RABAN:OXFORD BOOK OF THE SEA OBPV PAPER

by Raban

The sea has served as a source of inspiration for writers throughout the ages. Now, in The Oxford Book of the Sea , bestselling author Jonathan Raban has compiled a remarkable anthology of our changing visions of the sea, a rich treasury of writings as varied and enthralling as the ocean itself. Arranged chronologically, and spanning everything from Anglo-Saxon poetry to modern oceanography, these excerpts capture the work of poets, novelists, scientists, and explorers. We read pieces from Samuel Eliot Morison, James Boswell, Charles Dickens, Rachel Carson, Charles Darwin, and John Barth, among many others. And for those who love great writing, Raban not only includes passages from the great sea classics--such as Moby Dick , and The Old Man and the Sea --but also lesser known gems by such writers as Virginia Woolf, James Joyce, E.B. White, and Emily Dickinson. For everyone interested in the sea, and those drawn to fine writing, The Oxford Book of the Sea is a bountiful,
alluring, and essential collection.

Genres: Literature, Essays, Travel, Nonfiction, Anthologies

544 pages, Paperback

First published May 7, 1992

About the author

Louis-François Raban, plus connu sous le nom de plume de « comte de Barins » était un romancier, essayiste et pamphlétaire français.

Louis-François Raban, aka "Count of Barins" was a French novelist, essayist and pamphleteer.

Reviews

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This a great book to have around when you're looking for a short read. I love literature and the sea, and I've probably read all of the stories several times.

[Ryan Denson · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The sea is as near as we come to another world."

From the Anglo-Saxon poem, "The Seafarer" to 20th century literature, this volume serves as a particularly vast anthology of English literature concerning the sea. The hundreds of poems and excerpts from larger works where the sea plays a role illustrate the variety and depth literary depictions of marine world. Many of the "big hits" for maritime literature are included like Coleridge's "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner," Poe's "A Descent into the Maelstrom," and excerpts from Melville's Moby Dick as well more obscure works. Raban's introduction chapter, meanwhile, draws out some of the overarching themes of the sea throughout the long history of its use in English literature. The Oxford Book of the Sea, is, then, helpful for any writing on the sea in any period to be reminded of the varied ways in which people have thought of the sea, and how that changes with the passage of time.

[Jacqui H. Travis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful collection of essays, poetry, and excerpts from classic and modern literature, on the fascination and magnetic appeal bodies of water have had on the human psyche throughout time. The collection was very thoughtfully put together, contains a wide array of classic authors.

I was disappointed there was not a Kindle version of this book, I would love it for when I go to the beach. (Hardback is heavy for a beach tote, no paperback version.)

[Discontinuous Permafrost · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love prose, and the sea, and aren't quite sure where to begin- here is the answer. Great excerpts, well choreographed, an excellent introduction to the sea and authors who have known her.

[Megan]

The Oxford Book of the Sea (Oxford Books of Prose) (2002)