The Sea Fairies
1911
The Sea Fairies
1911
Long before Pixar dreamed up Finding Nemo, L. Frank Baum built his own enchanted ocean. The Sea Fairies introduces Trot, a girl whose curiosity is matched only by her courage, and Cap'n Bill, an old sailor whose tall tales become inconveniently, wonderfully true. One afternoon of mermaid-talk on the California coast leads to a boat trip, a magical summons, and a descent into a glittering underwater kingdom few humans have ever seen. Here, Trot and her companion meet an aristocratic codfish with refined manners, a bashful octopus with self-esteem issues, and dine at royal banquets. They also get captured by a sea monster, because even paradise has its dangers. Baum writes with the same inventive glee he brought to Oz, filling his submarine realm with personality and wonder. For readers who have ever wanted to breathe underwater and see what is waiting below the surface.
Editions
X-Ray
“People lose a lot of time being afraid... People lose a lot of time in hating others, and there's no fun in it at all.””
— L. Frank Baum
“The learned scientists named ev'ry blamed thing they come across, an' gener'ly they picked out names as nobody could understand or pernounce.””
— L. Frank Baum
“People who are always understood are very common. You are sure to respect those you can't understand, for you feel that perhaps they know more than you do.””
— L. Frank Baum
“Courage, friends! Do not despair, for soon you will be free.””
— L. Frank Baum
“The sea maidens were as fresh and lovely as ever, while each and all proved sweet tempered and merry, even at the breakfast table”
— L. Frank Baum
“A lobster spilled some soup on Cap'n Bill's bald head and made him yell for a minute, because it was hot and he had not expected it,””
— L. Frank Baum
“Just beyond the opening the cave was higher, and as the boat floated into the dim interior they found themselves on quite an extensive branch of the sea. For a time neither of them spoke and only the soft lapping of the water against the sides of the boat was heard. A beautiful sight met the eyes of the two adventurers and held them dumb with wonder and delight. It was not dark in this vast cave, yet the light seemed to come from underneath the water, which all around them glowed with an exquisite sapphire color. Where the little waves crept up the sides of the rocks they shone like brilliant jewels, and every drop of spray seemed a gem fit to deck a queen.””
— L. Frank Baum
“Folks gener'ly gets stuck-up 'cause they don't know theirselves like other folks knows 'em.””
— L. Frank Baum
“I composed it myself!" said the Fiddler Crab. "But it's highly classical, I admit. All really great music is an acquired taste.””
— L. Frank Baum
