Publisher's Synopsis
The central character is a big lug and an aspiring poet who runs up tabs at local bars by day and haunts the docks by night, writing paeans to the sea-faring life. When he gets shanghaied aboard a clipper bound for Hong Kong, he finds the sailor's life a bit rougher than his romantic nautical fantasies. He eventually learns, and loves, to live a Conradian life at sea, all the while still writing poetry. By the end of his life he's found satisfaction in living a life of adventure and finding a receptive and appreciative readership.
