• LUCZORAMA SHIPWRECK SCAVENGER HUNT GIVEAWAY. 4 Weeks of Fun • 1 Legendary Prize ((OcCre’s Fram Ship)) • Global Crew Welcome!
    **VIEW THREAD HERE**

Sea Authors

S

Spars

Joined
May 19, 2021
Messages
477
Points
138

Location
Lancaser S.C.
Who is the most nautically accurate author of stories of life aboard a sailing vessel? I know there some great authors and there are those who couch people stories in sea terms. Which authors know starboard from stern and a maknsail cfrom a top gallant?
 
It depends what era that you’re interested in and what sort of literary genre. For me, if it’s novels of the Nelson era, I prefer C. S. Forester. His descriptions of the seamanship involved in handling a square rigged sailing vessel are worth “the price of admission.” I recently read his The Captain From Connecticut. The book begins with the seamanship involved to sail a frigate down Long Island Sound during a North East Gale in order to avoid the British Blockade.

For the later steel sailing ship era, the are numerous memoirs, but in my opinion the best accounts are those by Allan Villers.

Roger
 
Roger Pellett said:
It depends what era that you’re interested in and what sort of literary genre. For me, if it’s novels of the Nelson era, I prefer C. S. Forester. His descriptions of the seamanship involved in handling a square rigged sailing vessel are worth “the price of admission.” I recently read his The Captain From Connecticut. The book begins with the seamanship involved to sail a frigate down Long Island Sound during a North East Gale in order to avoid the British Blockade.

For the later steel sailing ship era, the are numerous memoirs, but in my opinion the best accounts are those by Allan Villers.

Roger
Click to expand...
THANX. Don't know if there is a Forester in the collecftion because I moved recently and not yet unpacked. Seems like naval tales from the Napoleonic Era spawned some top reading material. I watched the Russell Crowe movie more than once.
 
Last edited:
by far my favorite author is f c hendry. he was a product of the last decades of commercial sail. also early steam. some of his books are hard to find. also fredrick marryat who was a midshipman under the great lord cochran
 
Yankee Clipper said:
Near the top of the list has to be Patrick O'Brian.
Click to expand...
He is indeed a fun read. Along the same lines, I found the Thonas Kydd series by Julian Stockwin and the Alan Lewrie series by Dewey Lambdin to be as good and as much fun to read.
Allan
 
Last edited:
AllanKP69 said:
He is indeed a fun read. Along the same lines, I found the Thonas Kydd series by Julian Stockwn and the Alan Lewrie series by Dewey Lambdin to be as good and as much fun to read.
Allan
Click to expand...
I also enjoyed the Alan Lewrie series, but found it lacked something from Aubrey/Maturin series. Not sure what, but it wasn’t sex; didn’t lack that…
 
Eric Newby is the man.

After his apprenticeship at the end of the clipper era, and being torpedoed in his 3 masted last berth, "The Last Grain Race" he also writes about travel. Not the modern travel writing about how busy the airport is, and where you can connect to the internet - but the sort where you are on your own, on your feet, and in peril. "A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush". His account of tall ship sailing is authentic, and focused on the sailing, unlike Forester, or O'Brian who are writing a story, and involving the ship details. (though I enjoyed the books)
Then there is "Two Years Before the Mast" by Richard Henry Dana, another book written by a seaman, about the sailing and the treatment on board (1840's)
Or for another authentic story Joshua Slocum's narrative of building himself a sailing boat and then single-handedly sailing her around the world. "Sailing Alone Around the World" I found the trivial detail of him building his own boat, which is a bit glossed over, as amazing as his circumnavigation.

Coxswain Jim
 
While not a book, there is a series of letters and notes written by a young Lieutenant in the RN that he had mailed home and which the family saved. No fiction there, just interesting quips on life in the Navy. Henry Sibthorp wrote the letters and the family still had them as of 2011. The information I received at that time is interesting, and could make for an interesting book based on the actual adventures of a real junior officer from 1803 to 1806. Couple excerpts follow:

1 Sept 1805
They have just arrived at Spithead with dispatches from Cadiz where they left the combined fleet safely moored. After leaving Lisbon they were told by the frigate that the French had left Ferrol and were near. The friage had been to Cadiz to inform Admiral Collingwood who was there with only four sail of the line. The French had 23 and 10 vessels of war. They took no notice of us but made for Cadiz, and entered. They did not attempt to molest our brave admiral although they could have taken him and his ships with ease Sir Robert Calder with 16 ships has now joined Admiral Collingwood. Captain Blackwood has promised to speak to Sir Evan about him "should Billy Pitt have forgot his promise which these great men have a happy pack of doing".
Euryalus, Spithead.

19 April 1806
Off Cadiz so can send a letter. Joined Admiral Collingwood yesterday. Would not at once exchange to the Ajax as the Commander in Chief's sanction has not come through. She is going on a three months cruise but that suits him as he does not want to join till Capt. Blackwood joins the ship. "She did not appear to be in the hyhest order." The Admiral not too diligent about promotions, a great many vacancies want filling up.
Euryalus off Cadiz.

To Coningsby W. Sibthorp 27 April 1806
He is taking advantage of a ship going to Plymouth.
The Spaniards in Cadiz are fitting out ships first. He understands Parliament has voted a million for the ships destroyed off Trafalgar. He hopes it is true. It would be a good beginning for the Foxites. Dundas abuses Poor fully, but he likes him nonetheless. He was in a small boat going to the flag ships and she upset. He had to buffet the waves for some time until he was picked up by another ship. Being fully accoutered with books etc. he began to drown "but they say a man born to be hung will never be drowned." The admiral has not been on shore this 6 months.
Euryalus off Cadiz.
 
Senorbob said:
by far my favorite author is f c hendry. he was a product of the last decades of commercial sail. also early steam. some of his books are hard to find. also fredrick marryat who was a midshipman under the great lord cochran
Click to expand...
THANX. I wrote down these authors' names and will start a search.
 
Not really a sea author overall, but Rudyard Kipling's Captains Courageous describes life on a fishing schooner very well. The movie was very well done as well!!
Allan
 
Senorbob said:
btw fredrick marryat mr midship man easy is regarded as semi biographical.
Click to expand...
I've heard the name befofre this. If it is semi-biographical the proof will be in the words he uses to describeb things. Its the same with veterans-they, too, have their own way of saying things. BTW, I've gotta find a dictionary of nautical terms while reading Moby Dick.
 
Roger Pellett said:
It depends what era that you’re interested in and what sort of literary genre. For me, if it’s novels of the Nelson era, I prefer C. S. Forester. His descriptions of the seamanship involved in handling a square rigged sailing vessel are worth “the price of admission.” I recently read his The Captain From Connecticut. The book begins with the seamanship involved to sail a frigate down Long Island Sound during a North East Gale in order to avoid the British Blockade.

For the later steel sailing ship era, the are numerous memoirs, but in my opinion the best accounts are those by Allan Villers.
Click to expand...
Totally agree! The "Captain from Connecticut" is a pretty enjoyable book (not Forrester's best, though) in which the seamanship of Captain Paabody and his crew is well depicted.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top