Farewell Mr Puffin

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What to expect

Bloomsbury presents Farewell Mr Puffin by Paul Heiney, read by Hugh Kermode.

It would be hard to imagine a more thoughtful, intelligent and companionable person to go to sea with than Paul Heiney.' Bill Bryson

'High comedy on the high seas. Informative and warm and freezing. It's quite a combination.' Griff Rhys Jones

The writer and broadcaster Paul Heiney set sail from the east coast of England bound for Iceland, propelled by a desire to breathe the cool, clear air of the high latitudes, and to follow in the wake of generations of sailors who have made this often treacherous journey since the 13th century. In almost every harbour he tripped over maritime history and anecdote, and came face to face with his own past as he sailed north along his childhood coastline of east Yorkshire towards the Arctic Circle.

But there was one major thing missing from this voyage – the sight of puffins. They are remarkable birds, uplifting as a ray of sunshine after a storm. To see them and share their waters was also part of Heiney’s ambition. Imagine then his disappointment when, first, no puffins appeared off the Farne Islands, then none to be seen on puffin hotspots like Orkney. When he failed to see puffins on Iceland, Heiney still held out the hope that he would see the 'joker of the seas'.

With inspiring travel writing, social and maritime history, and good-humoured reflections on his sailing journey, Heiney brings us this delightful book – a love letter to the puffin, to Iceland and the north, and to the pure pleasure of being at sea.

Critics Review

It would be hard to imagine a more thoughtful, intelligent and companionable person to go to sea with than Paul Heiney.
Bill Bryson
High comedy on the high seas. Informative and warm and freezing. It's quite a combination.
Griff Rhys Jones
Funny and perceptive
Country Life
An exciting read... Heiney’s chatty, ‘warts and all’ narrative style lends especial charm to the tale, giving you the feeling that he is retelling his story over a pint in front of a log fire.
On: Yorkshire Magazine
A consummate storyteller... being at sea and overcoming the challenges of time, tide and stormy weather make this an entertaining and informative read.
Towpath Talk
A captivating and humorous travel narrative, Farewell Mr Puffin is rich with the natural, social and maritime history of many ports of call, and the lives of folks inhabiting these remote places.
Windcheck Magazine
This book, infused with humour, anecdotes and stacks of maritime history, is a travel writer’s love letter to one of the world’s most popular seabirds together with observations of the simplest pleasures to be found at sea.
Coast Magazine
A tonic for the sailing reader’s soul: part adventure, part travelogue, part character study and all heart. Heiney wraps it all up in the perfect package.
Sailing Magazine
A very enjoyable read...I would very highly recommend it.
Shipping Magazine
The maritime counterpart to Bill Bryson: by turns evocative, entertaining and though-provoking.
Practical Boat Owner
A good-humoured portrait of life on the ocean waves.
Bury and West Suffolk Magazine
This ode to life at sea by writer and broadcaster Paul Heiney will have you dreaming of Iceland's storied shores from which he set sail while searching for the iconic puffins. Though Heiney fails to see his beloved birds, he finds meaning as he reflects on his travels, peppered throughout with maritime history and humor.
Newsweek
Humorous and thoughtful, Paul skilfully tells stories of encounters with people and places, painting a vivid picture of his journey. In Farewell Mr Puffin he weaves together the history of the lands with a story of altered biodiversity, and paints a picture of an ever challenging and changing landscape and adaptable peoples.
Flying Fish
An entertaining, well-written and very readable book for all sailors.
Cruising Association
Paul’s joy of the sea, wildlife and sailing knowledge shine through in this delightful trip around northern waters.
Lifeboat Magazine
The book contains excellent advice and humorous observations for those sailing to Iceland: finding protected anchorages, weather forecasts, clearing in, staying warm, and the cost of basic supplies.
Cruising World

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