THE GODS WERE KIND

by William Willis ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 21, 1955

William Willis' account of his 6700 mile solo pilgrimage across the Pacific from Callao to Samoa takes in both the physical and psychical aspects of an extraordinary Journey. Determined to test himself in the solitary confinement of sea and sky, interested in providing insights to means of oceanic preservation if possible, Willie started out at sixty-one in 1951 on the voyage which had been on his mind for several years while he shipped on the Atlantic. He tells of his preparations -- his search for the balsa logs to become his ""Seven Little Sisters"", his rigging of the craft, his provisions in the way of barley meal, raw sugar, coffee, water and whatnot, his radio transmitter. On the Journey itself there are moments of suspense and spirituality -- he faces death in many guises. There is the battle with a shark that pulls him overboard; the discovery that his Peruvian springwater has leaked from tins, his turning to rain and to salt water for survival; a terrifying struggle with overpowering illness; Herculean effort in the face of hurricane and later of an evil coast. Finally there is American Samoa and welcome and acclaim. The quality of this book is essentially different from that of Kon Tiki with which it will doubtless be compared, for while problems of equipping and incidents on the ocean give outward semblances of similarity, the differences are more important. Thor Heyerdahl and his crew were interested in testing a scientific premise, Willis a spiritual one. Quieter, more meditative, this has moments of affecting writing.

Pub Date: Oct. 21, 1955

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Dutton

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 1955

Categories: NONFICTION