Reviews
"Deserves special recognition since it shows shipboard life through a (then) ordinary man's eyes, rather than those of a ship's captain or mate. Highly recommended."
--The Midwest Book Review
"The delight of Philip Hichborn's excellent journal is his natural skill as a writer and his astuteness as an observer."
--The Northern Mariner/Le marin du nord
"Hichborn's detailed observations of shipboard life and the interactions between shipmates, and his ability to convey in words the weather, the food, the scene above deck and below, make his journal something Thiesen just had to share. A relatively short and enjoyable read for anyone: experienced sailors and armchair sailors alike, and even perhaps some landlubbers looking for a good read."
--Sea History
No. 133
Cruise of the 'Dashing Wave' is an absorbing and evocative narrative. Thiesen's brief presentation of the ship's history, the lives of Hichborn and Captain Lecraw, and other important contextual material round out the narrative substantially. This is an important addition to the literature of life at sea under sail.
--International Journal of Maritime History, Vol. XXII, no. 2
"Although probably little different from other contemporary voyages, this four and a half month one was packed with interest. Hichborn's record is replete with remarkable insight from one so young."
--Work Boat World
Adds a new dimension to our understanding of life on a nineteenth century clipper. The human dimensions are as compelling as the challenges posed by the natural world, and Hichborn and Thiesen have done a great job in making these available to 21-century readers.
--International Journal of Naval History