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A Flick of Sunshine: The Remarkable Shipwrecked, Marooned, Maritime Adventures, and Tragic Fate of an American Original
The true and remarkable life of Richard Willis (Will) Jackson, an intrepid seaman from one of the leading shipbuilding families in 19th century Maine, whose exploits and adventures in the oceans of the world would rival characters straight out of the lives and imaginations of Joseph Conrad and Jack London. Will Jackson survived a harrowing shipwreck in the Marshall Islands, being washed overboard rounding Cape Horn and running down Alaskan glaciers over a tragically shortened life that ended in a most bizarre and pedestrian incident on the eve of realizing his life’s appointment as master of a ship. After nine months of sometimes perilous life among natives in the South Sea islands in 1884, captured in chapters of a book he helped write, Jackson served on a series of large ships and coastal schooners – all based in the post-Gold Rush boomtown of San Francisco – that took him up and down the west coast from Alaska to Mexico and to the four corners of the earth. His faithful letters to his family in Maine and a diary provide a colorful background for a compelling portrait of an extraordinary young man of character and independent spirit, intellect and curiosity, no small ambition and that most admirable of traits, an abiding sense of humor.
208 pages, Hardcover
Published March 15, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 19, 2022
Brendan’s Alternate Tagline for A Flick of Sunshine: If your boat gets shipwrecked, never sail again.
Quick synopsis: A biography of Richard Willis Jackson who had some of the most amazing bad luck and good luck simultaneously.
Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Coconut milk was used by islanders in the Pacific when they had no fresh water on their islands.
Fun Fact for History Nerds: Maine contributed the most soldiers to the Civil War (per capita).
My Take on A Flick of Sunshine: At one point in this book, the authors state that Richard Willis (Will) Jackson was an optimist by nature. This is by far the biggest understatement I have read in a book in a long time.
Jackson’s seafaring life is a chronicle of a man who sees hardship and refuses to quit or wallow. At one point, the ship he is serving on is smashed on a small, uninhabited island in the middle of the Pacific. This is bad news. Very quickly, natives from another island come upon the wreck and help the crew. This is good news! Fast forward a little bit and Will is ultimately left behind by the entire crew with some elderly natives. Don’t worry, this isn’t a spoiler. It is only the first three pages of the book. Will would have many more adventures. I won’t spoil them. This is a quick read with a lot of crazy stories.
Verdict: A fun and very quick read. Anyone who enjoys a good adventure story will love it. Buy it here!
Quick synopsis: A biography of Richard Willis Jackson who had some of the most amazing bad luck and good luck simultaneously.
Fun Fact Non-History People Will Like: Coconut milk was used by islanders in the Pacific when they had no fresh water on their islands.
Fun Fact for History Nerds: Maine contributed the most soldiers to the Civil War (per capita).
My Take on A Flick of Sunshine: At one point in this book, the authors state that Richard Willis (Will) Jackson was an optimist by nature. This is by far the biggest understatement I have read in a book in a long time.
Jackson’s seafaring life is a chronicle of a man who sees hardship and refuses to quit or wallow. At one point, the ship he is serving on is smashed on a small, uninhabited island in the middle of the Pacific. This is bad news. Very quickly, natives from another island come upon the wreck and help the crew. This is good news! Fast forward a little bit and Will is ultimately left behind by the entire crew with some elderly natives. Don’t worry, this isn’t a spoiler. It is only the first three pages of the book. Will would have many more adventures. I won’t spoil them. This is a quick read with a lot of crazy stories.
Verdict: A fun and very quick read. Anyone who enjoys a good adventure story will love it. Buy it here!
December 9, 2021
A fascinating adventure about Richard Willis Jackson, the son of Andrew Jackson. What a life for a young man, sailing the high seas all over the world. I see history lessons and geography lessons from this book, especially for middle school/high school students. This book is well researched and describes action at sea and historical events in America and abroad. So much potential for a learning experience. Thank you Net Galley for a very wonderful read!
March 21, 2022
Very enjoyable and informative…..amazing tales with supporting evidence both pictorial and written.
July 3, 2022
Met the authors when we were in Maine. So nice. This book was incredible. What a life well lived. I did not expect the ending. Very well written and engaging!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews