For centuries, writers have been inspired by the sea, pitting man against nature in stories and novels. The allure of the sea is mighty, and here is a collection of classic adventure stories from writers such as Daniel Defoe, Joseph Conrad and C. S. Forester, whose protagonists must pit their wits against fierce oceans, terrifying storms and creatures of the deep.

Part of the Macmillan Collector’s Library; a series of stunning, cloth-bound, pocket-sized classics with gold foiled edges and ribbon markers. These beautiful books make perfect gifts or a treat for any book lover.

A young Hornblower is tested in a rare short story by C. S. Forester, a ship’s captain is gripped by a fatal desire to stay on course in ‘Make Westing’ by Jack London and terrifying sea monsters rear their heads in Rudyard Kipling’s ‘A Matter of Fact’. An elderly captain saves the day in ‘The Captain’s Arm’ and ‘The Open Boat’ by Stephen Crane is an account of a nail-biting shipwreck.

Many of the writers chosen here are experienced sailors and seafarers themselves, bringing authenticity and realism to their own gripping tales.