Book Description
Zebulon Northrop Tilton was a huge cross-eyed schooner captain, born in 1867 on Martha''s Vineyard Island. It is said that he could have sailed the Alice S. Wentworth to Chicago on a heavy dew. His rigorous and celebrated life afloat, his countless shenanigans ashore, his love for women and for his Alice, his enormous skill, strength, and wit form the image of an unmistakably real American folk hero. Zeb and his famous coastal schooner experienced the heyday and the closing of an unforgettable era hauling all manner of freight under sail from New York''s South Street Seaport to the icy Kennebec River in Maine.
Polly Burroughs has faithfully recreated Zeb''s incredible life and times from masses of newspaper accounts and family records, from the words of friends and cronies, and from a wealth of historic photographs, many by Alfred Eisenstaedt and other prominent photographers. The result is the true chronicle of a hard and hearty seafaring life richly and colorfully spiced with authentic Yankee humor and with the many personalities who crossed Zeb''s path.
Though Zeb died in 1952, his legend lives on, not only in this remarkable biography but also in two folk songs, a Martha''s Vineyard country store named after him, and the countless admirers who keep his memory alive. While depicting an island icon, this book also offers a portrait of Martha''s Vineyard around the turn of the twentieth century and a panoramic look at several decades of northeastern coastal life and the shipping trade.
About the Author
Polly Burroughs, an award-winning author, has been a resident of Martha''s Vineyard for many years. She has written many books about the Vineyard and neighboring Nantucket, including Guide to Martha''s Vineyard and Guide to Nantucket.
Zeb: Celebrated Schooner Captain of Martha's Vineyard FROM THE PUBLISHER
Zebulon Northrop Tilton was a huge cross-eyed schooner captain, born in 1867 on Martha's Vineyard Island, who, it is said, could have sailed the Alice S. Wentworth to Chicago on a heavy dew. His rigorous and celebrated life afloat, his countless shenanigans ashore, his love for women and for his Alice, his enormous skill, strength and wit form the image of an unmistakably real American folk hero. Zeb and his famous coastal schooner experienced the heyday and the closing of an unforgettable era hauling all manner of freight under sail from New York's South Street Seaport to the icy Kennebec River in Maine.
Polly Burroughs has faithfully recreated his incredible life and times from masses of newspaper accounts and family records, from the words of friends and cronies, and from a wealth of historic photographs, many by Alfred Eisenstaedt and other prominent photographers. The result is the true chronicle of a hard and hearty seafaring life richly and colorfully spiced with authentic Yankee humor and with the many personalities who crossed Zeb's path.
Though Zeb died in 1952, his legend lives on, not only in this remarkable biography but also in two folk songs, a Martha's Vineyard country store named after him, and the countless admirers who keep his memory alive. While depicting an island icon, this book also offers a portrait of Martha's Vineyard around the turn of the century and a panoramic look at several decades of northeastern coastal life and the shipping trade.
Art & Photography
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