Captains All and Others

"Captains All" by W. W. Jacobs is a collection of funny stories about sailors, mainly focusing on Sam Small, whose problems and friendships give a peek into the funny world of seafaring men trying to deal with life on land. The start introduces Sam Small and his friends, Ginger Dick and Peter Russet, who swap stories about their time at sea and their dreams on shore. Sam is shown as a grumpy but likeable sailor, sharing complaining tales about life at sea while starting to see Mrs. Finch, a widow who runs a small shop. The men joke around, and it's clear that what they've been through affects how they act now, leading to funny situations with mix-ups and awkward romance.