Jacques is a masterful storyteller who makes use of descriptive language, humor, symbolism, and poetry to tell his suspenseful tale. Adopting the frame of the Flying Dutchman legend, the story is told by an omniscient third- person narrator who adopts the stance of a storyteller entertaining an audience.

Strong descriptive language is used throughout the novel to create the story's setting and an atmosphere of suspense and adventure. Vivid description of the ocean and the weather at sea bring the reader on board the Flying Dutchman as Jacques describes the ocean spray, the drizzling rain, the thrashing ship, and the howling winds.

The cozy village of Chapelvale, snug in a valley among picture-book farms beckons to the reader, pulling them further into the story. Jacques's descriptions of food and drink throughout the book lend an air of realism to his story.

Throughout the novel, but particularly...