The Cruise of the Snark

by Jack London

“Why not come along now?” said Captain Jansen to us, at Penduffryn, on the island of Guadelcanar. Charmian and I looked at each other and debated silently for half a minute. Then we nodded our heads simultaneously. ‘You’d better bring your revolvers along, and a couple of rifles’ said Captain Jansen. ‘I’ve got five rifles aboard, though the one Mauser is without ammunition. Have you a few rounds to spare?’”

Jack London, one of the most popular American writers, produced over 50 books of fiction and nonfiction during his lifetime. In 1906, without studying navigation, he and his wife Charmian and a small crew set out for Hawaii, hoping not to get lost. His misadventures at sea led him through the native uprisings, The Doldrums, and the then unknown sport of surfing.

Jack London describes the construction and outfitting of his boat in San Francisco, including frustrations with vendors, with which every boat owner will sympathize. London narrates his adventures in Hawaii, his perilous navigation across the Pacific sailing through the windless doldrums to the Marquesas Islands, Typee, Papeete, Raiatea, Bora Bora, Fiji, Samoa and The Solomon Islands, before being overcome by tropical diseases and fever. This first person narrative, the first recording as an audio book, combines London s spirit of adventure with his wonderful sense of humor.

“For entertainment’s sake, Stojka’s grandfatherly timbre and whimsical tone make the audiobook lively and easy to follow for young listeners. It’s easy to fall into his narrative rhythm, especially with the occasional background sound effects such as birds or splashing water. ” – Audiofile Magazine

Read by Andre Stojka

Andre Stojka, known for his rich characterizations and his creative interpretation of the written word, has been a major voice over actor for over 30 years. His voice is heard in motion pictures, television, radio, videos, commercials and recorded books. Some of his best known voices are the voice of Owl in Disney’s Winnie the Pooh movies and videos, the voice of Ernie Keebler the Keebler Cookie Elf, The King in Disney’s Cinderella videos, and Starlight in the Rainbow Bright television series.