Spunyarn: Sea Poetry and Prose

'I must down to the seas again, to the lonely sky and sea'

John Masefield was sent to join a training ship at a young age, his aunt hoping the experience would cure him of his addiction to books. Instead, Masefield was to become one of the greatest writers on life at sea. In this collection of short stories, extracts from novels, poetry (including 'Sea-Fever' and 'Cargoes' which Betjeman said 'will be remembered as long as the language lasts') and autobiography, he writes of the hardship, romance and adventure of seafaring with a sailor's way with language and sense of a good yarn: of life in dock and on the swelling seas, of salt spray, mutiny, great storms, the spirits beneath the waves, and the devil and Davy Jones playing dice for souls.

This edition includes an introduction by Philip W. Errington on Masefield's reputation, his mistreatment of his own youthful work, and his conflicted attitude to his colourful life story. It also includes a chronology, further reading and notes.

Edited with an introduction and notes by Philip W. Errington