coleridge rime

Sam Coleridge's close friendship with William Wordsworth meant he was acutely aware of the change into a bleak and reflective writing style following the drowning of his brother John, captain of the tall ship Earl of Abergavenny in 1805, carrying silver dollars to the Orient.  This tragic event peaked an interest in tall ship journals and Bristol library was able to provide North West Fox and the strange and dangerous adventures of Thomas James, documenting these captains' original search for a trading route to the Orient two centuries previously.  Ivor James, a later relative of Tom, was convinced that Coleridge took inspiration for his famous Rime from these logs in the library where he was a frequent visitor and borrower. There is even documented correspondence about his outstanding items!

Until now, the influence of these important diaries on our famous romantic poets has been overlooked, indeed denied. Endorsed by research from Ivor James, here is breakthrough enlightenment on the background reading that inspired an extremely well-known and much loved classic, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Coleridge.

Included in Anian (Anyan) Straits is a published essay by Ivor James giving indisputable evidence for his important but cancelled theory.