There She Blows! Or, The Log of the Arethusa

"There She Blows! Or, The Log of the Arethusa" by William Hussey Macy is a captivating late 19th-century nautical adventure that vividly portrays a young man's journey into the world of whaling. Inspired by seafaring stories and thirsting for excitement, an eighteen-year-old leaves his old life behind in New York City to join the crew of the Arethusa. He meets Mr. Ramsay, a man in charge of recruiting young sailors, signing up for what he imagines will be a life of adventure at sea. Aboard the Lydia Ann, on the way to Nantucket, he encounters colorful crewmates, all with unique reasons for wanting to try a life at sea. The early chapters create a foundation for the journey, highlighting the mix of eagerness and obstacles encountered at sea, like seasickness, youthfulness and the bond between the crew, as they ready themselves to hunt whales.