Please note this tour has been cancelled.

“Yes, as every one knows, meditation and water are wedded for ever”, from Moby Dick. Throughout history authors have used the Sea as a metaphor for birth, adventure, isolation, a moral testing ground, and more. On this tour we will examine manuscript pages of Joseph Conrad, read stories of castaways, the influential poem the Rime of the Ancient Mariner, and other writings of life on the tempestuous sea.

About Hands-On Tours

Created especially for visitors who seek an in-depth and focused look at our collection, Hands-On Tours allow you unparalleled access to rare and important items that are not usually on view to the public. Depending on the tour, you will have the chance to handle historic items, be it by turning the page of a rare book, testing the weight of a delicate teacup, or reading from a manuscript. Click here for a list of all themes and an up-to-date schedule.