<I>Two Years Before the Mast</I> is a book by the American author Richard Henry Dana Jr. written after a two-year sea voyage starting in 1834 and published in 1840.<br><br><br><br>While at Harvard College Dana had an attack of the measles that affected his vision. Thinking it might help his sight Dana rather than going on a Grand Tour as most of his fellow classmates traditionally did (and unable to afford it anyway) and being something of a nonconformist left Harvard to enlist as a common sailor on a voyage around Cape Horn on the brig <I>Pilgrim</I>. He returned to Massachusetts two years later aboard the <I>Alert</I> (which left California sooner than the <I>Pilgrim</I>). <br>He kept a diary throughout the voyage and after returning he wrote a book based on his experiences. Recognized as an American classic <I>Two Years Before the Mast</I> was published the same year that Dana was admitted to the bar.