What is romantic about sunsets? Why does the green flash fascinate us and why do we think it affects our happiness in love? Do we rightly consider dolphins to be our friends?James Hamilton-Paterson shines through the sea in all its facets, and he provides illuminating and entertaining explanations of numerous maritime phenomena--from animals to islands and ships to myths and mythical creatures; lunar rainbows and jester ships, corals and sea monsters populate the universe of his texts.Sharp, personal and always surprising, James Hamilton-Paterson describes his diverse encounters with the sea, this incredible being that he wants to protect like a lover, and he amazes: "I cannot really explain why the sea has me so strongly under control. His murmur and seriousness are so deep that there is hardly any aspect of him whose discovery did not put anything in sympathetic vibrations in my mind, just as the delicate bristle hairs of a crab still register the finest movement of water."