There are three editions of this book; the original in 1840, one in 1869, and a final one in 1911. While the main part is the same, the later editions add notes about the changes that have occurred since the original story and the fate of the ships involved in the story. In a break with the original format of the Harvard Classics series, the final version is presented here.

For more information on this American sailing classic please read the one page Wikipedia article (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two_Years_Before_the_Mast) on Two Years Before the Mast

Of interest, Dana was a Harvard student when he left college for two years as a common seaman. Upon his return he wrote the book from his notes taken while he sailed the Americas including San Francisco in the pre Gold Rush days. "Before the mast" refers to where the seaman bunks were on the ship.

This book was to me as the Haggard books were to Harry, a treasure to read and reread.

Enjoy.

love this book. i have a 100+ year old leather bound edition on my shelf. always feared reading it. this is about real men on the sea in a commercial ship.

This is so great. I have never even heard of this book or several others that are being posted. It's great to find all of these unknown (well to me anyway) books and read them for the first time. Few things in life are as good as discovering a really great book. :)

Is it anything similar to Jack London?