America's Victory

How a Team of Ordinary Americans Won the Greatest Yacht Race Ever

By: David W. Shaw

Narrated by: Patrick Cullen

Set against the backdrop of the first world's fair in London, America's Victory takes listeners into a world rich in adventure and history in an unforgettable story of skill, daring, and honor at the heart of our national identity.

In 1850, a brilliant young boat designer and an unlikely team of humble, hard working men faced the might and arrogance of the British empire in a yacht race for The Great Exhibition in England. Revolutionary in design and strikingly beautiful, the schooner America set sail against the world's greatest maritime nation.

This is an account of an amazing feat accomplished long ago at the turning point in the growth of a young nation's confidence, but it is also the story of a victory of the American spirit that bravely lives on today.

©2002 David W. Shaw (P)2003 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"A sailing epic masterfully told with emphasis in all the right places." (Kirkus Reviews)
"A fascinating sports story....Cullen's semi-voiced presentation stirs the emotions, yet his smooth performance also allows the listener to focus on the action." (Kliatt)
"A historical adventure containing all the elements readers love: underdogs, danger, a Dirty Dozen-like assembling of the crew, and of course, a happy ending. Wonderful reading." (Booklist)

Prior knowledge of sailing lingo may help.

Let me start by saying I know nothing about sailing. I started reading the book primarily because I like history and was looking for details on what the yacht and race meant to the relationship between Great Britain and the US. While there was some of this, it wasn't the primary focus. 3/4 of the book is about the building of the yacht and sailing it from NY to the English Channel. The last quarter was devoted to the race itself and the historical perspective I was originally seeking. A sailing enthusiast may get more entertainment from the first 3/4 as there is a lot of description of the boat and voyage. Prior knowledge of sailing lingo will definitely enhance enjoyment. It will help the reader visualize how they manuever the sails and manage the wind etc. As someone that know nothing of sailing, these three quarters of the book might have made a better movie as I would have been able to see it instead of read about the what they did with the jib, gaffe and toppsle. I dont really know what that stuff is exactly. Character development in the book is not extraordinary. In the end I did develop an appreciation for the sport, the America's Cup and how the race served as an exhibition of US strength again Great Britain's naval supremacy.