Idylls Of The Sea And Other Marine Sketches is a beautifully written collection of stories that truly captures the essence of life at sea. Frank Thomas Bullen's vivid descriptions transport the reader to the salty air and rolling waves, bringing the maritime world to life in a way that is both captivating and immersive.

The stories in this collection span a range of experiences, from the excitement of a whale hunt to the quiet solitude of a night watch, each one painted with careful attention to detail and a deep love for the sea. Bullen's prose is lyrical and poetic, making even the most mundane moments feel rich with meaning and significance.

What sets this collection apart is Bullen's ability to evoke a sense of wonder and awe at the natural world. His reverence for the sea and all its inhabitants shines through in every story, reminding the reader of the beauty and power of the ocean. Whether describing the majesty of a breaching whale or the simple joy of watching dolphins play in the surf, Bullen's writing is infused with a deep sense of respect and admiration for the creatures of the sea.

Overall, Idylls Of The Sea And Other Marine Sketches is a captivating read that will appeal to anyone who loves the ocean or has a fascination with maritime life. Bullen's storytelling is both evocative and engaging, making this collection a true delight to read.

Book Description:
In these little sketches [1899] of a few out of the innumerable multitude of ways in which the sea has spoken to me during my long acquaintance with it, I have tried with ’prentice hand to reproduce for shore-dwellers some of the things it has told me. His whales and sharks and other monsters of the deep are creatures with whom one is proud to be associated. These Idylls—little pictures—strike me as some of the most vivid things ever written about the sea. I take it that only a man who has used the sea as a common sailor, and before the mast, really knows it in all its humours,… It is not conventionally that I have called Mr. Bullen’s work “vivid.” It is of writing such as his that we can say, and say truly: “I watch no longer—I myself am there.”… In spite of the fact that he knows so much science, and makes so keen and convincing a use of this knowledge, there is always an air of mystery and enchantment about his writing…. that a sense of something strange and fateful, and so fascinating, haunts his pictures of the sea. [Bullen ] led a roving and adventurous life from quite an early age, and many of the most thrilling episodes in his books were records of his own experiences. After various adventures on shore he went to sea in 1869, and for some years roughed it in various capacities in the merchant service, suffering great hardships, as vividly described in The Log of a Sea Waif and other books. - Summary by David Wales