The Phantom Ship

Frederick Marryat

01/2010 · Fireship Press

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From the Father of Modern Nautical Fiction The legend of the Flying Dutchman goes back at least to medieval times, and probably earlier than that. In its basic form, it is about a ghost ship that can never go into port, and is doomed to sail the oceans forever. Indeed, in Marryat's day, one would be hard pressed to find a ship on which at least one crewman had not personally seen the Dutchman. It was this thematic premise that inspired The Phantom Ship. The story is about a sailor, Philip Vanderdecken, who is in search of his father. His father is the captain of the Phantom Ship and is condemned to sail for eternity after he made an unwise oath before killing a man. Philip wears a piece of the True Cross tied around his neck and, with it, he hopes to free his father from his bondage-if he can find him. This is one of Marryat's very best stories, containing great sea adventure, a dash of the supernatural, and even a chapter featuring a werewolf that has been excerpted in numerous anthologies. It's a great read.

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Frederick Marryat was born on July 10, 1792 in London, England. He entered the Royal Navy at the age of 14 and served with distinction in many parts of the world before retiring in 1830 with the rank of captain. From 1832 to 1835, he edited the Metropolitan Magazine. His first novel, The Naval Officer, was published in 1829. His other adult novels include Mr. Midshipman Easy, The Kings Own, Newton Forster, Peter Simple, Jacob Faithful, and The Phantom Ship. He also wrote a number of children's books including Masterman Ready, Settlers in Canada, The Mission, The Children of the New Forest, and The Little Savages. He travelled in Canada and the United States from 1837 to 1839. Afterward, he recorded his impressions in A Diary in America. He died on August 9, 1848.