On the Water: The Yachting Muse

In this splendid anthology Michael Gilkes presents a fascinating selection of literature inspired by man?s perennial enthusiasm for ?messing about in boats?. His choice is rich and varied, covering a wide range of human experience. There is delicious humour from Jerome K. Jerome, danger and suspense from Erskine Childers, drama and tragedy from W.H. Murray, supernatural mystery from ?Veritas? and poignant recollection from E.Arnot Robertson. Not surprisingly, the authors he has chosen all display a profound devotion to life on the water ? whether it be the gentle inland waterways of Great Britain or the great oceans which surround this island. The sea and man?s struggle with it is gloriously delineated in all its many moods ? for this struggle is also a love-affair ? but so is the more civilized (one might almost say indolent) pastime of the river-boater. A strong narrative thread characterises the extracts that Michael Gilkes has skilfully chosen. Each one is a ?page-turner?: the reader hooked almost at once, then carried inexorably forward by the sweep of the writing. Whether you are a yachting enthusiast or a mildly interested onlooker ? or even if you have never been in a boat in your life ? you will find these pages a source of excitement, diversion and inspiration.