Caliban's Shore: The Wreck of the Grosvenor and the Strange Fate of Her Survivors

Unlike a few of the other reviewers/readers, I thought Mr. Taylor was a brilliant storyteller. How else to explain why I couldn't put this book down and had trouble falling asleep at night thinking about it? It is the rare storyteller that can keep you enthralled when the outcome is a foregone conclusion.I believe that it is precisely the addition of historically relevant exposition, intermingled with tidbits of human drama, that make this story so much more than the otherwise grim tale of "they sailed, they shipwrecked, they died." I learned a great deal of history and perspective about the time period. I found the story fascinating. It did take me awhile to become gripped by the tale (having to be introduced to all the major characters got a bit confusing early on), but even in this, Mr. Taylor uses his prose to gently remind us of who they are as the story progresses. By the end, I was saddened that we couldn't know more about most of them. I felt I had shared a part of their life and loss, and I was moved by the stories of people that became a small and tragic bit of history.

This was a fascinating read. I'd never heard of this ship wreck which happened on the coast of Africa in 1782. The book not only covers the sinking of the ship and the fate of the survivors, but it also tells you a lot about their lives and the times they lived in. Some reviewers have called this a drawback, but it was all very interesting to me. It is detailed without being too long. If you like historical tales, this is a good one.

This book describes a ship wreck that occurred because of the absence of navigation devices and determination of longitude. This particular voyage ended with a ship wreck on the coast of Africa. The survivors, of course, had no way of knowing where they were and how to rescue themselves. A good share of the survivors were members of the crew who set off to search for supplies and rescue. This shipwreck occurred before the idea of women and children first. When searchers arrived, they found some had died, others had left and others became members of African communities in the area.

I really can't add much to the glowing reviews of this superb book. Suffice it to say that the author, Stephen Taylor, uses a shipwreck on the Transkei coast as a springboard to reconstruct an entire world -- the world of 18th century seafaring, Pondo tribal life, the politics of the East India Company, European racial and sexual phobias, and more. His writing is flawless, whether describing African scenery or the interior lives of long-dead people. "Caliban's Shore" is a small masterpiece of historical and imaginative recreation. Six stars.

The story gets of to a slow start and hardly gets off the ground. The only reason I gave it three stars was because the author put a lot of effort into writing a factual book. A very sad and tragic story.

An excellent book that really makes you wonder

Nothing strange here. All but a handful died.While the build-up to the wreck was interesting and well written with lots of colorful background - once the passengers find themselves on land the information dries up, the story telling falters. Half way through the book you learn that only about 5 or 6 of the crew survive and then the rest of the book is a hodgepodge of speculation as to whether of not some of the passengers might have survived and lived on in Africa.I bought this (used) based upon the reviews. It was probably worth the $2 or $3 I spent.

Well researched dramatic events engrossingly related

Bought when I was in one of those moods also bought wreck of the Grosvenor, interesting and informative very interesting if little known tale of survival, or lack of it in Victorian times.

Terrific. Signed by the author.

Great read - an amazing story and all the more interesting by being about real events.

I order boo, book come , I happy!

Good quality book