A fond de cale by Mayne Reid

(12 User reviews)   5850
By Ashley Gutierrez Posted on Dec 11, 2025
In Category - Environment
Reid, Mayne, 1818-1883 Reid, Mayne, 1818-1883
French
Hey, have you heard of this wild adventure story from the 1800s? 'A Fond de Cale' (which means 'In the Hold' in French) is about a young man who gets shanghaied—kidnapped to work on a ship—and wakes up trapped below deck. It’s a survival story set entirely in the dark, cramped belly of a sailing ship. The main character has to figure out who took him, why, and how to get out before the ship reaches its destination. It’s claustrophobic, tense, and reads like an old-school thriller. If you like stories about ordinary people in impossible situations, you’ll be hooked from the first page.
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Hon. C. E. Yeater read and criticised the original manuscript. Miss M. W. Sproull revised the translations. Dean Francisco Benitez acted as pedagogical adviser. Miss Gertrude McVenn simplified the language for primary school use. Mr. John C. Howe adapted and arranged the music. Mr. Frederic H. Stevens planned the make-up and, in spite of wartime difficulties, provided the materials needed. Mr. Chas. A. Kvist supervised the production. Mr. C. H. Noronha, who, in 1897, in his Hongkong magazine Odds and Ends, first published Rizal's farewell poem "My Last Thought", was the careful and obliging proofreader. Assistant Insular Architect Juan Arellano, a colleague of the editor on the Dapitan Rizal national park committee, designed the sampaguita decorations. Mr. A. Garcia achieved creditable illustrations out of poorly preserved photographs whose historical accuracy has not been impaired by the slightest embellishment. And the entire establishment of Messrs. E.C. McCullough & Company--printers, pressmen and bookbinders--labored zealously and enthusiastically to do credit to the imprint: "Made in Manila--The Work of Filipinos". The Memory of Rizal is kept alive in many ways: 1. A province near Manila bears his name. 2. The anniversary of his death is a public holiday. 3. A memorial school has been built by the Insular Government in his native town. 4. His home in exile has been made a national park. 5. The first destroyer of the future Philippine navy is named "Rizal". 6. Rizal's portrait appears on the two-peso bill. 7. Rizal's portrait appears on the two-centavo postage stamp. ILLUSTRATIONS Page Rizal's pencil sketch of himself 1 Rizal at 14 4 Rizal's painting of his sister Saturnina 6 Rizal's portrait on Philippine postage and money 8 Rizal's home, Kalamba 12 Rizal's mother and two of his sisters 16 Clay model of dog and cayman combat 17 Where Rizal went to school in Biñan 18 Rizal monument, Biñan 24 Santa Rosa Gate, on Biñan-Kalamba road 26 Model of a Dapitan woman at work 28 Rizal's uncle 29 Rizal's uncle's home in Biñan 30 Guardia Civil soldier 31 Rizal's mother 33 Rizal's father 34 One of Rizal's teachers, Terracotta bust by Rizal 36 Padre Sanchez, Rizal's favorite teacher in the Ateneo 37 Carving of the Sacred Heart, made by Rizal in the Ateneo 44 Wooden bust of Rizal's father 45 Rizal at 18 48 Rizal's sacrifice of his life 57 Professor Burgos 58 The lake shore at Kalamba 60 A Manila school girl, drawn by Rizal 62 Rizal in Paris 64 Rizal at 30 66 Crayon portrait of Rizal's cousin Leonore 70 Dapitan plaza and townhall 80 Wooden medallion of Mrs. José Rizal 84 Chalk pipehead, Rizal's last modeling 86 Rizal at 27 90 Manila skyline, sketched by Rizal 92 Rizal at 22 104 Rizal at 24 106 Rizal at 26 108 Rizal at 28, from a group picture 110 Rizal at 28, profile 114 Rizal Mausoleum, Luneta, Manila 118 Noli Me Tangere manuscript-cover design, by Rizal 120 El Filibusterismo manuscript-cover, lettered by Rizal 121 Portrait of Rizal at time of finishing El Filibusterismo 121 Los Baños house where El Filibusterismo was begun, drawn by Rizal 121 Diploma of Merit awarded Rizal for allegory "The Council of the Gods" 123 Silver pen prize won by Rizal for poem "To Philippine Youth" 125 Alcohol lamp in which Rizal hid poem "My Last Thought" 125 CONTENTS Handwritten quote: It is commonly said that the life of a good writer is best read in his works. --Autographic quotation from Rizal. Page Rizal's Song "Hymn to Labor" 2 Rizal's Song "Maria Clara's Lullaby" 3 My Boyhood 13 My First Reading Lesson 49 My Childhood Impressions 59...

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Let's set the scene: it's the 19th century, and a young man finds himself in serious trouble. One minute he's on solid ground, the next he's waking up with a pounding head in pitch darkness. He's been drugged and thrown into the cargo hold of a ship already at sea. The door is locked. The crew above has no idea he's there. His only company is the creaking of the ship and his own rising panic. The story follows his fight to stay sane, find a way to signal for help, and survive on scraps while figuring out the motives of his captors.

Why You Should Read It

This book is a masterclass in building tension with very little. The entire world is a dark, smelly wooden box. Reid makes you feel every splinter and hear every wave hitting the hull. It’s less about swashbuckling action and more about the raw nerves of a trapped mind. You're right there with the hero, trying to solve the puzzle of his kidnapping with almost no clues. It’s surprisingly modern in its focus on psychological suspense.

Final Verdict

Perfect for anyone who loves a tight, nerve-wracking survival story. If you enjoyed the trapped feeling of movies like 'Buried' or the classic adventure spirit of Robert Louis Stevenson, you’ll find a lot to love here. It’s a short, gripping ride from a time when adventure novels were the blockbusters. Just be warned: you might feel the urge to check your own basement after reading.



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Andrew Allen
5 months ago

Surprisingly enough, the flow of the text seems very fluid. One of the best books I've read this year.

Margaret Jones
1 year ago

From the very first page, the author's voice is distinct and makes complex topics easy to digest. Exceeded all my expectations.

Steven Johnson
1 year ago

I came across this while browsing and the narrative structure is incredibly compelling. Highly recommended.

Lucas Gonzalez
7 months ago

Without a doubt, the character development leaves a lasting impact. I will read more from this author.

Aiden Harris
6 months ago

To be perfectly clear, the storytelling feels authentic and emotionally grounded. Highly recommended.

4.5
4.5 out of 5 (12 User reviews )

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