The Shipwereck, a Poem. By William Falconer, a sailor.

Title

The Shipwereck, a Poem. By William Falconer, a sailor.

Description

The book describes, in 175 pages in English, the loss of the Britannia off the coast of Greece, featuring the accounts and poems of William Falconer, a sailor. The title page includes a coat of arms and sailing ships, along with an engraved dedication by Robert Dodd to "The Elder Brethren of the Corporation of Trinity House, Deptford Strond, London, 1808. It contains 18 hand-colored aquatints of sailing ships from this voyage, 4 small views, and 1 fold-out map of the ship's route from Crete to Cape Colonna in Greece

c. 1808

Artist

Jackson

Historical Description

"The Shipwreck" is a famous poem written by William Falconer, a sailor and poet, first published in 1762. The poem is an epic narrative that describes a shipwreck and its devastating effects on the crew. Falconer, drawing on his own experiences at sea, provides a vivid and emotional account of the dangers faced by sailors, the power of nature, and the struggle for survival. William Falconer (1732–1769) was born in Scotland and spent much of his life at sea. He worked as a sailor, which gave him firsthand experience of the harsh realities of life on the ocean. His poem, "The Shipwreck," is written in blank verse (unrhymed iambic pentameter) and is structured in several parts. It focuses on a voyage gone wrong, describing the violent storm, the terror of the crew, and the tragic loss of life as the ship is destroyed. Falconer vividly captures the fear and chaos of the shipwreck, the struggle to survive amidst the elements, and the ultimate despair of those who perish. He also portrays the elements of nature—particularly the sea—almost as a character, powerful, indifferent, and dangerous. The poem includes moral reflections on fate, human frailty, and the limits of human endeavor when faced with the unforgiving force of nature. "The Shipwreck" was very popular in its time and earned Falconer recognition, particularly for its detailed portrayal of maritime life and the realistic depiction of a sailor's worldview. While Falconer did not achieve lasting fame, his poem is remembered for its gripping narrative, tragic tone, and authentic depiction of life at sea. Falconer’s work stands out because it captures the romanticism of the sea—a theme that would continue to be explored in later literature—while grounding it in the real-world dangers that sailors faced every day.