The Sea Bride

"The Sea Bride" by Ben Ames Williams is an early 20th-century novel that plunges into love, sacrifice, and the hardships of whaling life, as told through Faith Holt's journey. Faith is about to marry Noll Wing, a whaling captain, and must leave her childhood home behind. As she goes to the ship, she becomes a wife and faces new challenges in her marriage. As readers start the story, it is Faith’s wedding day, and she feels different things about leaving the home and father that she loves. In the old house, it is warm, and Faith likes the simple life she’s always known. In contrast, she feels happy and excited about marrying Noll. When Faith transitions from her old life to the new one on the "Sally Sims," the beginning highlights how much she loves Noll, but prepares her for challenges, dangers, and growing tension while at sea. Her connections with Noll, her family, and the crew hint at bigger problems as the trip starts.