The Shipman's Tale
The Shipman's Tale is a classic novel by Thomas Bailey Aldrich, first published in 1881. It tells the story of a young sailor, John Shipman, who is shipwrecked off the coast of Maine. After being rescued, he is taken in by a kindly old sea captain, Captain Peleg, who tells him stories of his life at sea. John is fascinated by the tales of adventure and romance, and soon finds himself longing for a life of his own at sea. He sets off on a voyage of discovery, encountering storms, pirates, and a mysterious island. Along the way, he learns the importance of friendship, loyalty, and courage. The Shipman's Tale is a timeless classic, full of adventure and romance. It is a story of courage, loyalty, and friendship, and a reminder of the importance of following one's dreams.
By Thomas Bailey Aldrich · First published 1880 · Genre: Realistic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance · 232 words
First lines
Listen, my masters! I speak naught but truth.
From dawn to dawn they drifted on and on,
Not knowing whither nor to what dark end.
Now the North froze them, now the hot South scorched.
What this Textopian page supports
The Shipman's Tale is listed on Textopian as a short story by Thomas Bailey Aldrich, dated 1880 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Thomas Bailey Aldrich
- Date: 1880 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Realistic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Romance, Adventure
- Length: 232 words
- Structure: 1 section, 30 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Shipman's Tale by Thomas Bailey Aldrich
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Shipman's Tale?
- How does this short story by Thomas Bailey Aldrich fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Realistic Fiction first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Old Mary by Louis Becke
- A Voyage by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
- The Bold Venture by Sabine Baring Gould
- The First Cargo by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
- Batuschka by Thomas Bailey Aldrich
- The Tapu Of Banderah by Louis Becke
Genres
- Realistic Fiction — The Shipman's Tale is a realistic fiction novel that follows the story of a shipman and his struggles with his family and his career.
- Historical Fiction — The Shipman's Tale is set in the late 19th century and follows the story of a shipman, making it a historical fiction novel.
- Romance — The Shipman's Tale follows the romantic relationship between the shipman and his wife, making it a romance novel.
- Adventure — The Shipman's Tale follows the shipman's adventures as he navigates his career and his family life, making it an adventure novel.
Tags
adventure · sea · maritime · voyage · mystery · sailing · exploration · narrative · fiction · historical · characters · conflict