The Cruise of the Nona

Ostensibly the account of a small-boat voyage around the coasts of England, Belloc’s beloved book is really a wide-ranging meditation on the sea, sailing, history, faith, England, and the meaning of life, threaded through a real cruise aboard his boat the Nona. By turns lyrical, funny, opinionated, and profound, it drifts wherever the tide and the author’s thoughts carry it. Widely regarded as one of the finest books ever written about sailing, it captures both the physical joys of the sea and Belloc’s rich, combative mind. Reflective and evocative, The Cruise of the Nona is a classic of maritime literature and a rewarding companion for anyone who loves the sea, England, or the wandering essay.