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"The Age of Sail was the period in which international trade and naval warfare were dominated by sailing ships, lasting from the 16th to the mid 19th century. This is a significant period during which square-rigged sailing ships carried European settlers to many parts of the world in one of the most expansive human migrations in recorded history.

Like most periodic eras the definition is inexact and close enough to serve as a general description. The age of sail runs roughly from the Battle of Lepanto in 1571, the last significant engagement in which oar-propelled galleys played a major role, to the Battle of Hampton Roads in 1862, in which the steam-powered CSS Virginia destroyed the sailing ships USS Cumberland and USS Congress, finally culminating with the advance of steam power, rendering sail power in warfare obsolete.
Sailing ships continued to be an economical way to transport cargo on long voyages into the 1920s. Sailing ships do not require fuel or complex engines to be powered; thus they tended to be more independent from requiring a dedicated support base on the mainland. Crucially though, steam powered ships held a speed advantage and were rarely hindered by adverse winds, freeing steam-powered vessels from the necessity of following trade winds. As a result, cargo and supplies could reach a foreign port in half the time it took a sailing ship. It is this factor that drove sailing ships aside. Sailing vessels were pushed into narrower and narrower economic niches (see disruptive technology) and gradually disappeared from commercial trade. Today, sailing vessels are only economically viable for small scale coastal fishing, along with recreational uses such as yachting and passenger sail excursion ships.

Source: Wikipedia



Folks, please feel free to develop this thread as it relates to the Age of Sail: People, Places, Events, Ships, etc.

You may also cite books, urls, websites and any ancillary threads which deal with this subject. Remember when citing any source, please add the bookcover, the author's photo when available and always the author's link (which is the author's name in text).

Bentley

This is one book that I quite enjoyed that covers this period of history, the age of sail:


by Richard Woodman
Publishers blurb:
Extraordinary maritime heroes of the late 18th and early 19th centuries stride across these pages - some, like Warren, Pellew, Cochrane and Collingwood, are still renowned; others are almost unknown today, yet their brilliant exploits deserve to be pulled from under the long shadow of the greatest naval figure of all, Horatio Nelson. The Royal Navy's struggle is set against the political backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars and the sea war with America.

Reviews:
""A superb Napoleonic War study, admirably written. It puts Patrick O 'Brian and Homblower in the shade. One of John Bayley's Books of the Year." - Daily Telegraph
"An enthralling story of the fighting captains and frigate warfare in the age of Nelson." - Robert Harvey, (author of Cochrane).
"A marvellous book....shows where Patrick O' Brian and C. S Forster got all their stuff from, but is more exciting than either." - Times Literary Supplement
"Here the surging thrill of broadside battles under billowing sail is captured with narration that also presents a considerd assessment of the times, of the social, military and political factors that came so powerfully into play; would that all history books could be as arresting" - This England

Here is another pretty good title that fits in with 'Master & Commander'. I have a copy of this book but sadly it sits un-read in my library.

by James Henderson
Publishers blurb:
Admiral Nelson's most frequent cry was for more frigates. Though not ships of the line these fast and powerful warships were the 'eyes of the fleet'. They enabled admirals to find where the enemy lay and his likely intentions, as well as patrolling vital trade routes and providing information from far-flung colonies. Together with their smaller cousins, the sloops and brigs of the Royal Navy, they performed a vital function. Generally commanded by ambitious young men, these were the ships that could capture enemy prizes and earn their officers and men enough prize-money to set them up for life. The fictional characters Horatio Hornblower and Jack Aubrey hardly surpassed some of the extraordinary deeds of derring-do and tragedy described in these pages. Originally published in two volumes, this book is a bargain for all who want the factual low-down on the Brylcreem Boys of Nelson's navy.

The following book I read very recently and again it would offer some relevant information, although somewhat concise, on the period of the 'Ship of the Line' between 1650-1815.

by Jonathan Dull
Publisher blurb:
For nearly two hundred years huge wooden warships called 'ships of the line' dominated war at sea and were thus instrumental in the European struggle for power and the spread of imperialism. Foremost among the great naval powers were Great Britain and France, whose advanced economies could support large numbers of these expensive ships. This book, the first joint history of these great navies, offers a uniquely impartial and comprehensive picture of the two forces, their shipbuilding programs, naval campaigns, and battles, and their wartime strategies and diplomacy. Jonathan R. Dull is the author of two award-winning histories of the French navy. Bringing to bear years of study of war and diplomacy, his book conveys the fine details and the high drama of the age of grand and decisive naval conflict. Dull delves into the seven wars that Great Britain and France, often in alliance with lesser naval powers such as Spain and the Netherlands, fought between 1688 and 1815. Viewing war as most statesmen of the time saw it - as a contest of endurance - he also treats the tragic side of the Franco-British wars, which shattered the greater security and prosperity the two powers enjoyed during their brief period as allies.

This title below offers a very good introduction to life in Nelson's navy that may interest readers who wish to learn more. My copy is still un-read :(

by Roy Adkins
Publisher blurb:
The Royal Navy to which Admiral Lord Nelson sacrificed his life depended on thousands of sailors and marines to man the great wind-powered wooden warships. Drawn from all over Britain and beyond, often unwillingly, these ordinary men made the navy invincible through skill, courage and sheer determination. They cast a long shadow, with millions of their descendants alive today, and many of their everyday expressions, such as 'skyscraper' and 'loose cannon', continuing to enrich our language. Yet their contribution is frequently overlooked, while the officers became celebrities. JACK TAR gives these forgotten men a voice in an exciting, enthralling, often unexpected and always entertaining picture of what their life was really like during this age of sail. Through personal letters, diaries and other manuscripts, the emotions and experiences of these people are explored, from the dread of press-gangs, shipwreck and disease, to the exhilaration of battle, grog, prize money and prostitutes. JACK TAR is an authoritative and gripping account that will be compulsive reading for anyone wanting to discover the vibrant and sometimes stark realities of this wooden world at war.

Alan Villiers Sons of Sindbad - The Photographs: Dhow Voyages with the Arabs in 1938 -39 might be worth searching for in second-hand bookshops. I have read some brief excerpts. He narrates his journeys around the the Arabian Sea, from the Arabian peninsular to the Rufiji Delta in the late 1930s. Dhows were plying their trade in this fashion till the 1950s.

Thank you Aussie Rick and Harvey for your adds.

Hi Bentley,

I'd like to add one more book which I thought was a great story, of just one ship, during the Napoleonic period, the 'Bellerophon' or better know to its crew as the 'Billy Ruffian'.

by David Cordingly
Publishers blurb:
Lavishly illustrated with paintings, sketches, maps and battle plans, and drawing on a wealth of primary sources and contemporary literature, David Cordingly's portrait of the 'Billy Ruffian' is an original work of popular history and a fascinating insight into the reality that lies behind C.S. Forester's and Patrick O'Brian's fictional ships and heroes.

Reviews:
"A thrilling narrative which brings engaging the enemy so alive that you smell the cordite of the guns and hear the splintering of mighty masts and spars." - Independent
"A masterly account and, like all good biographies, says as much, if not more, about the historical context as about the subject itself." - Sunday Times
"Richly entertaining and informative ... These resurrected log books, captains' letters and court martial reports give us a thrillingly up-close feeling for what it was like to live and fight through those tumultuous best of times and worst of times." - Independent on Sunday
"Cordingly has unearthed a revealing study ... The account of Napoleon's brief incarceration on the ship in July 1815 is fascinating ... original and well-researched." - Daily Telegraph

Wow. I love how anytime a new thread is opened up, on any period of history, Aussie Rick has a nice list of books and descriptions and recommendations.

It is kinda frustrating when I'm interested in so many periods of history (almost everything) to realize that if I limited myself to any one section there would be so many great books to read! It is one of those bitter-sweet, "so many books, so little time" things. The nice thing about Aussie Rick, and goodreads in general, is that I have a much better idea which are the good books, so I don't waste any of that time on the mediocre. Thanks!

Hi Elizabeth,
My recommendations might not suit everyone but hopefully it may point people in the right direction and they can find other books along the way :)

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Hi Elizabeth,
My recommendations might not suit everyone but hopefully it may point people in the right direction and they can find other books along the way :)"

Exactly. I guess that is part of what I like about your recommendations, too, is that you give us enough info to help us judge how well the book would work for us. Many thanks. :)

Here is one more good book to tempt you then Elizabeth; "Broadsides: The Age of Fighting Sail, 1775-1815" by Nathan Miller.

by Nathan Miller
Reviews:
"Pace the pitching black deck with a sleepless Admiral Nelson the night before battle bestows eternal rest and peerless immortality upon him; envision with Mahan the storm–tossed and ever–watchful ships–of–the–line that kept England secure from invasion; wonder in awe at Collingwood′s dedication in working himself to death after Trafalgar elevated him to primary responsibility for England′s imperial safety in the Mediterranean. All of this and more awaits the reader who will sail through these pages, every one of which is etched with the indelible expertise and boundless enthusiasm of Nathan Miller, master of naval history." - Kenneth J. Hagan, Professor of History and Museum Director Emeritus, U.S. Naval Academy, Professor of Strategy, U.S. Naval War College

"This is not just inspired naval history � the personal lives of the seafarers themselves, from cabin boy to admiral, are given generous treatment." � The Times (London)

"A wealth of detail...Descriptions of dreadful living conditions aboard cramped wooden vessels give way to bloody decks after close combat....A solid introduction to a turbulent era at sea." � Publishers Weekly

"[As:] a companion to the popular nautical novels of C. S. Forester and Patrick O′Brian––it succeeds brilliantly." � Daily Telegraph (London)

"The descriptions of the great sea commanders and their battles display all the craft of the gifted writer....Read Broadsides for enjoyment as a well–informed, action–packed naval narrative." � The Christ Church Press

"Tempt" is right!

Below is a book I have yet to read but it covers the very interesting subject of 'boy sailors' who served on ships of the line during the period of sail.

by D A B Ronald
Publishers blurb:
They 'fought like young Nelsons.' The words of a schoolmaster, writing from aboard the Mars after the battle of Trafalgar, describing the valour of his pupils in the heat of battle. Made immortal by the novels of Patrick O'Brian, C. S. Forester and Alexander Kent, these boy sailors, alongside those of every other Royal Navy ship, had entered the British Navy to fight the French across every ocean of the world. There was a long-standing British tradition of children going to sea, and along the way found adventure, glory, wealth and fame. During the Napoleonic Wars, these children, some as young as eight or nine, were also fighting for the very survival of Britain. Drawing on many first-hand accounts, letters, poems and writings, this book tells the dramatic story of Britain's boy sailors during the Napoleonic Wars for the very first time.

The following book was one of my favourite books covering aspects of naval warfare during the American Civil War; "Reign of Iron" by James Nelson.

by James L. Nelson

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Here is one more good book to tempt you then Elizabeth; "Broadsides: The Age of Fighting Sail, 1775-1815" by Nathan Miller.

by..."
I will 'second' this recommendation! I think this is a good book to introduce the age of fighting sail to someone looking for an overall, easy to read narrative.

Hi James,

Good to see you found the naval section. I will be looking forward to any good books you'd like to recommend!

Thanks Rick!

It's an interesting period of history. When it comes to naval history I love reading about men-of-war, ships of the line, sailing and the old cannons blenching fire and smoke. I much prefer this period to the age of steel and massive battleships firing at targets miles and miles away. What attracts you to this period James?

Much the same as you mention above, Rick. Along with the captain having all authority, the need to exercise it carefully and to act independently when called for. It was such an age of discovery as well, and that fascinates me, too. I still find the age of steel interesting, particularly before technology fully took over.

Hi James, I have a book sitting un-read in my library that may interest you if you haven't already read it titled; "Black Night Off Finisterre" by A. Hawkey. It has received some very good reviews and I should make the effort to read it sooner than later.

by Arthur Hawkey
Review:
"Back in 1963 Arthur Hawkey published HMS Captain, and this book is a second edition of that text. It includes a small amount of new material, and a few new photographs. The chapters are identical, with two new ones added in to carry the new material. Only the final chapter is renamed. That this is essentially a repeat edition is nowhere acknowledged, and may well lead the unwary to purchase a book they already own. This is misleading, to say the least. Even the errors of the original text are repeated. The appendix of key political office holders between 1860 and 1870 misses HTL Corry's term as First Lord of the Admiralty, he served between March 1867 and December 1868, a critical period for the construction of Captain; while Lord Derby did not die in office, as reported here, but retired through ill-health. In the interval several important books have been published addressing this subject, notably those of Stanley Sandler, DK Brown and John Beeler. None have been consulted.

The book remains, as it was back in 1963, a fine tale, and it is told with considerable brio. The characters are suitably dramatic, the monomaniac turret pioneer Captain Cowper Phipps Coles RN, a half pay officer whose pushy public persona masked a boyish enthusiasm for his system, 'his' ship, and almost everything else in life. His opponent, Edward James Reed, the talented naval architect was equally difficult, although with rather more justification. Nonetheless the two men would create the modern battleship between them, Coles' turrets and Reed's hull and breastwork combined in the epochal HMS Devastation completed in 1873.

After experience in the Crimean War, and with considerable input from IK Brunel, Coles developed the armoured turret system for heavy guns. After years of trying, with a steadily growing list of converts to his cause, from Prince Albert to The Times by way of a number of radical politicians, including Richard Cobden and Hugh Childers, Coles finally secured the Admiralty's order to build a ship that embodied not just his turrets, but his integrated concept of the turret warship, which combined low freeboard to reduce the area to be armoured and a full sailing rig. Reed, who did not share the widespread enthusiasm for the turret, preferred inboard mountings, with high freeboard. When ordered he designed a turret ship, HMS Monarch that shared the sea-keeping of his broadside ships, using hinged bulwarks to increase freeboard. Coles attacked this as an unworthy compromise. However, the full rig of Monarch led him to install an equally large wind trap on his own ship, with tripod stays to strengthen the masts. In view of the opposition of the Chief Constructor and Controller's Department to Coles' system the Captain was designed and built by Lairds of Birkenhead. They overbuilt her, and sacrificed eighteen inches of her already limited freeboard of eight feet. Concern over Captain's stability as completed was followed up, but the results were not ready until after she went to sea on her third cruise, the first two having been successful. The calculations showed she was dangerously unstable once her upper deck was awash, a condition in which her Captain Hugh Burgoyne, and Coles, who was on board, now considered perfectly normal.

On the night of 6-7 September 1870, Captain was cruising with the combined fleet, under double reefed fore and main topsails. Shortly after midnight a squall struck the ship, already heeled over with her deck partly awash, and before Captain Burgoyne's order to cut away the topsail halliards could be executed she went over, and quickly sank. Before this Monarch had taken in all sail and kept station under steam, an option open to Burgoyne. However, Burgoyne and Coles were anxious to show that Captain was a complete man of war, and could keep station under sail. Burgoyne, exhausted after 48 hours without sleep, had gone below in the late afternoon, and was probably not called up soon enough by the officer of the watch. He survived the sinking, but was last seen on an up-turned boat. He was one of 490 to die that night, more men than the Royal Navy lost at Trafalgar.

Eighteen men, led by Gunner William May survived, and rowed ashore. The new material in the book demonstrates that Thomas Kernan, an able seamen, was so concerned by the ships' motion that he hid in the launch, and cut loose the lashings before the ship went over. It was entirely due to him that the boats floated free when the ship went down, and that anyone survived. However, his action was never reported, even to the Court Martial. Kernan went on to have an exemplary career in the service, including a period on the Royal Yacht.

The Court Martial rightly exonerated the survivors, but felt obliged to take the highly unusual step of observing that the ship had been built in deference to public opinion, and against professional advice. Among those who backed Coles none stood closer to the disaster than Hugh Childers, who had been First Lord of the Admiralty since December 1868. Childers had disagreed with Reed so forcibly that Reed had resigned, and appears to have promised Coles, after the first cruise of the Captain, some official position. He also moved his son from the Monarch to die on the Captain. Prostrate with grief, and suppressed guilt, Childers issued a minute blaming everyone else for the disaster, and implying much of the fault lay with the Controller, Admiral Sir Spencer Robinson. Robinson was not the sort of man to accept the implication, and refused to resign, forcing Gladstone to retire him, after a sick Childers left office.

This book provides a clear lesson of the folly of allowing public opinion, political dogma and other irresponsible elements to influence the design of warships. Sadly, while HMS Captain remains the most tragic example of such interference, there have been any number of later examples." - Andrew Lambert, King's College, London (Journal for Maritime Research - Journal Issue: January 2002)

Thanks Rick, for the recommendation. I have added it to my 'to read' list. :)

Below is a book on a very interesting aspect of naval history. I have a copy of this book in my library but I'm yet to read it.

by Nicolette Jones
Reviews:
“Excellent . . . Nicolette Jones charts [Plimsoll's:] course with skill, insight and elegance.� � Sunday Telegraph

“[Jones:] is sure-footed, never allowing her empathy with her subject to blind her to his failings. Her comprehensive biography ... will be the first port of call for all future researchers.� � Sunday Times

“Jones clearly loves her subject ... Her set-pieces mix sensitivity and narrative gusto. Dickens ... would have delighted in this story.� - Jonathan Keates

“Fascinating . . . Jones's witty, immaculately researched account of a great campaign is the ideal deckchair book.� � Independent

“Its entirely fitting that his story should be brought to life so vividly by this well-researched and entertaining book.� � Evening Herald

“The author brings the Plimsolls' times to life, showing great empathy with the Victorian working man and the miserable lot of the common sailor at sea.� � The Times

“Jones is an effective communicator of Plimsoll's passion and her book will endear itself even to those ignorant of shipping.� � Observer

“A fascinating piece of social history.� � Sunday Herald

“Splendid and meticulously researched.� � Guardian

“Elegantly written, THE PLIMPSOLL SENSATION is a testament to the might of public opinion and the conviction of a passionate man.� � Economist

“This is an excellent addition that the genre of popular history which sets out to tackle a single theme and ends by illuminating an age.� � Historical Novels Review

I am going to place the following book in a number of theads as it fits numerous areas of history; "The War for all the Oceans".

by Roy Adkins
Publishers blurb:
The period 1798 to 1815 - the Napoleonic Wars - has just about everything that you could wish for in a book on naval history - large fleet actions such as the Battle of the Nile and Copenhagen; many duels between pairs or small groups of ships, such as the Shannon and Chesapeake; combined operations like the disastrous Walcheren expedition; and attempts to destroy enemy ships with new inventions like torpedoes and rockets. Most naval histories stop at Nelson, but this book shows that what came afterwards is just as fascinating. Naval history is not just about broadsides and bloodshed, but the lives and experiences of real people, and for the first time extensive eyewitness accounts vividly portray aspects of life other than actual battles, including shipwrecks, press-gangs, prostitutes, spies and prisoners-of-war. At various times during this 17-year period, the British Navy took on almost every other nation that had a rival fleet: the French, Spanish, Dutch, Danes and Americans. Shipping routes all over the world were guarded to ensure that trade with Britain was not interrupted, and as Napoleon lost his empire, the British Empire formed solid foundations - all because Britain came to control the oceans.

Reviews:
“A rollicking, patriotic account of the Napoleonic Wars.� - Dominic Sandbrook (Daily Telegraph)

“A drama of blazing ships and broadsides ... an enjoyable coda to
Trafalgar year'.� - John Crossland (Sunday Times)

“A gripping portrayal ... packed with dramatic incidents and
colourful personalities.� - Colin White (Observer)

“Very readable, this is a lively example of narrative history.� - Ludovic Hunter-Tilney (Financial Times)

“A compelling picture of the triumph and tragedies of the war
against Napoleon.� - Lloyd's List

“A fascinating, lively tour d'horizon of the Royal Navy and its
battles, its trials and tribulations.� - Navy News

“A first-class book, wide in scope and gripping in detail.� - Oxford Times

“A solid, readable account.� - Saul David (Sunday Telegraph)

“Compelling and comprehensive. � - Colin Bradley (Western Morning News)

“A splendid account ... Numerous eye-witness accounts provide a
vivid impression.� - Kathy Chater (Ancestors)

Here is a recent book covering warfare during the Age of sail:



by Noel Mostert
Publishers blurb:
Following the acclaimed Frontiers, Noel Mostert’s new book chronicles the first true ‘world war�. This was to be the longest, hardest and cruellest war ever fought at sea � on a scale comparable only with the Second World War. Methods of battle under sail, little altered for centuries, would be forced to change and develop at an unprecedented pace that brought with it the fearsome power of rockets, torpedoes and submarines. While the war on land saw the rise of the greatest soldier the world had known � Napoleon Buonaparte � the war at sea had the unprecedented genius of Horatio Nelson. Mostert writes with intriguing insight about the parallels between the two historic figures. In February 1793 France declared war on Britain and Holland. The Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars that raged for the next twenty-two years saw European powers manoeuvring for mercantile and political advantage, in a complex and ever-changing web of alliances and coalitions. By 1815 the world was a different place, age-old certainties were shattered, established dynasties and kingdoms overthrown, the United States had been established as a world power and a new age was dawning. The Line Upon A Wind is also the story of the daily lives of the sailors on board the fighting ships, the blood and guts ferocity of engagement in an age of gentility, the struggles of the ships� surgeons to repair broken bodies and the daily efforts to keep the men fed, watered and free of disease. There are heroes and villains here, captains so harsh that crews were goaded to mutiny and those whose concern for the welfare of their crews changed life at sea forever. We see the awful power of the press gang and first-hand accounts of desertion and treachery. It is a story of ordinary men and extraordinary bravery, the building and navigation of fearsome ships of war and of a period of tumultuous conflict, change and innovation. The Great War, as it was known to contemporaries, spanned generations and continents. In The Line Upon a Wind, Noel Mostert has achieved a work of unparalleled research, rousing descriptions and illuminating analysis � maritime history at its very best.

Reviews:
“enthralling [...] A great book for the beach.� � The Independent

“Mostert's research has been prodigious. He takes almost 100 pages
to set a scene, but barely a sentence is wasted.� � Saul David

“There's enough here [...] to satisfy even the most demanding
naval polymath.� � Financial Times

“Christmas history book choice by Dominic Sandbook: `an epic history of the longest, cruellest sea war ever fought'.� � The Telegraph

This looks interesting:

by James L. Nelson

From the author of the critically acclaimed Benedict Arnold’s Navy, here is the story of how America’s first commander-in-chief--whose previous military experience had been entirely on land--nursed the fledgling American Revolution through a season of stalemate by sending troops to sea. Mining previously overlooked sources, James L. Nelson’s swiftly moving narrative shows that George Washington deliberately withheld knowledge of his tiny navy from the Continental Congress for more than two critical months, and that he did so precisely because he knew Congress would not approve.

Here is a bew book just out that may interest readers of the history of sail; "Royal Tars of Old England: The Lower Deck of the Royal Navy, 875-1850" by Brian Lavery.

by Brian Lavery
Publishers blurb:
Brian Lavery, the pre-eminent historian of the Royal Navy, turns his astute and wide-ranging analytical eye on to its 'lower deck' - the world of the seamen as distinct from the officers of the 'quarterdeck'. If not totally overlooked in the grand narratives of the Senior Service the lower deck is often only noticed when it is a problem. Seamen are difficult to recruit, sometimes they mutiny on board ship, they are liable to drunkenness and venereal disease, they tend to desert or behave in a feckless manner. For the first time in a dedicated volume The Royal Tars of Old England presents the authentic voice, life and social history of the lower deck - how, in the confines of a fighting ship, the men asserted their independence of authority and, as part of this, established a vivid culture with its own values, language and rituals. The volume conveys the character of the seaman, from the early medieval navy through to the post-Trafalgar long peace, his attitudes to those above him and the navy's regulations, and the experience of battle as seen from the gun deck or the fighting top.

Review:
"Brian Lavery, formerly of the National Maritime Museum, has become one of the most prolific naval historians of the present generation. All of his books must be taken seriously, which is why I was a little disappointed with his latest book, Royal Tars of Old England, a study of the Lower Deck of the Royal Navy from the ninth century to the mid-19th.

Lavery uses a wide range of contemporary sources to produce quite a comprehensive picture of the seamen, where they came from and what they did. The book reflects much research and it reads well, the original sources being well-integrated into the overall account. It is a very professional product.

Yet there are important problems. The basic thesis just does not add up. This book, like much earlier material that created the dark legend of life in the sailing navy, dwells on the negative: the iniquities of impressment and the aspects of life and work on board ship that seem alien to today’s readers.

The result is a paradox that the author himself admits: “…the British seaman, worse treated and more discontented than ever before, and recruited by methods that had been outdated two centuries earlier, fought better than ever and outclassed his enemies, whose conditions (of recruitment at least) were in theory much better�.

There is a solution to this. British seamen were still generally contented and happy in their lot, even in the time of Nelson.

The famous mutiny of 1797 was about money and not much else. It was not in the interest of officers to have an unhappy ship, especially when the men were the engine that sailed and fought on it. They had to be well-fed and lubricated, and kept clean and well-motivated.

There were bad officers and there were unhappy ships, and these problems inevitably got the publicity, as bad press always does. To dwell on them, however, produces a distorted picture.

Much of the book is about the defects of impressment and it is in fact one of the most comprehensive accounts of this infamous aspect of naval recruitment available. The author describes how the system evolved as the needs of the navy for sudden and massive injections of manpower grew.

It must be remembered, however, that some sort of conscription was a necessity. And alternatives were opposed by a powerful ship-owning interest that did not want their best seamen gobbled up by the navy � as would have been the case if a more efficient recruitment system had been employed.

It is also interesting, as the book shows, that attempts to create something more equitable and efficient foundered in the seas of contemporary British administrative inadequacy.

The account of life at sea lacks perspective. The sailors of the 18th century, with their three square meals a day, lived better than the agricultural labourers or the new working classes. Some of the general histories that Grove cites are rather old � and it shows.

There are some niggling errors. Henry VIII would be surprised to learn that he carried out a “Protestant Reformation�.

Most importantly, the author has not examined his sources sufficiently critically. He clearly knows the weaknesses of some of them, but insufficiently acknowledges the basic point that grumbling and trouble tends to find its way into the record, rather than satisfaction and harmony. This is the book’s fundamental flaw.

The two most important works that have altered our view of life in the sailing navy are ignored in part or totally. There is one small reference to Nicholas Rodger’s Wooden World and no mention of Janet Macdonald’s Feeding Nelson’s Navy. This is surprising.

Perhaps the author wanted to produce a debate. This is fair enough, but anyone who reads Royal Tars must read these other books as well. They are all well worth it." - Eric Grove professor of naval history at the University of Salford

For those who love the history of sail here is a forthcoming book that may interest them; "HMS Victory - First Rate" by Jonathan Eastland.

by Jonathan Eastland
Description:
One of the best-known historic ships in the world, HMS Victory attracts tens of thousands of visitors each year to Portsmouth, England. This informative and heavily illustrated guide provides a convenient reference guide to the ship for naval history buffs and for ship modelers as well. It includes 200 specially commissioned photographs along with expert descriptions of Victory s design and fighting career. No other book provides such a superb visual and written record of this famed ship.

Today I received my copy of; "Spanish Gold: Captain Woodes Rogers and the Pirates of the Caribbean" by David Cordingly just in case in interests any other readers.


by David Cordingly
Description:
Stories of individual pirates in the Caribbean, from Blackbeard to Calico Jack, have been the stuff of legend since the eighteenth century, but in Spanish Gold pirate expert David Cordingly at last gives us the big picture in all its bold and ruthless truth. Cordingly shows how the attacks of the buccaneers on the treasure ports of the Spanish Main, and the sacking of Panama by Sir Henry Morgan in 1671, were the prologue to an explosion of piracy which led to the establishment of a pirate colony at Nassau in the Bahamas. By 1717, so many ships had been raided and trade so badly disrupted that the merchants of London had to act. The man they selected 'to drive the pirates from their lodgement' was Captain Woodes Rogers, himself a former privateer who had sailed round the world with William Dampier the buccaneer explorer as his pilot. Woodes Rogers had captured the fabled Manila treasure galleon, and rescued Alexander Selkirk from a remote Pacific island - indeed, it was his account of Selkirk's ordeal that inspired Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe. Woodes Rogers' resolute actions as Governor of the Bahamas restored order to the colony and proved a defining step in the campaign against the pirates, inspiring the fight-back against men like Blackbeard, Calico Jack and Bartholomew Roberts, all of whom died in dramatic circumstances. Played out against the background of fierce colonial rivalry between Britain, France and Spain, linked with the slave trade, the sugar plantations of the West Indies, and the fabulously rich trade in gold and silver from the New World, the true story of the rise and fall of the pirates of the Caribbean makes for a tale even more interesting and surprising than the legends themselves.

'Aussie Rick' wrote: "Today I received my copy of; "Spanish Gold: Captain Woodes Rogers and the Pirates of the Caribbean" by David Cordingly just in case in interests any other readers.


[bookcover:Spanish Gold: Cap..."
Hmm I may have to add this to my TBR pile at some point. I'd be interested to hear what you think of it once you're done so i'll keep my eyes open for your review!

Hi Shovelmonkey1, I hope to be able to read it soon. I have read a few of the author's other books and have enjoyed them all particularly his books; "Life Among the Pirates" and "Billy Ruffian". If you haven't read either of those books they may be well worth your while to check out :)

and by David Cordingly

by David Cordingly

Here is a book covering Sir Cloudesley Shovel,a famous British naval commander of the 17th century:

by Simon Harris
Description:
Sir Cloudesley Shovell was the Royal Navy's most active combat commander of the Marlborough era and his experiences included every type of naval and amphibious operation of the 17th and early 18th centuries.

Something different covering a little read about aspect of this period of naval history:

by Ann Veronica Coats
Description:
The naval mutinies of 1797 were unprecedented in scale and impressive in their level of organisation. Under threat of French invasion, crews in the Royal Navy's home fleet, after making clear demands, refused to sail until their demands were met. Subsequent mutinies affected the crews of more than one hundred ships in at least five home anchorages, replicated in the Mediterranean, Atlantic and Indian Ocean. Channel Fleet seamen pursued their grievances of pay and conditions by traditional petitions to their commanding officer, Admiral Richard Howe, but his flawed comprehension and communications were further exacerbated by the Admiralty. The Spithead mutiny became the seamen's last resort. Ironically Howe acknowledged the justice of their position and was instrumental in resolving the Spithead mutiny, but this did not prevent occurrences at the Nore and elsewhere. The most extensive approach since Conrad Gill's seminal and eponymous volume of 1913, The Naval Mutinies of 1797 focuses on new research, re-evaluating the causes, events, interpretations, discipline, relationships between officers and men, political inputs and affiliations and crucially, the rôle of the Irish and quota men. It poses new answers to old questions and suggests a new synthesis - self-determination - the seamen on their own terms.

I've really gotten into "age-of-sail" naval history lately. Some titles that I liked or look forward to reading:

by James L. Nelson

by Frederick C. Leiner

by Richard Guilliatt

by Andrew D. Lambert

by Benerson Little

by Chipp Reid

by Jonathan R Dull

by James L. Nelson

by William C. Davis

by George Daughan

by Ian W. Toll

by Stephen Budiansky

by Kevin D McCranie

by Radm Terry McNight

Thanks, Jerome, some goodies here.

I am amazed that no one has yet mentioned the Aubrey-Maturin series written by Patrick O'Brian. (I don't think I should include all those book covers!)

Admittedly, it's historical fiction, but it's very very good historical fiction.

Peter we had a group read awhile back of one of this series, I believe it was by Patrick O'Brian.

The discussions are probably accessible in an archive thread. You should still be able to find them there if you are interested. I recall that people really enjoyed the book and discussion. We do include historical fiction in featured discussions as well as including work like this among the book discussions on the threads here, absolutely.

There is nothing that compares with the beauty of the ships of the line. In this painting, the Bellerophon joins battle at Trafalgar.

A lovely painting Jill.

Nice, thanks, Jill.

Just finishing up

by George C. Daughan (no photo)

Interesting look at the founding of the US Navy from the Revolution thru the War of 1812. It more than a battle history. It mainly looks at the politics behind the creation and employment of the Navy.

A photographic book which will thrill the heart of the sailor in all of us.

The Tall Ships

by Dean Server (no photo)

Synopsis:

The Age of Sail has spanned the greater part of man's history, inspiring some of the most beautiful ocean-going craft ever created. Using modern photography, as well as archival photographs, paintings, and historical illustrations, the great tall ships of the past and the present come alive on these pages.

I just joined the History Book Club and I have a very interesting book on the HMS VICTORY that I want to recommend to all those fascinated by sailing warships.
by

This book is part of the series 'Anatomy of the ship', which gives the reader detailed drawings, pictures, deck layouts, general design details and a brief history of a particular ship. In this case, the HMS VICTORY is described in beautiful and fascinating detail, with highly detailed scale drawings and descriptions of its hull construction, fittings, armament, rigging and internal arrangements. It also includes a history of the ship, including a list of the British First Rates ships of the 17th to the 19th Century. A 12-page photographs section gives the reader good black and white pictures of the ship as it is today, including inside its decks, and helps to show the incredible work that went into building it. Overall a very nice, instructive book.

Michel wrote: "I have a very interesting book on the HMS VICTORY that I want to recommend to all those fascinated by sailing warships. ...

Michael -- sounds quite interesting. I will have to check it out. What years did HMS Victory sail -- what period is covered by this book?

by John McKay (no photo)

I just joined the History Book Club and would like to present a book that I found fascinating and that describes the famous HMS VICTORY.

by John McKay.

The book is part of the series 'Anatomy of the ship', which describes in detail and with the help of scale drawings and plans a particular warship. In this case, the famous flagship of Admiral Nelson, the HMS VICTORY, is shown with the help of both black and white photographs and of scale drawings. The drawings are highly detailed, showing hull construction, deck layouts, armament, rigging and much more. There is also a very informative history section on the ship that includes a list of all the British First Rate ships built from the 17th to the 19th Century. Twelve pages of black and white photographs of the ship as it is today helps the reader see this marvel of past naval engineering in all its splendor. Overall, a book that any student of naval history and fans of sailing ship will want to have.

Gregory wrote: "Michel wrote: "I have a very interesting book on the HMS VICTORY that I want to recommend to all those fascinated by sailing warships. ...

Michael -- sounds quite interesting. I will have to chec..."

I am sorry about the double post. I inadvertently posted the first version as I was attempting to edit it. To answer your questions, the HMS VICTORY was launched in 1765 and was retired from active service in 1812. The photographs show the ship as it was being maintained and repaired in the 20th Century, but the drawings show the ship as it was when launched.

by Jaap R. Bruijn

I just reread some parts of this fine book on Dutch Admiral Michiel Adriaenszoon de Ruyter
Some call him the greatest sea commander ever, others reduce it to the 17th century...
A terrific book with fine illustrations and in depth writing by 9 historians of different nationalities.

Hi Andre:

Don't forget to add the "no photo" to the end. Thanks for recommending this book:

by Jaap R. Bruijn (no photo)

The Rise and Fall of British Naval Mastery

by Paul M. Kennedy

Synopsis:

First published in 1976, this book is the first detailed examination of the history of British sea power since A.T. Mahan's classic The Influence of Sea Power on History, published in 1890. In analyzing the reasons for the rise and fall of Great Britain as a predominant maritime nation in the period from the Tudors to the present day, Professor Kennedy sets the Royal Navy within a framework of national, international, economic, political and strategical considerations.

To this new paperback edition the author has added a new introduction that brings the discussion of naval power up to date, with special emphasis on today’s enormous U.S. Navy as the prime contemporary example of the use of naval forces to wield global influence.

Cited:

by Alfred Thayer Mahan

This battle marked the end of one era of naval history (sail) and the beginning of another (steam).

The Battle of HamptonRoads: New Perspectives on the USS Monitor and the CSS Virginia

by Harold Holzer

Synopsis:

On March 8 and 9, 1862, a sea battle off the Virginia coast changed naval warfare forever. It began when the Confederate States Navy's CSS Virginia led a task force to break the Union blockade of Hampton Roads. The Virginia sank the USS Cumberland and forced the frigate Congress to surrender. Damaged by shore batteries, the Virginia retreated, returning the next day to find her way blocked by the newly arrived USS Monitor. The clash of ironclads was underway. After fighting for nine hours, both ships withdrew, neither seriously damaged, with both sides claiming victory. Although the battle may have been a draw and the Monitor sank in a storm later that year, this first encounter between powered, ironclad warships spelled the end of wooden warships-and the dawn of a new navy. This book takes a new look at this historic battle. The ten original essays, written by leading historians, explore every aspect of the battle-from the building of the warships and life aboard these iron coffinsto tactics, strategy, and the debates about who really won the battle of Hampton Roads. Co-published with The Mariners' Museum, home to the USS Monitor Center, this authoritative guide to the military, political, technological, and cultural dimensions of this historic battle also features a portfolio of classic lithographs, drawings, and paintings.