South Sea Vagabonds

Book excerpt: 75th anniversary edition of the timeless New Zealand classic of adventure at sea. The true story of Johnny Wray's adventures after being fired from his day job in the Great Depression, building his own boat and spending the rest of his days sailing around the Pacific, living the life of his dreams, has become a classic and an inspiration to generations of readers, sailors and landlubbers alike. From the hilarious and jaw-dropping account of how Johnny begged, borrowed and stole the materials to build his famous yacht, Ngataki, to the many adventures he and his mates had around the atols and islands of the South Pacific, South Sea Vagabonds is much more than just a ripping yarn; it is a heartfelt hymn to the possibility of living a free life, of being the master of one's own destiny. As such it has touched the souls of countless readers since its first publication in 1939.