Looking Seaward Again

Frozen rivers, warning rockets and difficult freight bargains fill Walter Runciman's recollections of life at sea. In Looking Seaward Again, he presents a collection of tales drawn from voyages and visits ashore, introducing them as factual memories first shared by the fireside. The opening account places merchant shipping against the tensions surrounding the war between Russia and Turkey. Captains must weigh the value of a full cargo against growing ice, while the Claverhouse attempts a dangerous passage and assists a stranded vessel.

Another passage turns from navigation to negotiation, as a captain and a Gibraltar agent argue over payment for a cargo. Their exchange brings out the pressure, suspicion and quick calculations behind maritime trade. Runciman's interest lies in practical decisions and the people making them. These accounts offer readers a close view of shipboard work, commercial risk and seafaring experience during the transition from sailing vessels to steam.