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White Jacket is a semi-autobiographical recounting of Herman Melville's time on the USS United States (sister ship to the USS Constitution), sailing from the Pacific, around Cape Horn, to the east coast of the United States in the early 1840s. (Like many sailors, he doesn't refer to his ship by name, but rather by nick-name. In this case it's "USS Neversink".)
As a result of the book's publication, flogging was done away with in 1850 by the U.S. Navy.
What's great about this book is that it gives a sailor's insight into what life was like on these heavy frigates. It also provides information about this class of ship that can't be found in technical drawings.
Melville often prowls about the ship, giving details of its layout, how features were used, and how the crew interacted with each other.
Reading this book brings a ship model to life, giving reasons for equipment and how the crew used them.
Now I want to find or create cew figures to stage some of the scenes he describes.
As a result of the book's publication, flogging was done away with in 1850 by the U.S. Navy.
What's great about this book is that it gives a sailor's insight into what life was like on these heavy frigates. It also provides information about this class of ship that can't be found in technical drawings.
Melville often prowls about the ship, giving details of its layout, how features were used, and how the crew interacted with each other.
Reading this book brings a ship model to life, giving reasons for equipment and how the crew used them.
Now I want to find or create cew figures to stage some of the scenes he describes.
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