Marmur, Jacland The Sea and the Shore

Marmur’s take on the inter-war years in America as seen through the evolving life of mariner Charlie Bradburn and his wife Galeta, a first generation Polish-American. The book’s opening section is set in 1919, with Charlie a 2nd Mate aboard the freighter TONNANT, moves on to 1928 (with Charlie now a Chief Mate and separated from Galeta) and concludes in 1937 with Charlie serving as captain of the Pacific freighter ALDEBARAN. Though the novel’s penultimate scene in Shanghai during an attack by the Japanese has a deus ex machina feel to it, Marmur’s sea writing, focused and always interesting, carries the book forward to a satisfying conclusion. His “shore” writing, too, is of interest, particularly in his loving portrayal of Polish-American family life. Also of note today is Marmur’s early — and quite positive — portrayal of the women’s movement in America during the 1920s and 1930s, and how it affected the Bradburn family.