At the peak of his writing career in 1906, after having written much of his most outstanding work, Jack London decided - very much encouraged by his wife Charmian London - to build the sturdy little 45-foot (13.7 meters) two-masted schooner The Snark and to embark with his small crew of 6, including himself and Charmian, on a trip around the world that was intended to last a full seven years. One of the best-known writers in the world by this time, he had made it known through newspaper interviews that he was looking for volunteers to join the crew, and this account of the very adventurous - and dangerous - voyage of the small yacht to Hawai and then throughout the south Pacific on an extensive visit of the myriad South Sea islands was written by a young 20-year-old who had successfully applied for the job as cook. Martin Johnson was also a keen photographer and his lively account of that fascinating expedition contained many extraordinary photos of a bygone world of remote aboriginal peoples that have practically disappeared from the face of the earth since.