Gloucester Sea Ballads

Original ballads, lively and humorous, about the brave fishermen of Gloucester, Massachusetts. Founded 400 years ago, by the mid-18th century Gloucester was a premier fishing community, but at a cost: the astonishing death rate among the fishermen. The history of their exploits inspired these nostalgic, engaging ballads – storytelling in its most immediate form.

For their kind help and cooperation, the author is greatly indebted to May and Carol Patillo, the granddaughters of Captain Jim Patillo; to Mrs. Joseph P. Mesquita, Captain Reuben Cameron, Captain Albert Larkin of the Master Mariners' Association; and to the librarians of the Sawyer Free Library, who did so much to make the research work in this little book easier.

No melodies adorn these fine forecastle-or-shoreside ballads. The book was reissued in 1981.