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Sailors' Language: A Collection of Sea-terms and their Definitions
From Mr. Clark Russell:
"This little volume is the fruits of an occasional spell of leisure. It is offered to the public because many might be glad to possess a cheap book of convenient size that would enable them to satisfy themselves without trouble about the meaning of nautical words often met with, but not always intelligible. I do not pretend that it is exhaustive---scores of words of which I may never have heard, are no doubt wanting; nor will I affirm that every term is accurately defined, though I have done my best to be exact."
The Publisher is pleased to be able to offer this new edition of William Clark Russell's 1883 A-Z listing of sea-terms. It is hoped that the book will enhance the reader’s enjoyment of Mr. Clark Russell's many fine seafaring stories. This edition includes an appendix with drawings of a ship’s sails and four types of ships defined in this book.
"This little volume is the fruits of an occasional spell of leisure. It is offered to the public because many might be glad to possess a cheap book of convenient size that would enable them to satisfy themselves without trouble about the meaning of nautical words often met with, but not always intelligible. I do not pretend that it is exhaustive---scores of words of which I may never have heard, are no doubt wanting; nor will I affirm that every term is accurately defined, though I have done my best to be exact."
The Publisher is pleased to be able to offer this new edition of William Clark Russell's 1883 A-Z listing of sea-terms. It is hoped that the book will enhance the reader’s enjoyment of Mr. Clark Russell's many fine seafaring stories. This edition includes an appendix with drawings of a ship’s sails and four types of ships defined in this book.
224 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 27, 2010
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About the author
William Clark Russell
455 books17 followersWilliam Clark Russell was a popular American writer of nautical novels and horror stories.
Russell gained his experience of sea life during eight years' service as a sailor. Then he was a journalist on the staff of the Daily Chronicle before he took to writing his many novels, only a few of which are listed here.
As a testament to the popularity of Russell's novels in his day, one can read about him at the beginning of the Sherlock Holmes story "The Five Orange Pips," where Doctor Watson is shown 'deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea stories'.
According to modern scholar John Sutherland, The Wreck of the Grosvenor (1877) was "the most popular mid-Victorian melodrama of adventure and heroism at sea."[1] It remained popular and widely read in illustrated editions well into the first half of the 20th century.[2] It was Russell best selling and most well known novel.[2] Russell noted in a preface, the novel 'found its first and best welcome in the United States.'[1]
William Clark Russell was the son of composer Henry Russell, the brother of impresario Henry Russell, and the half brother of conductor Landon Ronald. His horror work has similarities to the nautical horror stories of William Hope Hodgson.
Russell gained his experience of sea life during eight years' service as a sailor. Then he was a journalist on the staff of the Daily Chronicle before he took to writing his many novels, only a few of which are listed here.
As a testament to the popularity of Russell's novels in his day, one can read about him at the beginning of the Sherlock Holmes story "The Five Orange Pips," where Doctor Watson is shown 'deep in one of Clark Russell's fine sea stories'.
According to modern scholar John Sutherland, The Wreck of the Grosvenor (1877) was "the most popular mid-Victorian melodrama of adventure and heroism at sea."[1] It remained popular and widely read in illustrated editions well into the first half of the 20th century.[2] It was Russell best selling and most well known novel.[2] Russell noted in a preface, the novel 'found its first and best welcome in the United States.'[1]
William Clark Russell was the son of composer Henry Russell, the brother of impresario Henry Russell, and the half brother of conductor Landon Ronald. His horror work has similarities to the nautical horror stories of William Hope Hodgson.
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September 16, 2015
For those who wonder about etymology and the history of Naval terms this is a joy to read! So many terms I've heard over the years I now know the background of.
If you are enamored of the age of sail - you need to read this book.
If you are enamored of the age of sail - you need to read this book.
Displaying 1 of 1 review