Tall Ships and Tall Tales

The best fictional stories across the high seas have been told along the decks of monumental historical sailing ships. From the Jolly Roger in James M. Barrie’s Peter Pan to Jules Verne’s The Mysterious Island’s infamous pirate ship, Speedy, fascinating tall tales have had a fair share of great tall ships.

The historical sailing ship served as the headquarters, living area and pirate ship for Captain Hook and his crew in James M. Barrie’s Peter Pan. The name Jolly Roger is believed to have originated from the French phrase “joli rouge,” which means “pretty red.” According to the stories, the massive ship was made of red and black wood, taking up most of the space in the bay and having magical properties, including flying.

As a research and expedition vessel, the RV Arkham in H.P. Lovecraft’s At the Mountains of Madness helped the fictional characters in the exploring party to voyage from Boston to the polar regions in 1930. Under the supervision of its commanding officers, the brig helped the exploring party sail across the Panama Canal and travel in Antarctic waters.

The Speedy sailing ship from Jules Verne’s The Mysterious Island belonged to Captain Bob Harvey and his pirate crew of British ex-prisoners from Norfolk Island. The vessel mainly sailed across the South Pacific waters, which served as the central region where the pirate crew raided and plundered other ships. This sailing ship was modeled after warships, having four cannons capable of firing destructive eight- to ten-pound shells.

HMS Sophie debuted in Patrick O’Brian’s Master and Commander, a nautical historical novel that was the start of the 20-novel Aubrey–Maturin series. The historical sailing ship is a 14-gun brig-rigged sloop that the English and Scotland Royal Navy captured from the Spanish before giving it to Captain Jack Aubrey. Under the captain’s helm, the ship captured numerous privateers and a 36-gun xebec-frigate until a French squadron seized it.

The Covenant is a ship from Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel Kidnapped, which captures individuals to enslave in the colonies of North America.

Edgar Allan Poe’s novel The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket tells about the tales of a young boy across the sea and his experiences centered around the sailing ship, Grampus.

In Avi’s novel The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, The Seahawk is a brig ship with a uniquely carved figurehead of a pale white seahawk beneath the bowsprit.

The Duncan, from Jules Verne’s novel In Search of the Castaways. The book tells the story of the quest for Captain Grant. Captain Grant of Brittania is missing after a shipwreck. His children, with support from Lord and Lady Glenarvan start their mission to search him in the Duncan.

Poison Orchid in Scott Lynch’s Red Seas Under Red Skies, which is a fantasy novel by American writer Scott Lynch. It continues the adventures of Locke Lamora and his friend Jean Tannen as they arrive on the shores of Tal Verrar, where they must face the dangers of their past, as well as new rivals that wish to stop them at all costs.

The Forward is from Jules Verne’s The Adventures of Captain Hatteras. The novel, set in 1861, describes the adventures of a British expedition led by Captain John Hatteras to the North Pole. Hatteras is convinced that the sea around the pole is not frozen, and his obsession is to reach the place no matter what.

The Charlotta in Vilhelm Moberg’s The Emigrants which is captained by Captain Lorentz. The novel-series describes the long and strenuous journey for a party of emigrants from Sweden to the United States in 1850.

The HMS Wolverine in L.A. Meyer’s Under the Jolly Roger tells the story of Jacky Faber. After leaving the Lawson Peabody School for Young Girls in Boston—under dire circumstances, of course—Jacky Faber boards a whaling ship bound for London, where she hopes to find her beloved Jaimy. But things don’t go as planned, and soon Jacky is off on a wild misadventure at sea.

Rattlesnake is the 18-guner commanded by Commander Terence O’Brien in Frederick Marryat’s Peter Simple. The novel describes the naval career of a young gentleman during the period of British Mastery of the seas in the early 19th century. The hero of the title is introduced as ‘the fool of the family’, son of a parson and heir presumptive to the influential Lord Privilege.

Learn about history with a breeze as Grays Harbor Historical Seaport takes you through the archives of the high seas with straightforward programs that will increase your knowledge of maritime history. To learn more about engaging with our team, contact us at 360-589-8212. You can also donate or volunteer with us to help encourage education about the history of the seas.