A swashbuckling Christmas gift!

[Joe Myerson]

For the sailor/historian on your Christmas list, I can heartily (as in "avast, me hearties") recommend Cochrane: The Real Master and Commander by David Cordingly.

This is a well-researched biography of Lord Cochrane, a Scottish peer and Royal Navy captain during the Napoleonic Wars. Several of the real-life incidents from his incredible life will be familiar to readers of C.S. Forester and Patrick O'Brian.

Cordingly, by the way, is the author of Under the Black Flag, a terrific history of pirates.

Arrrrrgh and Merry Christmas!

--Joe

[John Danicic]

Thanks Joe. I will put it on my wish list.

I recommend the Kydd series by Justin Stockwin. Historical novels of Napoleonic era naval warfare from the perspective of a pressed British Seaman. Before the mast tales of the common man.
http://www.julianstockwin.com/

Sail on.

John Danicic
CD 36 - Mariah - #124
Lake Superior

[Warren S]

I'm not sure it's still in print, but while visiting my mother in Vermont, I she handed me a 1971 printing of Alan Villier's "documentary" entitles The War with Cape Horn (Charles Scribner's & Sons, SBM 684-10624-8).

This is a riveting account of the turn-of-the-century merchant sailing ships and the sometimes scurrilous business practices that drove the ship's masters and the the subsequent mistreated crews. Additionall, there's some insight into the registry entries for Lloyd's of London and the ominous "Missing" list. Some great information on the tonnage, ports of call, high desertion rates, etc. For me, this is a nice sobering story to balance out the implied romanticism for those days of common men before the mast (so to speak).

For a flavor of this man's writings, amazingly enough, a copy of some of his film footage in 2 parts can be found on youtube:

Part one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufNzunuXMCc

Part two:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vqz56XfW8SI