Blue Angels and Whales

by Robert Gibbings, Unknown Author

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 1938

About the author

Robert Gibbings was an Irish artist and author who was most noted for his work as a wood engraver and sculptor, and for his books on travel and natural history.

Reviews

[Rosie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charming little book. Standing at just 115 pages, this would normally have been a quick read, but I decidedly took my time so it didn’t end prematurely.

The bookseller in me wonders where I would categorise Blue Angels And Whales, but don’t have much confidence in my coming to a conclusion. Through writing about his personal experiences travelling and studying fish, Gibbings has created a book on philosophy, natural history, geography, travel, and an autobiography. He also incorporates sketches he made along the way which I’ve tried my best to replicate with varied success.

Highly recommend for anyone interested in marine life!

(1 star deducted for some language that is most definitely dated and of its time!)

[Nick Lawrence · Rating 2 out of 5]

"One day a family of false killer whales, with a young calf close to its mother, showed their velvety backs for a few moments on our beam, and I thought of D.H. Lawrence's lines:

'There they blow, there they blow, hot wild white breath out of the sea! And they rock, and they rock, through the sensual ageless ages. On the depths of the seven seas...'"

Artist Robert Gibbings recalls some of his experiences traveling the world and studying marine life. I think to enjoy this book you need a keen appreciation of marine life and to know the terminology of sailing (for some parts anyway).

The book contains some beautiful illustrations but I didn't find it as engaging as I'd hoped.

[Erik Empson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fine book by Gibbings, this time exchanging the British Isles for the Pacific, the Red Sea, and elsewhere. Some dedication has gone into producing it, for the author donned what sounds like primitive diving equipment and special tools to observe the marine life.
A joy to read yet sadly I must part with it as I am giving it to my niece as a birthday gift.
N.B. I read the 1946 harback edition based on the Pelican original, produced by Dent and Sons, London.

[Oleksandr Pryymak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing short read. Takes you back to adventures times ~1925..37 of simple exploration, not skipping over the entertaining social context. Warm feeling of the old-style adventure, yet showing how things have changed. Be mindful that people weren't in the rush back then, and long sentences were acceptable.