Frank Mildmay or the Naval Officer (Classics of Nautical Fiction Series)

Rating:
Summary: The Granddaddy of all nautical fiction
Review: A fascinating book that is hard to set down. Even though written almost 200 years ago, Marryat sets a standard for nautical fiction which others can only attempt to emulate and never surpass.

Rating:
Summary: A romance novel with a Royal Navy setting
Review: After some preliminaries about the main character's childhood, the novel covers a time period from roughly 1805 to 1816. This corresponds to the time period when the author was a midshipman and lieutenant in the Royal Navy. The story is told in a narrative fashion by the main character, Frank Mildmay, and draws on the author's own experiences.

Readers looking for lots of naval action will be disappointed. Much of the story is on land and deals with Mildmay's romantic involvements. A large part of the "at sea" portion of the story concerns relationships between Mildmay and other individuals. The story often digresses into philosophical thoughts. It is apparent that the author was from an upper class family, and that he looked down on people from the "lower classes" who he considered poorly educated and not up to par, i.e., his social inferiors. The rapid rise of Mildmay from lieutenant to commander was due to influence, which undoubtedly accounted for the author's own rapid promotion.

There is little naval action in the latter part of the novel as Mildmay becomes involved in a triangle between himself, his former mistress, and his future bride. He heads downhill towards self-destruction, and the story becomes a tragedy, but Mildmay is redeemed at the end.

Rating:
Summary: A romance novel with a Royal Navy setting
Review: After some preliminaries about the main character's childhood, the novel covers a time period from roughly 1805 to 1816. This corresponds to the time period when the author was a midshipman and lieutenant in the Royal Navy. The story is told in a narrative fashion by the main character, Frank Mildmay, and draws on the author's own experiences.

Readers looking for lots of naval action will be disappointed. Much of the story is on land and deals with Mildmay's romantic involvements. A large part of the "at sea" portion of the story concerns relationships between Mildmay and other individuals. The story often digresses into philosophical thoughts. It is apparent that the author was from an upper class family, and that he looked down on people from the "lower classes" who he considered poorly educated and not up to par, i.e., his social inferiors. The rapid rise of Mildmay from lieutenant to commander was due to influence, which undoubtedly accounted for the author's own rapid promotion.

There is little naval action in the latter part of the novel as Mildmay becomes involved in a triangle between himself, his former mistress, and his future bride. He heads downhill towards self-destruction, and the story becomes a tragedy, but Mildmay is redeemed at the end.

Rating:
Summary: The Granddaddy of all nautical fiction
Review: If you loved the Aubrey/Maturin novels, the Hornblower novels, and the Flashman books, you should read Frederick Marryat. He wrote his seafaring adventure boooks in the 1830's and they are as readable and enjoyable and understandable as if they were written in the 1990's.

Marryat who actually was a hero in the Royal Navy in the Napoleonic Wars spins a great yarn. Great adventures and funny as hell.

I recommend them highly.

Rating:
Summary: The fountainhead to Aubrey/Maturin, Hornblower & Flashman
Review: If you loved the Aubrey/Maturin novels, the Hornblower novels, and the Flashman books, you should read Frederick Marryat. He wrote his seafaring adventure boooks in the 1830's and they are as readable and enjoyable and understandable as if they were written in the 1990's.

Marryat who actually was a hero in the Royal Navy in the Napoleonic Wars spins a great yarn. Great adventures and funny as hell.

I recommend them highly.

Rating:
Summary: For true afficianados of British Naval History!
Review: If you want to know what it was REALLY like during the days of sail, you should read these books. This author was an actual British Naval Captain. He captures the times while railing againgst the injustices he sees in the system. Read also books by: Horatio Hornblower, Patrick O'Brian, and Dewey Lambdin.