The View from the Masthead

More about the book

Focusing on the often-overlooked voices of sailors, the book delves into their significant yet underappreciated role in nineteenth-century American literature. It highlights first-person narratives from working sailors, showcasing a range of sea tales and notable contributions from authors like Herman Melville and Edgar Allan Poe. By examining these narratives, the author reveals how maritime experiences shaped literary culture, emphasizing the importance of seamen in the broader literary landscape of the time.