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A Tarpaulin Muster

John Masefield

First published 1907
Publisher E. Grant Richards
Format Hardcover
Type Collection
Cover art Mr. Symington
Pages 227
Price 3/6

  • 24 stories, or "stories and articles" 19 published in The Manchester Guardian during the last two years, 4 others in magazines, one unidentified tale original to the collection. --Note by the author, p[9]
  • The only story title that clearly indicates speculative fiction is XV. "Some Irish Fairies", pp. 150-59 in the 1st ed. (viewed at HathiTrust).
  • "The contents are for the most part impressions molded into the semblance of short stories." Consider it an "artist's sketchbook" to read for style, atmosphere, and situation rather than "sea yarns of a stirring sort". --brief review NY Times 1907-10-03 pBR540

  • 1st ed.
  • "First Edition   April 1907"
  • --stated t.p. verso in 1913-08 2nd ed. (viewed at HathiTrust)
  • Price 3s. 6d. listing in publisher advert Manchester Guardian 1907-05-02 p5, heading "E. Grant Richards // Some Spring Books".
  • Price 6s. stated at foot of review column "Recent Fiction" Irish Times -05-10 p7 (positive, noting in particular the story "Some Irish Fairies").
  • WorldCat library record OCLC 4620826 provides list of Contents (24 story titles) and reports: -- "First edition, one of 1500 copies. Cf. Handley-Taylor, p. 28." -- "Reprinted in part from various periodicals."
  • HathiTrust Digital Library (HDL) provides full of one copy from Harvard U, with tipped in portrait and inscription both from Masefield apparently, and with original cover.
  • HDL provides full view of two other copies also with original cover (catalog record). -- title page shows (quote three lines) "London // E. Grant Richards // 1907" -- t.p. verso attributes "cover design" to Symington, evidently meaning one illustration of "The Inchcape Rock", {{OCLC|503970329}} -- Contents (I to XXIV) -- p[9], Note -- collection spans p[11]-[228]; p[228] closes, "Plymouth // William Brendon and Son, Ltd., Printers" -- back pages [1]-[20], "A Catalogue // of Books Published by // E. Grant Richards // 7 Carlton Street, London // Together with a List // of Announcements, 1907" (double slash represents line break)
  • Cover image from Amazon.com 2018-04-28 as "A Tarpaulin Muster (Short Story Index Reprint Series)", "Hardcover – June 1, 1907", "Ayer Co Pub (June 1, 1907)", ISBN 0836936779.
  • Amazon blurb states that the book is "reproduced from the original artifact"; that in the image appears to be an old book and its cover matches that of the 1907 ed. viewed at HDL.

No ISBN on record — searching by title and author.

Page Title Author(s) Type
11 Edward Herries John Masefield Short Fiction
39 A White Night John Masefield Short Fiction
48 Big Jim John Masefield Short Fiction
56 El Dorado John Masefield Short Fiction
71 The Pirates of Santa Anna John Masefield Short Fiction
79 Davy Jones's Gift John Masefield Short Story
87 Ghosts John Masefield Short Fiction
95 Ambitious Jimmy Hicks John Masefield Short Fiction
103 Anty Bligh John Masefield Short Story
112 On Growing Old John Masefield Poem
120 A Memory John Masefield Short Fiction
127 On the Palisades John Masefield Short Fiction
135 The Rest-House on the Hill John Masefield Short Fiction
142 Gentle People John Masefield Short Fiction
150 Some Irish Fairies John Masefield Short Fiction
160 The Cape Horn Calm John Masefield Short Fiction
168 A Port Royal Twister John Masefield Short Fiction
176 In a Fo'c'sle John Masefield Short Fiction
183 The Bottom of the Well John Masefield Short Fiction
190 Being Ashore John Masefield Short Fiction
198 One Sunday John Masefield Short Fiction
205 A Raines Law Arrest John Masefield Short Fiction
212 The Schooner-Man's Close Calls John Masefield Short Fiction
221 The Yarn of Happy Jack John Masefield Short Fiction