Journal

Literary insights

Essays on the books we love, the authors who wrote them, and the ideas that made them last.

May 15, 2025

The Book That Built Battleships: Mahan's "Influence of Sea Power"

Alfred Thayer Mahan's 1890 naval strategy text helped ignite a global arms race—its recommendations adopted by world powers on the road to World War I.

May 8, 2025

What Makes a Book Truly Deadly?

Some books have directly led to death, destruction, and human suffering—not through misinterpretation, but through their documented, real-world impact.

April 7, 2025

The Sea Wolf: Jack London's Philosophical Maritime Masterpiece

Jack London's 1904 novel uses the framework of maritime adventure to explore profound questions about human nature, morality, and civilization.

April 7, 2025

Robinson Crusoe: The Birth of the Modern Novel

How Daniel Defoe's 1719 tale of survival and self-reliance introduced a new realism to fiction and gave birth to the modern novel.

April 7, 2025

Treasure Island: The Blueprint for Modern Adventure Tales

How Robert Louis Stevenson's 1883 novel created the narrative template that has defined the adventure genre for generations.

April 6, 2025

Hemingway, Pirates, and Rum: The Literary Connection

From Hemingway's Cuban daiquiris to Treasure Island's Billy Bones, rum runs through maritime literature—paired here with suggestions for your own reading.

April 6, 2025

Pirates: Rum's Literary Ambassadors

The connection between pirates and rum is no coincidence—both originate in the Caribbean sugar trade, creating a literary legacy that still captivates readers.

April 6, 2025

Hemingway and Rum: A Literary Connection

For Ernest Hemingway, rum wasn't just a drink—it was a character in his stories, a companion in his writing, and a bridge to the maritime worlds he loved.