H. W. Tilman (1898–1977)

A magnificent collection of otherwise hard to find books. As one they represent a hard slog of 1000 pages. One begins to notice repetitions and recycling, but in a way, these open a window into the mind of Bill Tilman. Well-read and with a dry wit, his accounts of the various successes and failures at sea are entertainingly written, each rich with digressions into history or personal anecdote.

For those of us who ”cut our teeth” on Slocum, were brought up on Nelson and Drake – perhaps even trained by the navy – grew up “mucking about in boats”, reading and devouring everything we could lay our hands on from the pens of “MG”, Hiscock, Smeeton or even the Pardys, this is a most un-seaman-like account.

With just enough experience of my own sea-going and boating to react with horror and concern at the casualness of this mountain-climber turned sailor, I was not show more surprised that Tilman loses three ships in his endeavors – partly because of the seas and coasts he selects – those covered by ice.

I did take away from my reading a slight interest in the actual travel. show less

The structure of this book is a bit looser than Tilman's mature works, but his subtle wit and eloquent prose are fully in evidence.

Without doubt Tillman was a giant in the world of 20th century climbing. The books in this collection are almost impossible to find at any price. They have become essential reading, thus this collection is a godsend to we scholars of climbing history.