James B. (James Brendan) Connolly

Born in South Boston in 1868, this Irish American writer grew up in a large family and went on to live an unusually wide-ranging life. He is often remembered first for winning the triple jump at the 1896 Olympics in Athens, but writing became one of his lasting callings.

He wrote fiction and nonfiction with a strong connection to the sea, especially the fishing and sailing world of New England. Collections and archives describing his career note his sea-related stories and books, including The Book of the Gloucester Fishermen, and show how closely his literary reputation was tied to maritime subjects.

That mix of athlete, traveler, sailor, and author gives his work much of its energy. He died in 1957, leaving behind a body of writing that still appeals to readers who enjoy adventure, history, and life on the water.