Dove

Dove research papers on the travel adventure book by Robin Lee Graham illustrate many important facts about the autobiographical story written by Graham. Have Paper Masters explicate this work of literature for you.

The book Dove, by Robin Lee Graham, is a travel adventure book that fulfills its purpose of exciting and informing the reader about what it is like to sail around the world solo. Robin Lee Graham wrote the book Dove after his trip around the world to record his incredible life/journey and share what he learned about the power of nature, courage and the inner strength he did not think he possessed. Within the book, Graham tells why he writes he sails and, hence, most likely why he wrote the book as an explanation of his adventurous spirit.

The book Dove is an important work of literature for the following reasons:

• Dove is a coming of age story in the genre of travel literature
• Dove is one of the most well-known travel stories of the 20th Century
• Dove is also a psychological investigation as to why people travel the world for adventure

Dove and Youth

I wanted to look at the world, at the people and places, without being a tourist. I wanted personal freedom. I wanted to know if I could do something alone, something really difficult. But somewhere deep in my mind I felt there was another reason and that had something to do with fate and destiny.

The structure of the book is written as a narrative and begins with reflection on his youth. This is very effective because it helps the reader understand his passion for sailing and boats. Graham writes, "It [sailing] was the chance to be alone and to be as free for a while as the sea gulls that swung around Morro Rock". Graham then begins recounting the mischievous adventure he and his friends took when they attempted to sail around the world, ran into terrifying weather conditions and landed in Hawaii, trying to escape from their failure and returning home. The sea defeated the other boys, but Graham would not let go of his dream to sail the world.

Plot and Dove

The main ideas of the book rest in the journey Graham set off on in his 24-foot sloop, Dove, the inspiration for the title of the book. Leaving San Pedro, California in 1965, Graham began his journey with his courage and his cats in tact aboard Dove. The sea would take his cats and his courage would be tried by her relentless grip during storms, a fire aboard the boat and unimaginable boredom and loneliness. The highlights of his journey find him riding a scooter around South Africa, swimming in the reefs of Fiji island and enjoying the isolation and beauty that can only be found far from civilization and unreachable by those that are not willing to dare the elements. Graham's personal highlight in the book is most likely his romance with Patti, whom he would later marry, in the Fiji Islands. This is a high point in the book because it lifts Graham from his impossible loneliness and revives his spirit.