The Best of Days

A memoir of the sea

By: Harry Nicholson

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

Here is a memoir of journeys into deep waters on merchant ships. There are tranquil tropical harbours and violent storms far from shore. We are in the wireless room when ships are calling for help. The story begins with humble origins on the coast of County Durham surrounded by family still coming to terms with the Great War. The author's father went to war on horseback, yet in this memoir we are on the brink of the modern world. The writer was fortunate to join the Merchant Navy in the 1950s, and know its most glorious days. Harry Nicholson now lives near Whitby, on the Yorkshire coast. Volume two of the memoir is 'You'll See Wonders'. In 2021 a third volume is in process. His other books are Tom Fleck, a Tudor novel of Cleveland and Flodden, and its sequel The Black Caravel. His collected poetry is suitably titled, Wandering About.

Sea legs...

I enjoyed it. I'm a sucker for merchant marine memoirs. This is a sweet and well-written book. Light on story-arc but rich in moments. Sometimes the AI narration is jarringly incorrect with pronunciations and emphasis but it doesn't take you out of the story too much once you get used to it. I'd enjoy having a pint with the author. He seems like a thoughtful observer of the world around him, Thanks for putting your pen to paper, Harry!

A brilliant memoir/travelogue must read

The level of description and the clever weaving of history into this narrative is nothing short of brilliant. It follows the author's life off and mostly on the seas where the life of a merchant sailor is seen through young eyes.
The descriptions flow seamlessly throughout, carrying the reader to exotic ports in Europe, Africa, and Asia. Set largely in the 1950s the author takes us to a dance hall in post-war England where we meet his future wife at a dance. ITs warm and touching.
All of this is accomplished in a prose so rich I could hardly believe it is the work of a contemporary author.
Bravo, Mr. Nicholson. This is a book to be cherished!

Interesting history. Working class boy gets lucky break. Great adventures. Nice family.

It would have been nice if it were much longer but it was still a good story well told.