Tom, a poor orphan, is employed by a villainous chimney-sweep. While engaged in his task, Tom loses into the bedroom of a girl, who mistakes him for a thief. He runs away, and slips into a cooling stream, falls fast asleep, and becomes a water baby. In this new life, he meets all sorts of aquatic creatures, including an old lobster and other water babies. After a long quest to the Other-end-of-Nowhere Tom achieves his heart’s desire.

“Now you must know that all the things under the water talk: only not such a language as ours…”

Charles Kingsley “The Water Babies”. Illustrated by Harold Jones. First published in 1863. This edition was released by Victor Gollancz Ltd in 1969. Bought by me for the Sea Library thanks to mention in Michael Blencowe’s book “Gone: A Search for what Remains of the World’s Extinct Creatures”. I bought this copy used and it surprised me with a stamp from the Royal Ballet School in the Richmond Park 💙

Photos by Anna Iltnere / Sea Library