Amazon.com
The story of Great Britain was written in seawater, and no period was more important than the two decades under scrutiny in Dean King's Every Man Will Do His Duty. This collection of memoirs, diaries, and accounts written by Royal Navy personnel (both English and American) during the Napoleonic period will be a sure hit with any reader who has devoured the Aubrey-Maturin novels of Patrick O'Brian. Every Man Will Do His Duty—the title is, of course, Admiral Lord Nelson's famous admonition to his sailors at Trafalgar—pulses with the vividness, immediacy, and honesty that only primary sources can supply. The book is filled with intriguing details of war as it was practiced on the high seas from 1793 to 1815. Editor King has done an excellent job selecting his sources; in addition to views from the captain's quarters, Every Man Will Do His Duty boasts plenty of material penned by mariners of a much humbler station; their accounts provide the bulk of the book's humor. Fans of the nautical novel will find this book a worthy addition to their library, and so will students of English history.
From Library Journal
Readers of Patrick O'Brian and C.S. Forester will enjoy this collection of contemporary accounts about life in the Royal Navy from 1793 to 1815, many of which form the basis of the fiction series of both writers. Editors King and Hattendorf, whose previous works, Sea of Words and Harbors and High Seas (both Holt, 1996), are commendable companion volumes to O'Brian's Aubrey/Maturin novels, have gathered together the best accounts from the period and presented them in chronological order. With just enough narrative to link the passages, the book moves smoothly from chapter to chapter. Many selections have been long out of print; among the best are William Dillon's "Of the Glorious First of June," Thomas Cochrane's "Cruise of the Speedy," and William Beatty's "Death of Lord Nelson." Recommended for all collections.?David Lee Poremba, Detroit P.L.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
