Recollections / The Reminiscences of the Busy Life of One Who Has Played the Varied Parts of Sailor, Author & Lecturer

RECOLLECTIONS
THE REMINISCENCES OF THE BUSY LIFE OF ONE WHO HAS PLAYED THE VARIED PARTS OF SAILOR, AUTHOR & LECTURER
FRANK T. BULLEN
AUTHOR OF “THE CRUISE OF THE ‘CACHALOT,’” &c.
WITH PORTRAIT
LONDON SEELEY, SERVICE & CO. LIMITED 38 GREAT RUSSELL STREET 1915
It may very well be that I am doing something now which is totally unnecessary, indeed that is a foregone conclusion as far as many omnivorous readers are concerned, for they never by any chance read a Preface or an Introduction. But only the other day I was reading an interesting volume of reminiscences, and the writer said that after the publisher had received the manuscript he wrote sternly demanding the reason why there was no Introduction. More, he said that one must be written forthwith, and it was so.
Now I cannot honestly say that I, like that writer whom I have quoted, am a novice at book writing, or have much to learn concerning the ways of publishers, since this book will make about the thirty-sixth that has been perpetrated by me during the last seventeen years. Too many, far too many, I know (this to forestall the obvious remark), but what I want to say is that in no case have I ever been asked for an Introduction, or questioned why I had written one. Follows inevitably the remark, “Why this one, then? Can’t you let your book tell its own tale?”
And yet I feel very strongly that an Introduction to this book is needed, if ever a book needed such a thing. For I really believe that it may be my last; I dare not be more definite than that, though I would dearly love to emulate those giants of literature who can calmly announce that they have written their last page for publication, that for good or ill their message has been delivered and they will say no more. Ah no, fate has not dealt kindly enough with me for that, and because the snarl of the proverbial wolf is never out of my ears and the spoor of his stealthy footfall is but too clearly traceable near my door, I must still be ready to take up my pen. This Introduction may serve as my valedictory, if, as it is most reasonable to expect, this book happens to be my last.