Book Reviews

International Guild of Knot Tyers

 VASA II, Rigging and Sailing a Swedish Warship of 1628, Part 1 The Material Remains and Archaeological Context, Fred Hocker (Ed).

 (Hardback, 472 pages) Nordic Academic Press, Lund. (ISBN: 9789188909114), UK price £75.00

At last, after very many years, this serious book from Vasa Museum has been published, edited by their Technical Director, Fred Hocker. There are chapters on: Hull furniture, Spars, Tops, Tackle, Rope, Sails, Capstans and windlass, Anchors and anchor gear,Whipstaff, and Navigation. The text is all in English and very well illustrated, with 5 pages of references.

For me, one of the highlight chapters is Rope (58 pages), on ropemaking by the late Ole Magnus, almost all on ropemaking entirely byhand, before any kind of machine. Ole spent the last year of his life (he was dying of leukaemia) studying the ropes on the Vasa and putting together all he knew (in Danish). His work had then to be translated and edited: a worthy memorial.

Chapter 7, Sails (47 pages), contains work by IGKT member, the late Louie Bartos. Indeed the chapter is the fruit of a collaboration of almost 50 years, others contributing to that chapter being Sam Svensson, Sven Bengtsson and Ole Magnus, sadly all no longer alive to see the fruits of their years of study.

Also of interest to me and perhaps to members, is Chapter 5, Tackle, detailing the blocks used on VASA II (97 pages).

Be aware that this is not a “how to” book in any way, but a book on details and techniques and sources, all in the context of that incredible time capsule that is VASA II. A major reference work.

For such a big academic book the price is very good and the quality of production and illustration very high. I find that some academic publications are overpriced and poorly produced. This one is not.

I look forward to Vasa II (Part 2).

— Des Pawson