Autobiography of John Russell
"Having this in mind for a long time, whether or not I should write my autobiography, I have now decided I should. Therefore, to the best of my ability and knowledge and with God's help, I will try to give my family in particular some idea of how I managed to get to the place where I could stand alone."
- John Russell
About the Author
Ninety-year-old writes his first book!
Nurtured as a boy in a loving home--when times were hard, money scarce and pleasures simple--John Russell grew up in Red Cliff, Bonavista Bay, Newfoundland, shaped by the land he walked through and the sea swept shores.
As a young man he traveled to St. John's and Corner Brook, turning his hand to anything to make an honest living. With his natural intelligence and good basic schooling, he made his way. A spring "at the ice", sailing on schooners, the sea held a strong attraction for him. He was encouraged by his supervisors to work for his Mate's Ticket. Once he had achieved the first rung on the ladder, he went on from there, earning his rank as Captain at the age of 35.
From the northern ice fields to the South Atlantic, Captain Russell's story tell of hard work, adventure and personal experiences in the days when endurance was expected and loyalty given to those who earned it.
Comment...
Russell's book, Memories of a Lifetime, is an interesting account of a life during which he, like many Newfoundlanders of his generation, turned his hand to a variety of things to make an honest living... "I guess I could have started writing the book earlier," laughs Russell. "But if I had started when I was 50, I wouldn't have had as much to write about."
The Captain wrote his 179-page book the old-fashioned way--with a ball point pen and paper.
"I'd write for so long, then I'd get cramps and I'd jump up and go out and do something else, then I'd come back again, he says."
The Evening Telegram, December 1997
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