Sir Geoffrey Callender (1875 1946) was a British naval historian who was the first director of the National Maritime Museum. In this collection, which was first published in 1915, Callender presents a series of pieces written by various 'masters of English prose' relating to maritime themes. The pieces are presented, as far as knowledge permits, in the order of their composition or publication, beginning with John Wycliffe's 'The story of Jonah' and finishing with James Anthony Froude's 'Drake'. Detailed notes are contained throughout the text, providing linguistic clarification and contextual information where necessary. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in English prose writing and writing about the sea.

Sir Geoffrey Callender (1875 1946) was a British naval historian who was the first director of the National Maritime Museum. Originally published in 1943, and edited by Callender, this book was developed to provide individuals in naval service with a guide to understanding and writing effective formal English. The text is comprised of a series of small sections, each of which contains a piece of writing by a prominent author relating to life at sea, tasks relating to the piece and explanatory notes. An editorial introduction, guide to further reading and detailed glossary are also included. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in British naval history or linguistics.