The Mirror of the Sea

Name: The Mirror of the Sea
Author: Joseph Conrad

by Joseph Conrad

Pages: about 220
Category: Literature & Fiction
Language: English
Reading time: 4 h at 250 wpm

Start readingThe whole book, as cards or one word at a time. 2.2 h at 450 wpm in Read mode.

From the opening

WHOSE WARM WELCOME AND GRACIOUS HOSPITALITY EXTENDED TO THE FRIEND OF HER SON CHEERED THE FIRST DARK DAYS OF MY PARTING WITH THE SEA THESE PAGES ARE AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED
Some commanders of ships take their Departure from the home coast sadly, in a spirit of grief and discontent. They have a wife, children perhaps, some affection at any rate, or perhaps only some pet vice, that must be left behind for a year or more. I remember only one man who walked his deck with a springy step, and gave the first course of the passage in an elated voice. But he, as I learned afterwards, was leaving nothing behind him, except a welter of debts and threats of legal proceedings.
On the other hand, I have known many captains who, directly their ship had left the narrow waters of the Channel, would disappear from the sight of their ship’s company altogether for some three days or more. They would take a long dive, as it were, into their state-room, only to emerge a few days afterwards with a more or less serene brow. Those were the men easy to get on with. Besides, such a complete retirement seemed to imply a satisfactory amount of trust in their officers, and to be trusted displeases no seaman worthy of the name.
On my first voyage as chief mate with good Captain MacW— I remember that I felt quite flattered, and went blithely about my duties, myself a commander for all practical purposes. Still, whatever the greatness of my illusion, the fact remained that the real commander was there, backing up my self-confidence, though invisible to my eyes behind a maple-wood veneered cabin-door with a white china handle.

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The Mirror of the Sea

From the opening

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