Book excerpt: Joshua Slocum¿s Sailing Alone Around the World is a classic, beloved by sailors the world over who have enjoyed this engrossing tale of a man who sails around the world alone in a small wooden sailboat built with his own hands. This edition is thoroughly annotated by teacher/journalist Rod Scher, who provides explanation, commentary, clarification, and historical context that will make Slocum¿s masterpiece more accessible to today¿s readers¿sailors and landlubbers alike.