Among the Isles of Shoals

The book paints a vivid picture of the Isles of Shoals, a cluster of low, bleached rocks jutting nine miles out into the Atlantic. From a breezy departure at Portsmouth Harbor, the islands emerge as hazy silhouettes that soon resolve into distinct shapes, each with its own character—Appledore’s gentle rise, Haley’s ragged “Smutty‑nose,” and the shifting numbers of landforms at high tide. The author weaves in a literary nod to Melville’s “Encantadas,” contrasting those volcanic isles with these quieter, yet equally enchanting, New England outcrops.

Interlaced with finely rendered illustrations, the narrative captures the softening effect the sea has on thought and perception. Summer visitors find the relentless sound of waves dulling the rush of everyday life, turning ordinary worries into distant murmurs. Even during the nation’s wartime turmoil, the islands’ isolation seemed to shield their few inhabitants, offering a glimpse of a world where time moves with the tide rather than the clock.