Phantom Lobster

by Leo Walmsley

Leo Walmsley takes us back to Bramblewick, the little fishing village on the North Yorkshire coast, featured in Three Fevers and Foreigners. We share in the success and disasters of the fishing families living and working there. Fishing in the little cobles is hazardous at the best of times, but chasing the elusive lobster pushes the men and boats to the limit.

Here we follow one man's dream to change all this forever - experiencing the hope, elation and disappointment along this journey fired by the author's constant admiration for these hard-working fisherfolk.

Only the names are fictional; the place, people and events were all real and because Leo Walmsley is such a master storyteller the reader feels to be living amongst them. Feel the fear and discomfort of a cold and wintry storm at sea or wallow in the warmth and comfort of sitting beside Marney Lunn's blazing fire eating a 'cheese-cake'. The life may be hard but the warmth of the friendships and the spirit of community, even amongst rivals, will make you want to go back there again and again.

320 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1933

About the author

Leo Walmsley was an English writer. He was born in Shipley in West Yorkshire in 1892, and two years later his family moved to Robin Hood's Bay on the coast of present-day North Yorkshire, where he was schooled at the old Wesleyan chapel & the Scarborough Municipal School. He was the son of the painter Ulric Walmsley. In 1912 the young Leo secured the post of curator-caretaker of the Robin Hood's Bay Marine Laboratory at five shillings a week.

During World War I he served as an observer with the Royal Flying Corps in East Africa, was mentioned in dispatches four times and was awarded the Military Cross. After a plane crash he was sent home, and eventually pursued a literary career. He settled at Pont Pill near Polruan in Cornwall, where he became friendly with the writer Daphne du Maurier.

Many of his books are mainly autobiographical, the best known being his Bramblewick series set in Robin Hood's Bay – Foreigners, Three Fevers, Phantom Lobster and Sally Lunn, the second of which was filmed as Turn of the Tide (1935).

Reviews

[Mico · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pleasantly surprised how enthralled I was with this book. The simple story set in a small fishing village (based on Robin Hood Bay in Yorkshire) follows an outsider who invents a new type of lobster-pot hoping to revolutionize fishing. The story follows his development in detail from early prototypes to testing, attempts to manufacture and reactions of the local- old fashioned fisherman. Surprisingly a page turner, as following Walmsleys gentle and thoughtful writing there was suspense and invested interest at each stage of development - would the test work? - would he fix an issue with the design? - what will the locals think?. I look forward to reading Walmsleys other books set in Bramblewick (Foreigner and Three Fevers).

[Sonic · Rating 5 out of 5]

nice style, good pace. makes me wanna go fishing.