The Merman and the Figure-Head: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
The Merman and the Figure-Head: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.
The Merman and the Figure-Head is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Guernsey, Clara F. (Clara Florida) (1836–1893).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"The Merman and the Figure-Head" by Clara F. Guernsey is a fictional narrative likely written in the late 19th century. The story intertwines myth and reality, exploring themes of love and identity through the experiences of a young merman who becomes enchanted by a wooden figure-head of a sea-nymph on a ship, which he believes to be a divine being. The tale blends adventure and romance, with a focus on the merman's internal struggles as he navigates his feelings for this inanimate representation of idealized beauty. At the start of the story, we meet Master Isaac Torrey, a merchant from Salem, who decides to name his new ship “The Sea-nymph.” As he visits Job Chippit, the wood-carver, to discuss the ship's elaborate figure-head, their humorous exchange delves into the nature of sea-nymphs and their place in myth. Meanwhile, in the sea kingdom, a handsome merman becomes enamored with the figure-head after it is complete, mistaking it for a living goddess. This infatuation leads him on a tumultuous journey, reflecting his struggles between the allure of the wood-carved nymph and the reality of love among the merfolk—all underlined by comedic elements typical of Guernsey’s style.
Book and edition facts
- Title: The Merman and the Figure-Head
- Author credits: Guernsey, Clara F. (Clara Florida) (1836–1893)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Children's stories
- Fantasy fiction
- Mermaids -- Juvenile fiction
Gutenberg collections
- Category: Humour
- Category: Mythology, Legends & Folklore
- Category: Novels
- Category: Romance
- Category: Science-Fiction & Fantasy
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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.
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