A story of Nantucket whaling days. Searing hatred and vibrant love vie for the possession of captain Jabez Folger’s soul. This stemmed from his first voyage when he had an experience so evil that it changed his life. Now and then a warm and gentle spirit would emerge, his old self. Under this influence he married a lovely Quaker girl but now he had turned against dry land. His love centered on the mermaid figure head on his boat, a symbol of the beauty and indifference of the sea. A powerful book, vivid characters, a plot breathtaking in scope.