For reasons which escape me, I have a half-dozen books on knots and splices. It is one of the odd curiousities of life that you can always find a book on knots in the bargain bin at Border’s, and even odder still that I eventually seem to buy them. Now, Project Gutenberg has published Verill’s Knots, Splices and Rope Work which is notable for its many fine illustrations, one of which is reproduced at the right.

I don’t know why knots fascinate me, but at least you won’t have to spend any money to sate the desire to learn more about them.