Will Weatherhelm

Will Weatherhelm: A Naval Adventure Chronicle This is W. H. G. Kingston's 1879 novel *Will Weatherhelm: The Tale of an Old Sailor*, illustrated in color by Archibald Webb. The narrative begins with the protagonist's Shetland-born father, Eric Wetherholm, a merchant sailor who marries a Devonshire woman, Jannet Trevelyn. Will is born during a violent storm aboard his father's brig *Jannet Trevelyn* off the Isle of Wight. After his father's disappearance at sea—his vessel lost in a gale—Will is raised by his grandmother and Aunt Bretta in Plymouth in relative poverty. A spoiled, headstrong boy despite their careful moral instruction, Will attends school and befriends Charley Iffley, another sailor's son. The narrative establishes the maritime setting and Will's inevitable draw toward seafaring life. The preface mentions notable naval engagements during Britain's wars, including Vice-Admiral Cornwallis's retreat and Captain Trollope's action in the *Glatton*.