About the book
With long, solitary periods at sea, far from literary and cultural centers, sailors comprise a remarkable population of readers and writers. Although their contributions have been little recognized in literary history, seamen were important figures in the nineteenth-century American literary sphere. In the first book to explore their unique contribution to literary culture, Hester Blum examines the first-person narratives of working sailors, from little-known sea tales to more famous works by Herman Melville, James Fenimore Cooper, Edgar Allan Poe, and Richard Henry Dana.
In their narratives, sailors wrote about how their working lives coexisted with — indeed, mutually drove — their imaginative lives. Even at leisure, they were always on the job site. Blum analyzes seamen’s libraries, Barbary captivity narratives, naval memoirs, writings about the Galapagos Islands, Melville’s sea vision, and the crisis of death and burial at sea. She argues that the extent of sailors' literacy and the range of their reading were unusual for a laboring class, belying the popular image of Jack Tar as merely a swaggering, profane, or marginal figure. As Blum demonstrates, seamen’s narratives propose a method for aligning labor and contemplation that has broader applications for the study of American literature and history.
Editions of The View from the Masthead
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780807831694
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780807858554
- EBook
- ISBN 9798890881380
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469606552
Read an Excerpt
With long, solitary periods at sea, far from literary and cultural centers, sailors comprise a remarkable population of readers and writers. Although their contributions have been little recognized in literary history, seamen were important figures in the nineteenth-century American literary sphere. In the first book to explore their unique contribution to literary culture, Hester Blum examines the first-person narratives of working sailors, from little-known sea tales to more famous works by Herman Melville, James Fenimore Cooper, Edgar Allan Poe, and Richard Henry Dana.
In their narratives, sailors wrote about how their working lives coexisted with — indeed, mutually drove — their imaginative lives. Even at leisure, they were always on the job site. Blum analyzes seamen’s libraries, Barbary captivity narratives, naval memoirs, writings about the Galapagos Islands, Melville’s sea vision, and the crisis of death and burial at sea. She argues that the extent of sailors' literacy and the range of their reading were unusual for a laboring class, belying the popular image of Jack Tar as merely a swaggering, profane, or marginal figure. As Blum demonstrates, seamen’s narratives propose a method for aligning labor and contemplation that has broader applications for the study of American literature and history.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The View from the Masthead about?
With long, solitary periods at sea, far from literary and cultural centers, sailors comprise a remarkable population of readers and writers. Although their contributions have been little recognized in literary history, seamen were important figures in the nineteenth-century American literary sphere. In the first book to explore their unique contribution to literary culture, Hester Blum examines the first-person narratives of working sailors, from little-known sea tales to more famous works by Herman Melville, James Fenimore Cooper, Edgar Allan Poe, and Richard Henry Dana.
In their narratives, sailors wrote about how their working lives coexisted with — indeed, mutually drove — their imaginative lives. Even at leisure, they were always on the job site. Blum analyzes seamen’s libraries, Barbary captivity narratives, naval memoirs, writings about the Galapagos Islands, Melville’s sea vision, and the crisis of death and burial at sea. She argues that the extent of sailors' literacy and the range of their reading were unusual for a laboring class, belying the popular image of Jack Tar as merely a swaggering, profane, or marginal figure. As Blum demonstrates, seamen’s narratives propose a method for aligning labor and contemplation that has broader applications for the study of American literature and history.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in The View from the Masthead?
Biography, Literature and Literary studies > Literature: history and criticism
Where can I read a sample of The View from the Masthead?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780807831694
How long is The View from the Masthead and how many pages does it have?
The View from the Masthead has 288 page(s)
Who is/are the Author/s of the book The View from the Masthead?
Hester Blum
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
The View from the Masthead is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780807831694) and paperback(ISBN 9780807858554) and ebook(ISBN 9798890881380) and ebook(ISBN 9781469606552)
Where can I buy The View from the Masthead online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy The View from the Masthead from below
Where can I buy The View from the Masthead?