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2022-10-23A Frozen Crew (a tale of horror at sea)In 1775, the captain of a Greenland whaler and his crew come upon a ship that had been missing for 13 years and are shocked to find what's on board. 'A Frozen Crew' by an anonymous writer is from 'Wonderful Deeds and Adventures', an illustrated book published in 1893 by Cassell Publishing Company, New York. (391 KiB, PDF, 6 pages)
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2022-10-12The Voyage of Columbus (poem)'The Voyage of Columbus' is a narrative poem written in 1810 by the English poet Samuel Rogers (1763–1855). This file was extracted by Marine Café Blog from the 1939 edition of Rogers' 'Poems' as digitised by Google. (948 KiB, PDF, 11 pages)
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2022-07-30Antonello, the Gondolier (short story)'Antonello, the Gondolier' is about a gondolier in old Venice who tells a fantastical tale that will surely entertain the reader. Originally written in German by Franz von Gaudy, a 19th-century German poet and novelist, it was published in the long-defunct British monthly, The Strand Magazine (July-December 1892 issue). The illustrations were done by English illustrator Paul Hardy (1862-1942). (14.9 MiB, PDF, 9 pages)
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2022-07-19Sailing to Byzantium by W. B. Yeats (oral reading in MP3)In 'Sailing to Byzantium', the Irish poet William Butler Yeats (1865-1939) uses a journey by sea to Byzantium (Constantinople) as a metaphor for his spiritual quest. Yeats gives poignant expression to his thoughts about ageing, youth, immortality, and art. The poem was read by Greg Bathon for Librivox. (2.1 MiB, MP3, 2:16 minutes)
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2022-04-23Sea Songs and Other Verses by Lieut. Edward C. Cruttwell, R.N.The lover of poetry will find some gems in this collection of poems published in 1912. The author, Edward Clement Cruttwell (1888–1938), was a lieutenant in the British Royal Navy who saw action in World War I. (2.7 MiB, PDF, 100 pages including covers)
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2022-02-25From the Log of the Velsa by Arnold Bennett'From the Log of the Velsa' is an engaging novel about the meanderings through Europe of the English yacht Velsa and its crew. It opens a window to past maritime customs and the challenges of sailing on a yacht with a 72-foot mast. The book was written by British novelist Arnold Bennett (1867—1931) and published in 1914. This digitised edition is courtesy of Cornell University Library, New York. (5.6 MiB, PDF, 322 pages)1 file(s) 14 downloadsCategory: Literary WorksDownload |
2022-02-09The Sailor by Michael Earls (poetry reading in MP3)The Sailor' is a wonderful short poem written by Michael Earls (1875–1937), a Jesuit priest. writer, poet, and teacher. The narrator dreams of being a sailor in search of the Golden Fleece (a reference to the Greek legend of Jason and the Argonauts). The poem was read by Ian King for Librivox. (909 KiB, MP3, 1:22 minutes)1 file(s) 90 downloadsCategory: Literary WorksDownload |
2022-02-23Dog-watches at Sea by Stanton H. King'Dog-watches at Sea' is a personal account of life at sea by Stanton Henry King (1867–1939), an American sailor, author and shanty singer. King recounts his experiences as a young sailor on board a man-of-war with endearing candour. In the last chapter of this 1901 book, he writes: "Although so young, I had lived many years of recklessness and wrong-doing... I had no plans or ambitions, -- a mere animal; worse off than some animals, for they at least had some one who bestowed affection on them. Still I was not unhappy. Only when my mother's face came to my mind and I allowed myself to think of her, did a trace of good thought or a longing for something better enter my life." (10.7 MiB, PDF, 318 pages)1 file(s) 19 downloadsCategory: Literary WorksDownload |
2021-11-23The Wanderer and The Seafarer by William Witherle Lawrence (short essay)'The Wanderer and The Seafarer' examines two of the finest specimens of extant Anglo-Saxon poetry for a better understanding and appreciation of the poems. The essay was first published in The Journal of Germanic Philology, Vol. 4, No. 4 (1902). This file is courtesy of JSTOR. (1.9 MiB, PDF, 21 pages)1 file(s) 7 downloadsCategory: Literary WorksDownload |
2022-02-27Home from the Sea by Arthur Rostron (a captain’s memoir)'Home from the Sea' is a compelling memoir by Sir Arthur Henry Rostron, best remembered as the captain of the RMS Carpathia that rescued hundreds of Titanic survivors. Describing the moment the Titanic went down, he wrote: "It was right under her stern and from this boy I heard a graphic account of how the Titanic up-ended herself and remained poised like some colossal nightmare of a fish, her tail high in the air, her nose deep in the water, until she dived finally from human sight." This must-read book is part of the Public Library of India collection on the Internet Archive. (9.4 MiB, PDF, 301 pages)
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2021-10-30On the Shore by Susan Coolidge (poem, oral reading)'On the Shore' is a poem about renewal and hope written by American poet Susan Coolidge (pen name of Sarah Chauncey Woolsey,1835 –1905). The penultimate stanza reads: "Then suddenly out of the mist-cloud dun,/ As touched and wooed by unseen sun,/ Again into sight bursts the rose of light/ And opens its petals one by one." The audio recording was made for Librivox by Noel Badrian. (1.8 MiB , MP3, 1:24 minutes)1 file(s) 87 downloadsCategory: Literary WorksDownload |
2022-02-15On Blue Water by Edmondo De Amicis (a narrative about life on an emigrant ship)On Blue Water' is an account of life on board an emigrant steamship travelling from Genoa, Italy, to Buenos Aires in Argentina. It was written by Edmondo De Amicis (1846–1908), an Italian novelist, journalist, poet and short-story writer. Jacob B. Brown noted in his Translator's Preface to De Amicis' 1897 book: "The writer's observant eye has singled out, his lively imagination has characterized, and his ready pen has described at least twenty different groups and characters taken from both ends of the vessel, all dramatic, saying and doing in every case just what such persons would say and do." This book is courtesy of the University of California Libraries on the Internet Archive. (27.1 MiB, PDF, 399 pages)1 file(s) 16 downloadsCategory: Literary Works, Maritime History and CultureDownload |
2021-09-27A Mainsail Haul by John Masefield (PDF format)'A Mainsail Haul' is a collection of 16 sea-related stories by John Masefield, an English writer and UK Poet Laureate from 1930 to 1967. First published in 1905, the book demonstrates Masefield's ability to tell a good yarn. Excerpt: "Gradually, however, the peace in my heart gave way to an eating melancholy, and I felt a sadness, such as has come to me but twice in my life. With the sadness there came a horror of the water and of the skies, till my presence in that ship, under the ghastly corpse-light of the moon, among that sea, was a terror to me past power of words to tell." This PDF file is courtesy of the Cornell University Library and was digitised by the Internet Archive. (2.6 MiB, PDF, 195 pages) Click here for the EPUB version of 'A Mainsail Haul'.1 file(s) 38 downloadsCategory: Literary WorksDownload |
2021-09-27A Mainsail Haul by John Masefield (EPUB format for smartphones and tablets)'A Mainsail Haul' is a collection of 16 sea-related stories by John Masefield, an English writer and UK Poet Laureate from 1930 to 1967. First published in 1905, the book demonstrates Masefield's ability to tell a good yarn. Excerpt: "Gradually, however, the peace in my heart gave way to an eating melancholy, and I felt a sadness, such as has come to me but twice in my life. With the sadness there came a horror of the water and of the skies, till my presence in that ship, under the ghastly corpse-light of the moon, among that sea, was a terror to me past power of words to tell." (364 KiB, EPUB)1 file(s) 25 downloadsCategory: Literary WorksDownload |
2021-07-22Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson (classic adventure novel, PDF)'Treasure Island' by Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–1894) is not only an adventure tale. It is also, notes Cathy Lowne in a Britannica article, "an enduring coming-of-age story as Jim (the main character) both navigates life-and-death situations and encounters moral lessons." This 1911 edition of the novel is courtesy of Biblioteca Europea di Informazione e Cultura (BEIC, "European library of information and culture"). (14.1 MiB, PDF, 310 pages)1 file(s) 97 downloadsCategory: Literary WorksDownload |
2021-07-04The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus (poetry reading in MP3)'The New Colossus' is a sonnet about the Statue of Liberty and America's welcoming spirit toward the poor and oppressed who seek refuge and freedom. It was written by the American Jewish poet and activist, Emma Lazarus (1849 – 1870). The poem of 14 lines was read by Barbara Baker for Librivox. Perhaps the most poignant and certainly the most quoted line reads: “Give me your tired, your poor,/ Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free." (1 MiB, MP3, 1:14 minutes) See the full text of the poem and some old photos of the Statue of Liberty here.1 file(s) 110 downloadsCategory: Literary WorksDownload |
2021-06-29Cape Cod by George Santayana (poem, oral reading in MP3)'Cape Cod' was written by George Santayana (1863 – 1952), a Spanish-American philosopher, poet and humanist. In the poem, the narrator describes his deep sense of isolation as he is stranded on a beach in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. His thoughts eventually turn to the universal human condition. This audio recording is courtesy of Librivox. (3.4 MiB, MP3, 1:56 minutes) Click here to learn more about the poet.1 file(s) 102 downloadsCategory: Literary WorksDownload |
2021-06-22Dover Beach by Matthew Arnold (oral reading in MP3)'Dover Beach' is a lyric poem by English Victorian poet Matthew Arnold (1822 – 1888). It was read for Librivox by Squid Varilekova. Encyclopedia Britannica calls Arnold's poem "the most celebrated of the author’s works', noting that it "addresses the decline of religious faith in the modern world and offers the fidelity of affection as its successor." (1.6 MiB, MP3, 1:58 minutes)1 file(s) 97 downloadsCategory: Literary WorksDownload |
2021-05-22Port of Many Ships (song version of a John Masefield poem, MP3)This is a splendid musical version of 'Port of Many Ships', a poem written by British Poet Laureate John Masefield (1878.– 1967). It was recorded in 1928 by American baritone concert singer Keith Falkner with a symphony orchestra. The recording is courtesy of the Internet Archive. Masefield's 'Port of Many Ships' is included in his 'Salt-Water Poems and Ballads'. CLICK HERE to download the book. (1.5 MiB, MP3. 1:55 minutes) See also 'Trade Winds', another John Masefield poem sung by Keith Falkner.1 file(s) 115 downloadsCategory: Literary Works, Maritime Songs & Sea ShantiesDownload |
2021-05-21Trade Winds by Keith Falkner (song version of John Masefield’s poem in MP3)English opera singer Sir Donald Keith Falkner (1900 –1994) delivers the goods in this 1928 recording of John Masefield's poem 'Trade Winds'. Falkner had an "extensive, warmly resonant bass-baritone voice and superb diction," the British newspaper The Independent noted in its 1994 obituary of the man. This recording is courtesy of the Internet Archive. For the full text of the poem 'Trade Winds', click here. (2.0 MiB, MP3, 2:37 minutes)1 file(s) 106 downloadsCategory: Literary Works, Maritime Songs & Sea ShantiesDownload |
2022-08-06Salt-Water Poems and Ballads by John Masefield'Salt-Water Poems and Ballads" features the sea poetry of John Masefield (1878.– 1967), Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom from 1930 until 1967. First published in 1916, the book contains a total of 44 poems, including the well-known 'Sea-Fever'. It is wonderfully illustrated with paintings and drawings by the British artist, Charles Pears (1873 – 1958).1 file(s) 26 downloadsCategory: Literary WorksDownload |
2022-04-24The Seafarer by Ezra Pound (poetry reading in MP3)This is a rare recording of American poet and critic Ezra Pound reading in 1939 at Harvard University his version of 'The Seafarer', an Anglo-Saxon poem. Click here to read the full text of the poem. It is being made available for noncommercial and educational use only. All rights to this recorded material belong to, and are © 2006 by, the heirs of Ezra Pound, Mary de Rachewiltz and Omar S. Pound, and New Directions Publishing Corp, agent for the heirs. (9.8 MiB, MP3, 7:08 minutes)1 file(s) 183 downloadsCategory: Literary WorksDownload |
2021-04-25The Tide Rises, the Tide Falls by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (oral reading in MP3)This short poem was written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, the most popular American poet in the 19th century. It is about the impermanence of life and the inevitability of death. The refrain "the tide rises, the tide falls" implies that life is a cycle — an idea that somehow offers a ray of hope. 'The Tide Rises, the Tide Falls' was read for Librivox by Rosemarie DeSapio. (998.6 KiB, MP3, 1:22 minutes)1 file(s) 289 downloadsCategory: Literary WorksDownload |
2021-04-24Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s The Rime of the Ancient Mariner (oral reading in MP3)Part Four of Samuel Taylor Coleridge's classic poem 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner' is hauntingly read aloud by Lynne Hand (aka Teacher). Ms. Hand, who offers free English language training (see her website here), holds the copyright to the recording. She has kindly made the audio file available through the Internet Archive. Marine Café Blog is sharing it for your personal, non-commerical use (1.7 MiB, MP3, 3:10 minutes) In Coleridge's 7-part poem, an old mariner stops one of three young men on their way to a wedding party and mesmerises him with the tale of how he killed an albatross and brought bad luck to himself and his fellow sailors. It is a story of sin, suffering and redemption.CLICK HERE to download an illustrated edition of 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner'.1 file(s) 186 downloadsCategory: Literary WorksDownload |
2022-02-14Life on the Mississippi by Mark Twain'Life on the Mississippi' was written by Mark Twain, one of America's most beloved writers. Published in 1883 with more than 300 illustrations, it is the author's memoir of the steamboat era on the Mississippi River before the American Civil War. Mark Twain was a riverboat pilot on the Mississippi (read his short biography here). His familiarity with the river and navigation and his skills as a raconteur make this book a must-read for literature and American history buffs. (40.4 MiB, PDF, 610 pages) NOTE: The scanned book is courtesy of the Boston Public Library. For the convenience of readers, the file was compressed by Marine Café Blog minus unnecessary blank pages and the front and back covers.1 file(s) 105 downloadsCategory: Literary Works, Maritime History and CultureDownload |
2021-01-06The Rime of the Ancient Mariner (illustrated, Kindle edition)The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is a poem in seven parts by Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772–1834) illustrated with 38 works by the great French printmaker, Gustave Doré (1832–1883). This jewel of English literature is a story of sin, suffering and redemption.The title character stops one of three young men on their way to a wedding party and mesmerises him with the tale of his youthful saga at sea — how he killed an albatross and brought bad luck to himself and his fellow sailors. (5.4 MiB, azw3 format for Kinde) Click here for the PDF edition of The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.1 file(s) 15 downloadsCategory: Literary WorksDownload |
2021-01-04Sea-Fever by John Masefield (an oral reading in MP3)This is an excellent oral reading by Jemma Blythe of 'Sea-Fever', which was written by Engish poet John Masefield (1878 —1967) and continues to be loved by millions of poetry lovers. The recording is courtesy of LibriVox. (1000.8 KiB, MP3, 1:20 minutes) Click here for a song version 'Sea-Fever' with piano accompaniment.1 file(s) 137 downloadsCategory: Literary WorksDownload |
2022-07-24A Cadet of the Black Star Line by Ralph D. PaineDavid Downes, a 17-year-old cadet on the Black Star liner Roanoke, struggles with self-doubts and the hardships of life at sea. But he eventually comes to the realisation that the world of seafaring, with all its trials and tribulations, is where he belongs. 'A Cadet of the Black Star Line' was written by American journalist and author Ralph Delahaye Paine (1871 – 1925). It was first published in 1922 but should appeal to the modern reader who is interested in the world of ships and sailors. (7.0 MiB, PDF, 208 pages)1 file(s) 63 downloadsCategory: Literary Works, Seafaring and ManningDownload |
2021-01-04Sea-Fever by John Masefield (song version of the poem in MP3)Listen to John Masefield's famous poem 'Sea-Fever' sung with piano accompaniment. The song was composed by English composer John Ireland (1879 – 1962) to the text of the poem. It was performed in 2016 by Peter Mellalieu at a house concert of the Auckland Lieder Group, Inc. This file is published on this website under a Creative Commons CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 licence |
2020-07-08Sea Lanes and Other PoemsSea Lanes and Other Poems should resonate with all those who have worked at sea. This collection of sea poems, first published in 1921, was written by Burt Franklin Jenness, who served as a medical officer in the U.S. Navy during World War I (CLICK HERE for more about the author). In the title poem, Jenness compares the sea to a lonely road that beckons with its mysterious beauty: "With never a milestone on the way, / Or friendly tavern to greet the sight; / With only the sun to guide by day. / And a single star, perhaps, at night. / It stretches away to meet the sky, / This road that never ends at all. / And up where the meteors blaze and die / It catches the dust when they fall." (3.4 MiB, PDF, 95 pages)1 file(s) 46 downloadsCategory: Literary WorksDownload |
2022-08-06Starboard Lights: Salt Water Tales by A.B. Hawser, MasterStarboard Lights: Salt Water Tales was written by A.B. Hawser, pseudonym of Julius Washington Muller (1867 – 1930). Published in 1901, the book is remarkable for its easy, down-to-earth language, and engaging wit. Consider this first paragraph from the first chapter, "What Happened at Sea': "Never mind where this ship was bound. She belonged to a firm of fine, jovial Englishmen?most agreeable persons, with an amiable weakness for overloading and undermanning their vessels. It's easy enough. The Plimsoll's mark that the Lloyds people put on a ship can't talk, and a little thing like jamming cargo in till the mark is way under water doesn't make the craft look particularly bad when she's lying at her berth in a slip where there are no waves." (14.2 MiB, PDF, 223 pages)1 file(s) 39 downloadsCategory: Literary WorksDownload |
2020-06-11Moby Dick by Herman Melville (comics version)Entertain yourself with this comics version of Herman Melville's great 1851 sea classic. Moby Dick (complete title: Moby-Dick; or, The Whale) is not just an adventure novel but an epic story about man's struggle with nature and his inner self. (2.0 MiB, PDF, 52 pages)1 file(s) 126 downloadsCategory: Literary WorksDownload |
2022-02-17An Ocean Tramp by Philip D. HeywoodPublished in 1888, An Ocean Tramp is the kind of book that you will not want to put down once you've started reading the first few paragraphs. It is about the adventures of a young lad who was inspired to go to sea after being fascinated by the stories told by the family neighbour, an old, down-and-out English mariner. Very little is known about the author, Philip D. Heywood, but this short novel attests to his gift as a storyteller. (18 MiB, PDF, 232 pages)1 file(s) 222 downloadsCategory: Literary WorksDownload |
2022-08-06Lost Ships and Lonely SeasEnjoy these 17 true stories of shipwrecks and other unfortunate incidents at sea. Published in 1921, Lost Ships and Lonely Seas reads like an adventure book. The author, American journalist Ralph Delahaye Paine, throws light on the perils of 19th century seafaring. An excerpt from Chapter 1: The wild gale smote them in the darkness of night. They tried to heave the vessel to, but she was battered and wrenched without mercy. Stout canvas was whirled away in fragments. The seams of the hull opened as she labored, and six feet of water flooded the hold. Leaking like a sieve, the Polly would never see port again. (9.3 MiB, PDF, 450 pages)1 file(s) 63 downloadsCategory: Literary Works, Maritime History and CultureDownload |
2020-05-17A Wanderer’s Songs of the SeaA Wanderer's Songs of the Sea is a book of poems written by American author Charles Augustus Keeler (1871 – July 31, 1937). The 20 poems are set in different locales around the world. Keeler's style of poetric writing is exemplified by the last stanza of the last poem, 'Leaving Honolulu': Aloha, fair Oahu, slowly palng o'er the tide,/ Your peaks may fade but in my heart your vision shall abide;/ Still the flame of your hibiscus, still those wistful tropic eyes/ Shall entrall me to your palm-groves, shall endear your azure skies! (2.4 MiB, PDF, 68 pages)1 file(s) 44 downloadsCategory: Literary WorksDownload |
2022-02-14The Buccaneers and Marooners of America: Being an Account of the Famous Adventures and Daring Deeds of Certain Notorious Freebooters of the Spanish Main (edited by Howard Pyle)This book chronicles the exploits of several 17th-century pirates, including the infamous Blackbeard. It should appeal to anyone who is fascinated with pirates.As American illustrator and author Howard Pyle (1853 –1911) notes in the Introduction: Courage and daring, no matter how mad and ungodly, have always a redundancy of vim and life to recommend them to the nether man that lies within us, and no doubt his desperate courage, his battle against the tremendous odds of all the civilized world of law and order had had much to do in making a popular hero of our friend of the black flag. (20.7 MiB, PDF, 400 pages)1 file(s) 38 downloadsCategory: Literary Works, Maritime History and CultureDownload |
2022-08-06The Mirror of the Sea by Joseph ConradFirst published in 1906, The Mirror of the Sea is a collection of autobiographical essays by Polish-British writer Joseph Conrad (1857–1924) based on his life as a merchant sailor for almost 20 years. Commenting on the book, Conrad wrote: Within these pages I make a full confession not of my sins but of my emotions. It is the best tribute my piety can offer to the ultimate shapers of my character, convictions, and, in a sense, destiny--to the imperishable sea, to the ships that are no more and to the simple men who have had their day. (13.3 MiB, PDF, 336 pages)1 file(s) 36 downloadsCategory: Literary Works, Seafaring and ManningDownload |
2020-06-05A Journal of the Plague Year by Daniel Defoe (PDF edition)A Journal of the Plague Year by English novelist Daniel Defoe (1660–1731) is about the Great Plague of London in 1664–65. The story is narrated by one "H.F.", a purported eyewitness. Although fictionalised, Defoe's historical reconstruction of this grim chapter in London's history is convincing. Indeed, parts of it have an uncanny resemblance to events occurring during the coronavirus pandemic that started in 2019. (761.4 KiB, PDF, 181 pages ).1 file(s) 413 downloadsCategory: Literary WorksDownload |
2020-06-05A Journal of the Plague Year by Daniel Defoe (EPUB edition)A Journal of the Plague Year by English novelist Daniel Defoe (1660–1731) is about the Great Plague of London in 1664–65. The story is narrated by one "H.F.", a purported eyewitness. Although fictionalised, Defoe's historical reconstruction of this grim chapter in London's history is convincing. Indeed, parts of it have an uncanny resemblance to events occurring during the coronavirus pandemic that started in 2019. NOTE: You need an appropriate e-book reader to view the file on your smartphne or tablet. (413.2 KiB, EPUB).1 file(s) 48 downloadsCategory: Literary WorksDownload |
2020-03-25The Pilot: A Tale of the Sea by James Fenimore CooperFirst published in 1824, The Pilot: A Tale of the Sea is a novel by James Fenimore Cooper, the first major American novelist and a sailor by profession. Says the Encyclopedia Britannica: The work, which was admired by Herman Melville and Joseph Conrad for its authentic portrayal of a seafaring life and takes place during the American Revolution, launched a whole genre of maritime fiction. It features a mysterious and almost superhuman American sea pilot (based on the American hero John Paul Jones) who fights battles off the coast of England against the British and American loyalists. (10.3 MiB, PDF, 454 pages)1 file(s) 20 downloadsCategory: Literary WorksDownload |
2022-02-13Howard Pyle’s Book of Pirates (PDF)Howard Pyle's Book of Pirates is a collection of eight classic pirate stories written by the American illustrator, painter and author, Howard Pyle (1853–1911). It has been enriched by Pyle's wonderful illustrations, making it a great read for art lovers as well as pirate fans and students of history. Merle Johnson, who compiled the stories, wrote in his Foreword: Pirates, Buccaneers, Marooners, those cruel but picturesque sea wolves who once infested the Spanish Main, all live in present-day conceptions in great degree as drawn by the pen and pencil of Howard Pyle…It is improbable that anyone else will ever bring his combination of interest and talent to the depiction of these old-time Pirates, any more than there could be a second Remington to paint the now extinct Indians and gun-fighters of the Great West. (16.6 MiB, PDF, 335 pages)1 file(s) 218 downloadsCategory: Literary Works, Maritime History and CultureDownload |
2020-03-08Two Years Before the Mast (an American classic for smartphones and tablets)Two Years Before the Mast is a memoir by American lawyer Richard Henry Dana Jr. of his two-year voyage from Boston to California as a common sailor on board a merchant ship. The term "before the mast" refers to the sailors' quarters located in the forecastle (the ship's bow). This book was first published in 1840 when Dana was still a law student at Harvard Universiy. In his Introduction, Prof. Homer Eaton Keyes explains why it is an American classic: We read it to-day not merely for its simple, unpretentious style; but for its clear picture of sea life previous to the era of steam navigation, and for its graphic description of conditions in California before visions of gold sent the long lines of "prairie schooners" drifting across the plains to unfold the hidden destiny of the West. (381.3 KiB, EPUB format)1 file(s) 22 downloadsCategory: Literary Works, Maritime History and Culture, Seafaring and ManningDownload |
2020-02-12The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway (for smartphones and tablets)Ernest Hemingway's last major work of fiction, The Old Man and the Sea centres on an ageing fishermen who fights an epic battle with a giant marlin. It won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1953 and continues to be loved by millions of readers. (103.3 KiB, EPUB format)1 file(s) 26 downloadsCategory: Literary WorksDownload |
2022-02-15Toilers of the Sea (Les Travailleurs de la Mer) by Victor HugoPublished in 1866, Toilers of the Sea (Les Travailleurs de la Mer) is not as popular as Victor Hugo's Notre-Dame de Paris (1831) and Les Misérables (1862). It is nonetheless a compelling sea adventure and love story, written by the most important of the French Romantic writers. The story revolves around Gilliat, a fisherman and outcast, who sets out to salvage the steam engine from a wrecked ship in order to win the hand of the owner's daughter. ( 22.6 MiB, PDF, 515 pages including cover)1 file(s) 16 downloadsCategory: Literary WorksDownload |
2020-01-26Classics Illustrated — Toilers of the Sea by Victor HugoToilers of the Sea (Les Travailleurs de la Mer) is a novel by Victor Hugo, the great French writer better known for his Les Miserables. Published in 1866, it tells the story of a social outcast from the island of Guernsey (where Hugo lived in exile) who sets out to salvage the steam engine from a wrecked ship in order to win the hand of the owner's daughter. This comic book version is a good example of how a literary masterpiece can be popularised through a medium that continues to be loved by millions. (2.3 MiB, PDF, 52 pages including cover)1 file(s) 60 downloadsCategory: Literary WorksDownload |
2019-11-11The Wreck of the Titan: Or, Futility (a novella, for smartphones)The Wreck of the Titan: Or, Futility by American author Morgan Robertson is said by some to have foretold the RMS Titanic disaster. The similarities between fiction and reality are eerie indeed. The ocean liner in Roberton's novella was named Titan. It also sank in the North Atlantic after hitting an iceberg in the same month of April. And to think that this book was published in 1898 — 14 years before the RMS Titanic met its doom. (File size: 119.6 KiB, EPUB format)1 file(s) 23 downloadsCategory: Literary Works, Maritime History and CultureDownload |
2021-10-20The Rime of the Ancient Mariner (illustrated, PDF format)The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is a poem in seven parts by Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772–1834) illustrated with 38 works by the great French printmaker, Gustave Doré (1832–1883). This jewel of English literature is a story of sin, suffering and redemption.The title character stops one of three young men on their way to a wedding party and mesmerises him with the tale of his youthful saga at sea — how he killed an albatross and brought bad luck to himself and his fellow sailors. (File size: 8.4 MiB, PDF, 54 pages)
CLICK HERE for the EPUB version for smartphones and tablets.
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2020-11-16The Rime of the Ancient Mariner (illustrated, EPUB format for smartphones and tablets)The Rime of the Ancient Mariner is a poem in seven parts by Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772–1834) illustrated with 38 works by the great French printmaker, Gustave Doré (1832–1883). This jewel of English literature is a story of sin, suffering and redemption.The title character stops one of three young men on their way to a wedding party and mesmerises him with the tale of his youthful saga at sea — how he killed an albatross and brought bad luck to himself and his fellow sailors. (File size: 5.0 MiB, EPUB)1 file(s) 399 downloadsCategory: Literary WorksDownload |
2021-06-25Sea-Fairies and Other Poems by Alfred Tennyson (illustrated)Five quarter-centuries after his death, the poems of Alfred, Lord Tennyson (English, 6 August 1809 – 6 October 1892) continue to delight readers around the world. 'Sea-Fairies and Other Poems' was published in 1890 and contains six of his beautiful, albeit lesser known, poems. Characteristic of the lilting quality of Tennyson's poetic language are these closing lines from 'The Sea-Fairies': O, listen, listen, your eyes shall glisten/ When the sharp clear twang of the golden chords/ Runs up the ridged sea./ Who can light on as happy a shore/ All the world o’er, all the world o’er?/ Whither away? listen and stay; mariner, mariner, fly no more. (5.5. MiB, PDF, 48 pages)1 file(s) 65 downloadsCategory: Literary WorksDownload |
2019-09-26Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson (for smartphones and tablets)This masterpiece by Scottish novelist Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–1894) tells of the adventures of Jim Hawkins and his search for the buried treasure of an evil pirate, Captain Flint. The book is "both for and of all ages," says Stefan Beck in a review published in The Wall Street Journal. He writes: Stevenson's prose is a pleasure not only for its precision and grace but also for its ability to capture the ugly or uncanny. His descriptions of people—Black Dog, a "pale, tallowy figure wanting two fingers"; the Sasquatch-like maroon Ben Gunn; and of course Silver, "hopping about upon [his crutch] like a bird" and grinning from a "face as big as a ham"—bring them forth from the page before any has spoken a word. (File size: 985.8 KiB, EPUB format)1 file(s) 24 downloadsCategory: Literary WorksDownload |
2021-08-31Billy Budd, Sailor (An Inside Narrative) by Herman Melville (for smartphones and tablets)Herman Melville's final novel, Billy Budd, Sailor (An Inside Narrative), is essential reading for literature buffs and even admiralty law students. First published posthumously in 1924, the unfinished work tells the story of Billy Budd, a young and handsome seaman who is conscripted into service aboard the HMS Bellipotent in 1797. Budd is popular amongst the crew except for the ship's evil and jealous master-at-arms, John Claggart. The latter falsely accuses him of conspiracy to mutiny. Budd kills Claggart during a meeting between the two men called by the captain, which leads to Budd's court-martial and subsequent execution. (File size: 154.1 KiB, EPUB format)1 file(s) 133 downloadsCategory: Literary WorksDownload |
2019-09-08Moby-Dick; or, The Whale (last chapter, audio)Listen to a wonderful reading of Chapter 135 (The Chase — Third Day) of Herman Melville's masterpiece. This last chapter describes Captain Ahab's final encounter with Moby-Dick which would seal the fate of the whaling ship Pequod and its crew. Read by James Naughtie and introduced by Peter Donaldson, the audio file is courtesy of The Arts Institute, University of Plymouth, in the UK. (File size: 25.9 MiB, MP3)1 file(s) 222 downloadsCategory: Literary WorksDownload |
2019-09-19Youth by Joseph Conrad (for smartphones and tablets)Enjoy this autobiographical short story by the great Polish-born British writer and former ship captain, Joseph Conrad (1857–1924)). Written in 1898, Youth begins with five veterans of the merchant navy drinking red wine around a table. Marlow, one of the men, then narrates his first voyage to the East as second mate on board the Judea 22 years earlier, when he was aged 20. The story is punctuated with some moving descriptions of the sea, as in this excerpt: The sea was white like a sheet of foam, like a caldron of boiling milk; there was not a break in the clouds, no — not the size of a man’s hand — no, not for so much as ten seconds... (File size: 74.5 KiB, EPUB) — NOTE: Transfer the downloaded file to your device. You need to have an e-book reader app if you are using a smartphone or tablet, You can also read the EPUB file on a desktop computer using a book reader such as FBReader.1 file(s) 33 downloadsCategory: Literary WorksDownload |
2019-08-29Moby-Dick; or, The Whale (for smartphones and tablets)Carry one of the greatest literary classics in your pocket. Herman Melville's Moby-Dick; or, The Whale is not just an adventure novel about a mad ship captain and his vengeful quest for the White Whale. It is filled with philosophical musings on life and the human condition. This EPUB edition is perfect for reading on your smartphone, tablet or e-book reader such as Kindle. NOTE: You need to have an e-book reader app installed on your smartphone or tablet. (File size: 537.5 KiB , EPUB)1 file(s) 35 downloadsCategory: Literary WorksDownload |
2019-08-27Moby-Dick; or, The WhaleFirst published in 1851, Moby-Dick; or, The Whale by Herman Melville arguably marks the beginning of modern American literature. It is not just an adventure novel about Captain Ahab and his vengeful quest for the White Whale. As Robert McCrum noted in a book review for The Guardian newspaper: Moby-Dick is...the great American novel whose genius was only recognised long after its author was dead. From its celebrated opening line ("Call me Ishmael") it plunges the reader into the narrator's quest for meaning "in the damp, drizzly November of my soul". (File size: 3.2 MiB, PDF, 861 pages)1 file(s) 54 downloadsCategory: Literary WorksDownload |
2022-02-23Sea Grist: A Personal Narrative of Five Months in the Merchant MarineThis non-fiction book is a must-read for anyone who wants to become a seafarer. Published in 1922, it should appeal to all modern-day readers who love sea literature. Says author Lehmann Hisey in his Preface: "My purpose in relating this experience in the Merchant Marine is to show the fellow who craves sea life and adventure that these things are not all he may think them to be. My service extended over a period of five months and this little tale gives the actual daily life and work, neither softened nor exaggerated, but told exactly as it occurred. I have endeavored to show not only the routine, discipline and associates, but the effect of these on one's character and ideals." (File size: 53.9 MiB, PDF, 269 pages in sequence)1 file(s) 125 downloadsCategory: Literary Works, Seafaring and ManningDownload |
2021-02-24Sea Garden (collection of poems by H.D.)Sea Garden was the first book of H.D., the pen name of American poet Hilda Doolittle (1886 – 1961). Published in 1916, it remains a literary gem. Many of the 28 poems in this slim volume make use of sea-related imagery to powerfully express the poet's angst and her thoughts about love and life. (File size: 1.5 MiB, PDF, 55 pages)1 file(s) 66 downloadsCategory: Literary WorksDownload |
.(3.3 MiB, MP3, 2:30 minutes)
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