The Last Grain Race

The Last Grain Race chronicles Eric Newby's journey as an 18-year-old apprentice aboard the Moshulu, one of the last commercial sailing vessels in the Australian grain trade. The book documents his 1938-1939 voyage from Europe to Australia and back, including passages around both the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Horn. Newby presents detailed accounts of daily life aboard a working cargo ship, from the physical demands of climbing rigging to the social dynamics among the crew. The text captures the technical aspects of sailing a four-masted barque and the harsh conditions faced by merchant sailors in the final days of commercial sail. The narrative takes place against the backdrop of impending global conflict, as this voyage represented one of the last examples of a centuries-old trading tradition. The Moshulu's journey marked the end of an era in maritime history, as World War II would soon bring about the permanent decline of commercial sailing vessels. The book stands as both a firsthand historical record and a coming-of-age story, examining themes of tradition versus progress and humanity's relationship with the sea. Through Newby's experiences, readers witness the closing chapter of the age of sail.

Readers highlight Newby's detailed account of life aboard one of the last commercial sailing ships. The book captures both the romance and harsh realities of sailing in 1938-39. Readers liked: - Raw, honest portrayal of seafaring life - Technical sailing details and terminology - Humor throughout difficult situations - Photographs and illustrations - Historical value as a firsthand account Readers disliked: - Dense nautical jargon can be overwhelming - Slow pacing in certain sections - Limited emotional depth/character development - Some find the writing style dry Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (1,100+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (150+ ratings) Common reader comments: "Captures both the tedium and excitement of long-distance sailing" - Goodreads "Too much technical detail for casual readers" - Amazon "Provides unique glimpse into a vanished way of life" - LibraryThing

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🌟 The "grain races" were high-stakes competitions between sailing ships to transport wheat from Australia to Europe in the fastest time, with crews often pushing their vessels to dangerous limits. 🌟 Eric Newby went on to become one of Britain's most celebrated travel writers, though he had no intention of being an author when he embarked on this voyage at age 18. 🌟 The Moshulu, the ship featured in the book, still exists today as a floating restaurant in Philadelphia and is the largest remaining original square-rigged sailing vessel in the world. 🌟 The book was first published in 1956, nearly 20 years after the actual voyage, drawing from detailed journals Newby kept during his time at sea. 🌟 The four-masted barque Moshulu set a record during the 1938-39 grain race, sailing from Australia to Europe in just 91 days, despite facing treacherous conditions around Cape Horn.