Ran Away to Sea: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
Ran Away to Sea: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

Ran Away to Sea is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Reid, Mayne (1818–1883).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"Ran Away to Sea" by Captain Mayne Reid is a novel written in the mid-19th century. It follows the story of a young boy who, despite a loving family and a comfortable home, becomes consumed by a longing for adventure and the sea, ultimately running away to join a ship where he encounters horrific conditions and a vile crew involved in the slave trade. As he navigates the harsh realities of life at sea, the protagonist grapples with his choices and the dire consequences that ensue. At the start of the narrative, the boy reflects on his decision to abandon his loving family at the tender age of sixteen, driven by an irresistible desire to explore the ocean. Within hours of embarking on the ship "Pandora", he is filled with regret as he faces severe mistreatment from the captain and crew, revealing the grim true nature of life as a sailor. The opening chapters introduce Ben Brace, a sailor who becomes the boy's protector amid the cruelty, as well as hint at the dark purpose of their voyage—engaging in the slave trade. As the protagonist realizes the ship's horrific intentions, he plots his escape, setting the stage for a harrowing exploration of survival, morality, and redemption.
Book and edition facts
- Title: Ran Away to Sea
- Author credits: Reid, Mayne (1818–1883)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Africa -- Juvenile fiction
- Sailors -- Juvenile fiction
- Seafaring life -- Juvenile fiction
- Ships -- Juvenile fiction
- Slave trade -- Juvenile fiction
- Voyages and travels -- Juvenile fiction
Gutenberg collections
- Category: Adventure
- Category: Novels
Read this edition
View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.
Source notes
Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.



