This is the story of Cornish fisherman-turned-artist Alfred Wallis, whose paintings of boats from his past inspired the future of British modern art. Inspired by Wallis's crudely written letters to his friend and art collector Jim Ede, the book is told from Wallis's perspective and written in his unique and colloquial voice. The book takes the reader on a journey through his remarkable life, from his early sailing days to his late arrival to painting and his battle with mental health, and it touches on themes of aging, isolation, loneliness, and social change in an accessible and sensitive way. Wallis's na ve yet poignant work captured the imagination of many, and through his paintings of ships, boats, and the sea, we see his deep concern for preserving what used to be.