MY LIVELY LADY.**

UK,8vo HB+dw/dj,1st edn.FINE/FINE.No owner inscrptn,and no price-clip to dw/dj.Bright,crisp,clean,glossy laminated,colour scenic seascape photographic illustrated dw/dj; with negligible shelf-wear and creasing to edges and corners - no major nicks or tears present.Top edge coloured,fore-edges slightly aged,but generally clean; contents bright,tight and clean - no dog-ear reading creases to any pages' corners.Bright,clean,publisher's original, plain dark blue cloth boards with bright,crisp,stamped gilt printer's device to lower corner of upper and letters to spine/backstrip with clean,immaculate blue+white scenic photographic illustrated free endpapers,blue+white map illustrated rear endpapers.UK,8vo HB+ dw/dj,1st edn,vpp+1-193pp [paginated] includes acknowledgements,author introduction,Pts 1+2,24pp mixed b/w+ colour photographs in 3 blocks of 8pp apiece,between pp2/3, pp66/7 and pp130/1 respectively,7 b/w maps (one double-page) throughout the text,double-page b/w cutaway drawing of Lively Lady and 5 other b/w drawings throughout the text,appendices(4), plus [unpaginated] half-title+title pages,contents,plates+maps and drawings lists/tables.A superb,sound,solid copy in excellent condition. Here is Alec Rose's own story which includes two heroines,Lively Lady his boat,and Dorothy his wife.He tells it in his own words and writes of his early days,first as a rather delicate youngster,and then of his ventures in market gardening and of how he took to the sea.He describes how he came to race single-handed across the Atlantic and how he gradually built up the plans towards his life's ambition of a voyage alone round Cape Horn.Sailing forth the first time on his single-handed circumnavigation of the world he was setback by a chapter of disasters,but he doggedly carried on with his plan.He set out once more and,after weathering many gales, and nearly being dismasted,his Lively Lady arrived safely in Melbourne.The yacht suffered damage again in the storms of the Southern Ocean,so he turned into New Zealand for repairs before taking on the Horn itself.He goes on to tell of his voyage home from the Horn; when as day succeeded day he had been on his own at sea for five whole months since leaving New Zealand,and 318 days at sea since leaving Portsmouth.He concludes with the enthusiastic and joyful welcome at Portsmouth,and then in London where he and Dorothy went to lunch at Buckingham Palace and the Queen knighted him only a few days after his safe return.It is almost a fairy story of a man who inherited no financial wealth but achieved his life's ambition through his own efforts,with no sponsorship,and became an inspiration to millions of people. Backing up Sir Alec's personal story comes Dorothy Rose's amusing description of life in their Southsea house and shop when Alec was away and of his knighthood on his return.Radio Officer Roberts,who first heard the voice of Alec Rose as Lively Lady approached the Horn,contributes a chapter.The region of the Horn is described by Michael Mason;and previous small craft voyages round the world and in the Roaring Forties are recorded by Erroll Bruce.The naval architect D. Phillips-Birt writes of the boat herself and "Blondie" Hasler,who designed the self-steering gear, describes how this works. 'My Lively Lady' is a story of adventure and determination written in Sir Alec's own direct and unassuming style which makes his experiences all the more vivid. Please contact rpaxtonden@blueyonder.co.uk ,for correct shipping/P+p quotes - particularly ALL overseas buyers - BEFORE ordering through the order page!