Arthur Ransome’s "We Didn’t Mean to Go to Sea" was inspired by his boat the "Nancy Blackett" which appears in the book as the Goblin. But there was more to her influence on the novel than that, as Peter Willis shows in this new book, which combines an analysis of this classic of maritime literature (“a book of which Conrad would have been proud” – Hugh Brogan) with the history of the boat herself, her life, near-death, restoration and renaissance as an ambassador for Ransome and his tales. Also...

On Wednesday 25 th October Arthur Beale and Fernhurst Books will be hosting an evening looking at two contrasting voyages which are recounted in books from the Making Waves series. Kim C Sturgess will recount how, at the age of 50, he undertook his first major sailing adventure, sailing around Britain – the dream of many cruisers in the UK. He made it achievable in 50 day sails and 1 night passage. This has proved a popular tale and his book ( Sailing Around Britain ) moves into its second...