A Mind at Sea
Henry Fry and the Glorious Era of Quebec's Sailing Ships
Published on 13. February 2014
Book
Paperback/Softback
256 pages
978-1-4597-1929-3 (ISBN)
Description
The trials and tribulations of a Canadian business titan during a fascinating period in 19th-century Quebec.
A Mind at Sea is an intimate window into a vanished time when Canada was among the world's great maritime countries. Between 1856 and 1877, Henry Fry was the Lloyd's agent for the St. Lawrence River, east of Montreal. The harbour coves below his home in Quebec were crammed with immense rafts of cut wood, the river's shoreline sprawled with yards where giant square-rigged ships - many owned by Fry - were built.
As the president of Canada's Dominion Board of Trade, Fry was at the epicentre of wealth and influence. His home city of Quebec served as the capital of the province of Canada, while its port was often the scene of raw criminality. He fought vigorously against the kidnapping of sailors and the dangerous practice of deck loading. He also battled against and overcame his personal demon - mental depression - going on to write many ship histories and essays on U.S.-Canada relations.
Fry was a colourful figure and a reformer who interacted with the famous figures of the day, including Lord and Lady Dufferin, Sir John A. Macdonald, Wilfrid Laurier, and Sir Narcisse-Fortunat Belleau, Quebec's lieutenant-governor.
A Mind at Sea is an intimate window into a vanished time when Canada was among the world's great maritime countries. Between 1856 and 1877, Henry Fry was the Lloyd's agent for the St. Lawrence River, east of Montreal. The harbour coves below his home in Quebec were crammed with immense rafts of cut wood, the river's shoreline sprawled with yards where giant square-rigged ships - many owned by Fry - were built.
As the president of Canada's Dominion Board of Trade, Fry was at the epicentre of wealth and influence. His home city of Quebec served as the capital of the province of Canada, while its port was often the scene of raw criminality. He fought vigorously against the kidnapping of sailors and the dangerous practice of deck loading. He also battled against and overcame his personal demon - mental depression - going on to write many ship histories and essays on U.S.-Canada relations.
Fry was a colourful figure and a reformer who interacted with the famous figures of the day, including Lord and Lady Dufferin, Sir John A. Macdonald, Wilfrid Laurier, and Sir Narcisse-Fortunat Belleau, Quebec's lieutenant-governor.
Reviews / Votes
" The first book in English to tell the little-known story of Quebec City's shipbuilding era since.. 1995." * Quebec Chronicle-Telegraph *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Toronto
Canada
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
Illustrations
Dimensions
Height: 227 mm
Width: 162 mm
Thickness: 15 mm
Weight
408 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4597-1929-3 (9781459719293)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
11/2013
Dundurn Press
€8.49
Available for download
Person
John Fry worked for more than 40 years as a magazine editor at the Times Mirror Company and at the New York Times Company, retiring in 1999. Fry has published many articles on travel, skiing, health, and religion. He is a citizen of Canada as well as the United States, and lives in Katonah, New York.