Stunning introduction, Alex, and I think I like her first paragraph the most. It reminded me of this random bit of The Time Machine, here: “there was that luxurious after-dinner atmosphere, when thought runs gracefully free of the trammels of precision”. A very different situation but a similar sentiment, of a kind of freeing blur. When was this written?
I have Celia Thaxter’s book, upon the inside cover of which it is noted that my aunt gave it to my grandmother. This is quite natural as my family has either summered, lived year-round or conducted business here in Rye, NH, across the ocean from the Isles for over 100 years. In fact, today I am sitting on my sofa in my apartment in Rye, looking at the Isles of Shoals. What a beautiful coincidence to read your piece!
Wow I love that! What an incredible coincidence! This has been a passion project of mine for some time and i love all these old accounts. I would love to see these place myself some day, so it feels particularly poignant that you can see these isles from where you live :) the magic of connection through substack!!
Well done Alex an putting together a very interesting and valuable project, "Forgotten Voices", which I am looking forward to reading during the next 12 months. I have never heard of Celia Thaxter (probably because she is an American author and I am Scottish). Because of you she is becoming 'alive' once more to a wider audience and further afield. Thank you, ~A~
Thank you Annie, that makes me really happy, I’m glad it’s something that speaks to you as well! I realised making it that it may be a fairly niche interest, but I hoped there would be more people out there who share my passion, so thank you for that! Really looking forward to putting these together.
There was once the "people of the waters"; it is in these experiences that we forget the hectic pace of daily life on land. One day, when I finish my work, I will seek out these communities (the people of the waters). Congratulations, and see you soon.
I love the idea of being a people of the waters! So in tune with the elements and nature, it's what I love about sailing already. Love this perspective 💙
Stunning introduction, Alex, and I think I like her first paragraph the most. It reminded me of this random bit of The Time Machine, here: “there was that luxurious after-dinner atmosphere, when thought runs gracefully free of the trammels of precision”. A very different situation but a similar sentiment, of a kind of freeing blur. When was this written?
Thank you Ben! Love that excerpt, I don’t think I’ve read the time machine! This book is from 1873, so right around the same time I reckon.
I have Celia Thaxter’s book, upon the inside cover of which it is noted that my aunt gave it to my grandmother. This is quite natural as my family has either summered, lived year-round or conducted business here in Rye, NH, across the ocean from the Isles for over 100 years. In fact, today I am sitting on my sofa in my apartment in Rye, looking at the Isles of Shoals. What a beautiful coincidence to read your piece!
Wow I love that! What an incredible coincidence! This has been a passion project of mine for some time and i love all these old accounts. I would love to see these place myself some day, so it feels particularly poignant that you can see these isles from where you live :) the magic of connection through substack!!
Thank you for sharing! I read a book this summer you might like, "Sailing Alone around the World," by Joshua Slocum.
Thanks Aaron! You won’t be surprised to hear it is already one of my favourites! :)
Heck yeah!
Well done Alex an putting together a very interesting and valuable project, "Forgotten Voices", which I am looking forward to reading during the next 12 months. I have never heard of Celia Thaxter (probably because she is an American author and I am Scottish). Because of you she is becoming 'alive' once more to a wider audience and further afield. Thank you, ~A~
Thank you Annie, that makes me really happy, I’m glad it’s something that speaks to you as well! I realised making it that it may be a fairly niche interest, but I hoped there would be more people out there who share my passion, so thank you for that! Really looking forward to putting these together.
There was once the "people of the waters"; it is in these experiences that we forget the hectic pace of daily life on land. One day, when I finish my work, I will seek out these communities (the people of the waters). Congratulations, and see you soon.
I love the idea of being a people of the waters! So in tune with the elements and nature, it's what I love about sailing already. Love this perspective 💙
Oh yes! Look me up when you get here! 😉
I'll arrive in the dead of night and surprise everyone.
:)