the essential
Former sailor and journalist Patrick Benoiton publishes a vibrant and poetic book on Cape Horn, paying tribute to his brother who died at sea.
It’s a peak. What am I saying, it’s a Cap. And not just any one: the famous Cape Horn! Soon, the sailors taking part in the Vendée Globe race will face it. It is also with whom Patrick Benoiton confronted himself during the writing of his new book, A History of Cape Hornpublished by Glénat, which he dedicated to his brother Philippe, who recently disappeared at sea.
Passionate about sailing since his childhood, then an informed and experienced sailor, he once again combines two of his passions: the world of navigation and writing. Arriving in the Lot in 2021, he rediscovered a department that he has known very well since 2004, the date of the publication of his game book to explore this territory. Living in Quercy, he found ideal conditions for writing there. Currently retired from journalism, he has converted to psycho-corporeal therapy. But the boats are never far from him thanks to various projects, such as the writing of this book on Cape Horn.
A captivating cape
This Cape is part of the collective imagination: proof of this is the large number of quotes found in literature, from Jules Verne to Darwin, via Sepúlveda. The author specifies that this Cape Horn, which he describes as captivating, dominates the oceans at 425 m and has been inhabited by the Yagans for 10,000 years. These stories are opportunities to address geography, biology, history, but also poetry, discoveries and emotions.
The writing is passionate, captivating, and becomes poetic when he recounts the flight of the wandering albatross or the Andean condor. These unique stories of women, men, territories, fauna and flora intertwine for a humanity that lives, but remains fragile in the face of current climatic challenges. A History of Cape Horn is a vibrant tribute to human solidarity and the preservation of the environment. The in-depth research work, documented and illustrated, enriched with anecdotes and details, makes this work accessible to both initiates and all the curious.
Patrick Benoiton will anchor Friday December 13 at the Racine bookstore, in Prayssac, to meet his readers.
Books
