Dea Birkett

"After following in the wake of Mary Kingsley around Africa, Dea Birkett was looking forward to a restful voyage home. Instead she had to work her passage as a crew member on the last cargo vessel to leave Lagos for Liverpool--the only woman on board. Exchanging her cotton dress for a boilersuit, Dea was plunged into an alien and unknown environment--set apart from both the white British officers and the West African crew. As she stood behind the wheel of the 21,000-ton MV Minos watching the African coast slip by, she discovered an equally intriguing world to explore. 3,500 rigorous sea-miles later, Dea had not only earned her Steersman Certificate, but had become 'one of us'--nicknamed Jella (meaning small boy) by the Sierra Leonean crew"--Back cover.

From Lagos to Liverpool : a Woman at Sea in a Man's World

Jella

The author recounts her journey to Pitcairn Island--home to thirty-eight descendants of the Bounty mutineers--detailing how this island paradise has become a prison to its inhabitants

Serpent in Paradise

Sara Wheeler

A collection of previously unpublished women's travel writing, including contributions from the editors and Kate Pullinger, Suzanne Moore, Mary Russell, Lucretia Stewart, Imogen Stubbs, Shena MacKay, Kathleen Jamie, Urvashi Butalia, Lesley Downer.

Dea Birkett

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