Indisputably a mainstay of American literature since it was first published in 1863, The Man Without a Country makes a significant contribution to naval literature as well. The famous novella is a timeless parable of patriotism that takes place predominately aboard U.S. naval vessels, and with this new Classics of Naval Literature edition becomes the centerpiece of a collection of worthy but lesser-known naval writings by Edward Everett Hale. Though long overlooked, these stories are of comparable quality to his most famous work, invoking strong emotions and striking familiar intellectual chords in the midst of a riveting tale. Hale is known for his vivid verbal seascapes and the lifelike portraits of his characters, some historical and others fictional, and lauded for his understanding of the nautical arts and an appreciation of their significance.
With a contemporary introduction by Naval Academy English professor Robert D. Madison, the collection covers a broad spectrum of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century naval activity. Highlighted are such diverse subjects as the search for the ill-fated Franklin expedition, the exploits of a Civil War privateer, the role of the Continental Navy in the American Revolution, and the classic battle between the Serapis and the Bon Homme Richard. All are a masterful blend of literary expertise and historical authenticity. Historians, students of literature, and those just looking for a good read will find common ground in these pages.
