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A Tale of Two Tunnels: A Romance of the Western Waters
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.
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As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
202 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1897
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About the author
William Clark Russell
452 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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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 5, 2019
Adventure suspense and romance
William Clark Russell wrote fine and popular seafaring tales of both adventure and romance. A contemporary of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, his writing is mentioned in one of the Sherlock Holmes stories. Doyle has Dr. Watson reading one of Russell's works.
In this novella there is adventure, suspense and a love story. I do not want to spoil the story so I will just say that it does not go where it seems to be headed at the beginning.
There are a lot of nautical terms and some archaic words but I had no trouble following the story. Currently, there is a Kindle Edition available for $.99.
William Clark Russell wrote fine and popular seafaring tales of both adventure and romance. A contemporary of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, his writing is mentioned in one of the Sherlock Holmes stories. Doyle has Dr. Watson reading one of Russell's works.
In this novella there is adventure, suspense and a love story. I do not want to spoil the story so I will just say that it does not go where it seems to be headed at the beginning.
There are a lot of nautical terms and some archaic words but I had no trouble following the story. Currently, there is a Kindle Edition available for $.99.
January 21, 2026
'A Tale of Two Tunnels' is a novella by the prolific nautical adventure writer of the 1870's William Clark Russel better known for 'The Wreck of the Grosvenor'. But this book is neither very nautical nor very adventurous.
So few people seem to have read the book that the descriptions of the plot online are all way off. So, here goes: Girl rescues man trapped in an old smuggler's cave on the barren coast of England not far from Cornwall. The man is a ship's Captain who claims he was robbed of the proceeds of his ship's owners last voyage so is now no longer employable and in search of a new trade. Fortunately, he inherited his father's brig and now wants to make a living as a pirate of the Portuguese. Predictably, they fall in love and the girl's father, a former Commander, distrusts the man. The man buys another smuggler cave with house, outfits and staffs his boat, the couple elopes and they set off. Then... ah, mustn't give away the ending.
It's a smoothly written story but a fairly predictable plot that can be enjoyed in a day but hardly the nautical adventure for which Russell is known.
So few people seem to have read the book that the descriptions of the plot online are all way off. So, here goes: Girl rescues man trapped in an old smuggler's cave on the barren coast of England not far from Cornwall. The man is a ship's Captain who claims he was robbed of the proceeds of his ship's owners last voyage so is now no longer employable and in search of a new trade. Fortunately, he inherited his father's brig and now wants to make a living as a pirate of the Portuguese. Predictably, they fall in love and the girl's father, a former Commander, distrusts the man. The man buys another smuggler cave with house, outfits and staffs his boat, the couple elopes and they set off. Then... ah, mustn't give away the ending.
It's a smoothly written story but a fairly predictable plot that can be enjoyed in a day but hardly the nautical adventure for which Russell is known.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews