by Stanton H. King
About this book
Stanton H. King's *Dog-Watches at Sea* offers an unforgettable glimpse into the life of a common sailor during the golden age of sail. Leaving his native Barbados at just twelve years old in 1880, King embarked on a twelve-year maritime career that would define his entire life's work and passion. This compelling sea story captures the raw, authentic experience of life before the mast—told from the perspective of those who truly lived it, not the officers commanding from above.
King's twelve years at sea were transformative, and this narrative explores the remarkable reasons why he eventually left the maritime life to become director of Boston's Sailors' Haven and a celebrated chantie singer. His intimate knowledge of sailor's songs and sea culture infuses these pages with the genuine voice of the working sailor, blending adventure with the hard realities of ocean voyages under canvas.
Written by someone who genuinely walked the decks and heard the chantie singers' calls across the waves, *Dog-Watches at Sea* stands as both a personal memoir and a historical document. This audiobook is essential listening for maritime history enthusiasts, adventure lovers, and anyone seeking an authentic, unvarnished account of life at sea during an era when sail dominated the ocean. King's firsthand narrative preserves the traditions, hardships, and camaraderie that defined an entire way of life.
