A Book for the Hammock

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Russell, William Clark, 1844-1911

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource : multiple file formats

Place of Publication:

Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg,

Summary:

"A Book for the Hammock" by William Clark Russell is a collection of nautical essays written in the late 19th century. The work reflects on the romanticism of sea life, contrasting past maritime adventures with the mechanized, prosaic realities of modern naval experiences. The essays explore themes of nostalgia for traditional seamanship, the loss of poetic engagement with the ocean, and the whimsical culture of sailors, including superstitions and life at sea. The opening of the book introduces readers to Russell's reflections on the decline of the "old romance of the sea" amid the advancements of steam-powered travel. He paints a vivid picture of a modern sailor's experience aboard a ship, pondering the beauty and mystery once associated with ocean voyages that seems lost in the face of progress. Russell laments the absence of wonder in contemporary maritime life, as sailors now rush through journeys stripped of the exploratory spirit that once characterized their trade. Through his contemplative prose, he creates a sense of longing for a bygone era filled with adventure and folklore, suggesting that the magic of the ocean has faded alongside the traditional ways of seafaring. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Contents:

A nautical lament

Superstitions of the sea

Old sea ordnance

The honour of the flag

The naval officer's spirit

Women as sailors

Fighting smugglers

Sea phrases

Then and now

Costly shipwrecks

Curiosities of disasters at sea

Infernal machines

Queer fish

Strange craft

Mysterious disappearances

Rich captures

Peculiarities of rig

How the old navigators managed

Plates and rivets

French smacksmen

Old sea customs

Who is Vanderdecken?

Credits:

Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)

Notes:

Reading ease score: 62.2 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read.

Release date is 2020-01-20