems one of simplicity.

However, the author has a keen sense of men and notes the easier we make it for people to talk the less we have to say to each other. In the age of e-mail, Internet, Snapchat, and Tweets this perhaps even more true and poignant.

This is not a book for anyone looking for high adventure or fast-paced action. It is a well crafted glimpse into pre-WWII commercial fishing in the UK. You will come away with a very good understanding of the business of trawler fishing and the men who take up working on the sea.

I enjoyed the book and will be seeking out other works by the author.