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

"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.