Salt-Water Ballads

Name: Salt-Water Ballads
Author: John Masefield

By John Masefield

Open in WeRead

Explore more books like this:

Poetry

About This Book

A sequence of maritime poems evokes life aboard ship and in port through ballads, narrative sketches, and lyrical refrains voiced in colloquial sailor speech. The pieces range from boisterous tavern nights and yarns of voyages to stark accounts of shipboard accidents, illness, and burial at sea, alongside quieter meditations on longing, duty, and superstition. Alternating chanty rhythms and elegiac passages, the collection captures camaraderie, hardship, and the persistent, often tragic pull of the ocean.

About the Author

John Masefield

John Masefield was an English poet, novelist, and playwright, known for his vivid storytelling and lyrical style. Born in 1878, he gained prominence in the early 20th century, contributing significantly to English literature. Masefield's works often explore themes of adventure, the sea, and human experience. His notable works include the narrative poem "A Ballad of John Silver," which draws inspiration from Robert Louis Stevenson's "Treasure Island," and the poignant war poem "Gallipoli," reflecting on the horrors of conflict. Masefield served as Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom from 1930 until his death in 1967, leaving a lasting legacy in the literary world.