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9781920831257

Letters from a Sea Captain to an Artist

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A book for lovers of the sea and old ships. Heroic ships sail through the letters like characters in a drama, and through every letter runs the call of the sea. In 1957, two men from opposite hemispheres met, and discovered that their lives had been guided by the love of ships. Oswald Brett was a painter—one of the 20th century’s finest nautical artists, who’d mastered his craft in the Sydney studio of John Allcot and on the oceans of the world. Captain Archie Horka was a New York mariner, a veteran of working sail who’d been twice round Cape Horn, but had since become the skipper of sophisticated modern vessels on challenging Atlantic routes. After becoming acquainted the two men saw each other occasionally from then on, but their paths didn’t cross often enough for all they had to tell each other. They agreed to write letters, and Oswald kept all of Archie’s.

ARCHIE HORKA was born in USA in 1904, but as a young man travelled the world as a crewman and officer on working sailing ships., especially in SA, Tas, Vic. and NSW, where he also worked briefly as a wharfy. Eventually he became a senior captain in command of some of the United States Lines most modern cargo ships.         
OSWALD BRETT, born in Sydney, 1921, studied under Australias best known nautical artist, John Allcot. In World War II he crewed aboard Queen Elizabeth, and painted memorable wartime scenes. Later he married an American girl and settled in New York, corresponding with sailors around the world to ensure all his details were as accurate as possible. After his recent death his ashes were scattered from the "James Craig" into the Pacific off Sydney.

* Beautiful illustrations by one of the 20th century’s finest nautical artists.
* An intimate time capsule of maritime life as recounted by an active Atlantic skipper.
* Gorgeous hardcover bound volume styled to capture the feel of the letters within.     
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* Review copies and contacts with sea history outlets and art media, in addition to general media.



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