Racing Through Paradise: A Pacific Passage [First Edition, First Printing] Buckley, Jr., William F.

Fine unread condition navy blue cloth boards with gold front cover and spine lettering contained in a fine condition non price-clipped color photographic dust jacket. Includes List of Other Books by William F. Buckley, Jr on Experiences at Sea; Author Dedication; Acknowledgments; Prologue; Epilogue and Index. Profusely illustrated with three sections of color photographic plates plus numerous black-and-white photographs and maps interspersed throughout the volume. "Racing Through Paradise is the third entry in Bill Buckley's now classic sailing trilogy. In the best-selling Airborne, he introduced us to his special style of seagoing: episodes of high adventure and high spirits, occasional hardships, companionship, and such luxuries as a sailing craft can hope to have. In Atlantic High, another critically acclaimed best seller, he furthered the form. Now Buckley takes his son, his friends, and his reader to another ocean, on a four-thousand -mile run across the Pacific. Each Buckley voyage is distinctive, yet each is an enhancement of earlier journeys. And a journey with Buckley is inevitably an expedition into oddly assorted experiences and comedy, into observation and illumination - into wit and reflection, and into friendships that overcome friction. Here the irrepressible, eloquent, enjoyable Buckley guides us through his beloved Azores, and through the Galapagos ("the Bronx Zoo at the Equator") about which he includes more to Melville's view than to Darwin's, and through places such as Johnston Atoll, where mysteries and hostilities await. On a hilarious side adventure, we have a memorable encounter with "The Angel of Craig's Point." Some of these episodes were previewed in Life and The New Yorker. Along the way, Buckley navigates among pleasant diversions as well as unforeseen navigatonal and philosophical shoals. He adroitly excerpts the candid journals of his shipmates, notably that of his son, Christopher, himself a best-selling novelist. The fine photographs by Christopher Little illustrate throughout. When Buckley's Sealestial sails, finally, into New Guinea, we have shared a unique experience with a special breed of sailor, skipper, host, friend, and human being." - from the inner front and rear jacket flaps.