Samuel Clemens (1835–1910) repeatedly traversed the ocean during his globetrotting life. A keen observer, the man who recast himself as Mark Twain was fascinated by seafaring. This book compiles selections ranging from his first voyage in 1866—San Francisco to Hawaii—to his circumnavigation of the world by steamship in 1897. Despite his background as a “brown water” mariner, Twain was out of his element on the ocean. His writings about being at sea (as well as feeling at sea) reflect both a growing familiarity with voyaging and an enduring sense of amazement. 

“a sea beneath us was so wonderfully blue, so richly, brilliantly blue, that it overcame the dullest sensibilities with the spell of its fascination”

Eric Paul Roorda (edited by) “Twain at Sea: The Maritime Writings of Samuel Langhorne Clemens”. Published by University Press of New England in 2018. Bought by me for the Sea Library 💙

Photos by Anna Iltnere / Sea Library