Belem, Témoin d'hier, acteur d'aujourd'hui (Belem, yesterday's witness, today's player) is a reportage book; as the pages turn, we embark on board a tall three-masted sailing ship, the Belem. The last survivor of her era, the last survivor of history, classified as a historic monument, the Belem (one hundred and twenty years old) never ceases to charm the crowds in all the ports of her life.
Through the lens of Benjamin Decoin, we discover the Belem of today. Through the photographs, which detail and illustrate the majestic three-masted ship, we are invited on a technical, human and poetic tour. Daniel Gilles's meticulous captions, as well as providing us with valuable technical details, reveal the character of the photographs and put their beauty into perspective. Throughout the book, we are carried along in the boat's historic wake: having changed nationality three times, in turn merchant ship, pleasure sailing ship and school ship, the Belem is splashed with the history of the world it has crossed.
The cross-fertilized views of the authors are sure to convey their passion for this marvellous three-masted boat.
Now that the book is finished, the good news is that we can still climb aboard for a little cruise and discover the mysteries of this centenarian, whose guiding star we wonder about.
Belem, yesterday's witness, today's player
192 pages
Editions du Chêne
Price incl. VAT: 29.90 euros.
Cruise programme : www.fondationbelem.com
Text: Capucine Ferry
I constantly spent my half an hour to read
this webpage's content daily along with a cup of coffee.