The Breath of Angels
A True Story of Life and Death at SeaBy John Beattie
270 pp. 1997. Paperback. $14.95
ISBN 1 57409 028 3
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The Breath of Angels is a pulse-pounding sea adventure and a heartbreaking memoir of love and longing.
As a teenager, John Beattie felt drawn to the ocean, but it would be another 25 years before he could finally pursue his dream of circumnavigating the globe. Sailing from Ireland to the Canary Islands in his 35-foot yacht WARRIOR QUEEN, he contended with adverse weather, a troublesome crew, and an unpredictable ship. Ultimately, he was forced to abandon his goal of circumnavigation, opting instead to attempt a single-handed transatlantic passage. His voyage took him along the South American coast and into the heart of a lush rainforest via uncharted tributaries.
On his way back home, he awoke one morning to find an open boat drifting on the waves. Within that foundering vessel lay a withered man, alone and dying of thirst. Hundreds of miles from land, Beattie struggled to keep the man alive...
“…a riveting, powerful, more-dramatic-than-fiction, true biographical story of life and death upon the open sea.” —Midwest Book Review
“A riveting travelogue which rips along and will be of interest to a wide audience…as good a sea adventure as you are likely to find.” —Sunday Tribune
“From the first page [Beattie] draws the reader into a well-told true story…” —Cruising World
“…his humour is infectious and he is well able to tell a story.… —The Irish Times
“Buy several copies, you'll want to share it with all your friends.” —Coastal Cruising
“This book kept me up all night.” —Sue Cook, BBC Radio 4
“He savours the majestic loneliness of the sea and then his obsession becomes comprehensible even to the most devoted landlubber…striking detail and unremitting honesty.” —Yorkshire Post
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