Alan John Villiers

Alan John Villiers was an author, adventurer, photographer and mariner. Born in Melbourne, Australia, Villiers first went to sea at age 15 and sailed on board traditionally rigged vessels, including the full-rigged ship Joseph Conrad. He commanded square-rigged ships for films, including Moby Dick and Billy Budd. He also commanded the Mayflower II on its voyage from the United Kingdom to the United States. Villiers wrote 44 books, and served as the Chairman of the Society for Nautical Research, a Trustee of the National Maritime Museum, and Governor of the Cutty Sark Preservation Society. He was awarded the British Distinguished Service Cross as a Commander in the Royal Naval Reserve during the Second World War. Villiers dies at 78 in March 1982. Born in Melbourne, Australia, Villiers first went to sea at age 15 and sailed on board traditionally rigged vessels, including the full-rigged ship Joseph Conrad. He commanded square-rigged ships for films, including Moby Dick and Billy Budd. He also commanded the Mayflower II on its voyage from the United Kingdom to the United States. Villiers wrote 44 books, and served as the Chairman of the Society for Nautical Research, a Trustee of the National Maritime Museum, and Governor of the Cutty Sark Preservation Society. He was awarded the British Distinguished Service Cross as a Commander in the Royal Naval Reserve during the Second World War. Villiers dies at 78 in March 1982.

Sons of Sindbad: The Photographs

by Alan John Villiers

Currently out of stock.

Alan Villiers had already made a name for himself as a maritime adventurer in the 1920s and 1930s because, unusually, he combined his maritime skills with a great talent as a pioneering photojournalist. In 1938, when he first went to Arabia, he had just completed an epic three-year voyage around the world in his three-masted schooner, Joseph Conrad. He travelled to Arabia because he was certain that he was living through the last days of sail and was determined to record as much of the as he was able. It seemed to him, after two decades at sea, that ‘as pure sailing craft carrying on their unspoilt ways, only the Arab remained’.

Sons of Sindbad

by Alan John Villiers

Currently out of stock.

Alan Villiers (1903–82), the Australian sailor and maritime historian, first made a name for himself as an adventurer in the 1920s and 1930s by combining his seafaring skills with his talent as a pioneering photojournalist. He visited Arabia in 1938 because he was certain that he was living through the last days of sail, and was determined to record as much of them as he was able.