A Whaler at Twilight: A True Account of Whaling and Redemption in the South Pacific

In the mid-nineteenth century, an American whaler named Robert Armstrong embarked on a perilous journey in the South Pacific in search of absolution and redemption. He sold his possessions and signed on for a whaling voyage, documenting his experiences in his memoirs. The book is complemented by contextual background researched by Armstrong's great-great-grandson, Alexander Brash, highlighting the importance of marine conservation and the turbulent historical period of whaling.

Format: Hardback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 05 November 2023
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

In the mid-nineteenth century, an American whaler embarked on a perilous journey in the South Pacific, driven by a quest for absolution and redemption. After the untimely passing of his parents, Robert Armstrong found solace with his prosperous uncle in bustling Baltimore. Blessed with the opportunity to attend the nation's pioneering dental school, Armstrong squandered his potential, succumbing to alcoholism. Overwhelmed by guilt and shame, he sold his dental instruments, watch, and every possession he owned in December 1849, signing on for a whaling voyage departing from New Bedford.

Decades later, Armstrong penned an autobiographical account, drawing from his travel logs, vividly detailing his ten-year odyssey. His memoirs unfold his encounters with fellow whalers, beachcombers, Peruvian villagers, Pacific islanders, Maori warriors in New Zealand, cannibals in Fiji, and the profound effects of American Expansionism. He also candidly shares his battles with alcoholism, his search for divine guidance, and his personal journey toward redemption.

A Whaler at Twilight is enriched by the meticulously researched contextual background compiled by Alexander Brash, Armstrong's great-great-grandson. Brash, a renowned professional conservationist, sheds further light on a turbulent historical era, the whaling industry, its ecological implications, his ancestors' religious milieu, and the critical importance of marine conservation in the present day.

A Whaler at Twilight offers a captivating exploration of human morality and American history, inviting readers to immerse themselves in the captivating tale of Robert Armstrong and his unforgettable adventure in the South Pacific.

Weight: 635g
Dimension: 229 x 164 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781493074761