A Brief & Partial Guide For Napoleonic Naval FictionThis blogpost's title is actually a shortened version of a quote misattributed to Winston Churchill. Churchill supposedly said: "The only traditions of the Royal Navy are rum, sodomy and the lash!"
No matter who actually said it, it's witty, pithy and completely untrue. The Royal Navy has a long and glorious tradition of beating the tar out of the French whenever they have the temerity to poke their Frog noses outside of a harbor.
If you're like me and love to read tales of brave men in tall ships blowing the
merde out of the French Navy, then you've probably read some of these books. If not, you're in for a treat. You might even be aware of a series that I've not run across, in which case I'd be obliged to you if you left a comment to that effect.
So, in order of my personal preference, here's the Napoleonic Naval series that I've read so far...
(A note on acquiring these books... If, unlike me, you have a sizable bank account, you'll have better luck buying these new than trying to find them used. Though eBay and ABE books have helped matters a great deal, it's very much hit-or-miss trying to locate these secondhand. To me, it's a sign of a good book if you can't find it used... it means people aren't inclined to sell it! Also, try the UK version of Amazon.com for greater luck with the British series. You can often get the UK editions a year earlier than the US release for about the same cost.)
C.S. Forester - Hornblower SeriesC.S. Forester, author of
The African Queen, also penned this marvelous series about the rise through the Royal Navy ranks of one Horatio Hornblower. From his first appearance as a seasick Midshipman to his retirement as Baron Hornblower
GCB, Admiral of the Fleet, you follow Hornblower around the world over the course of 11 books.
Read 'em in any order, but if you're a stickler for earliest to latest, you can find a chronological order of books
here at this link.
When I first read the series back in the 80's, copies were difficult to find. They've been reprinted since several times, and with the
A&E Channel's Hornblower series starring Ioan Gruffudd (which I also unreservedly recommend...), interest has increased in Forester's best-known works. You might also seek out
'Captain Horatio Hornblower', a 1951 film starring Gregory Peck as Hornblower.
Dewey Lambdin - Alan Lewrie SeriesLambdin writes a very different sort of character than Forester. While both Hornblower and
Alan Lewrie rise through the ranks of the Royal Navy, Lewrie is more inclined to shoot first and ask question later, both in matters of love and war. Nicknamed "Ram-Cat Lewrie", there's quite a bit of
rogering in Lewrie's off-duty hours, and it frequently gets him in hot water.
Decidedly more adult in tone than Forester's works, Lambdin's books are not overly smutty, just more of an honest reflection of the mores in the era of grog shops and willing tavern wenches. There's no lack of battle, either, both on land and sea.
Lambdin has written
15 books in the series, of which I've managed to track down 10. Well written and exciting (some might say titillating...) these are worth seeking out!
Alexander Kent - Bolitho SeriesAlexander Kent is the pen name of
Douglas Reeman, who has written an astonishing 29 novels concerning the
Bolitho family. Starting with Richard Bolitho and continuing with his nephew Adam, this series begins in 1772, and continues onward through several wars to 1818.
This is an excellent series, and might move up the list once I read all the novels. Out of 29, I've managed to locate 18 on the used book market.
Bernard Cornwell - Sharpe SeriesSharpe's a soldier, not a sailor, but Cornwell still manages to get the
scarred rifleman in the thick of the action at Trafalgar and the Battle of Copenhagen. I've got all Cornwell's novels, the Sharpe series and all his other works, and recommend them all very highly.
Patrick O'Brian - Aubrey/Maturin SeriesPatrick O'Brian wrote
20 popular novels about sea captain Jack Aubrey and his physician friend Stephen Maturin. He was writing the 21st book when he died at the age of 85.
Unlike Forester or Kent, who jumped around in time with their characters, O'Brian's books are written in the same order as their timeline. This is one series where I'd recommend you start with #1 and proceed in order. I'm up to book #6, for reasons expressed below.
The Aubrey/Maturin series is good, to be sure, but never held my attention as well as Forester or Lambdin. This is not to say it's highbrowed literature. Aubrey is as bawdy in his own way as Lewrie, and has a deliciously low sense of humor.
My true gripe about the Aubrey/Maturin novels? They're too damned expensive. Even when you can find them secondhand (not often) they cost as much as most new paperbacks. Buying them new runs you $15-18 each. Ouch!
Dudley Pope - Ramage SeriesDudley Pope wrote the first Nicholas Ramage novel in 1965, and finished the 18th novel in the series in 1989.
Nicholas, Lord Ramage is the scion of a Royal Navy family, upholding tradition for King & Country.
I've only read three Ramage novels, because they're bloody hard to find. The ones I did read ('Ramage', 'The Ramage Touch' and 'Ramage's Diamond') were quite good, and I'm always keeping my eyes peeled for more. If you have a collection you'd like to donate to the cause, please let me know!
Julian Stockwin - Kydd SeriesStockwin's series concerns young Thomas Paine Kydd, a wigmaker pressed into service with the Royal Navy. There's 8 books in the series, but I've only read the first two, 'Kydd' and 'Artemis'. They read as a cross between Forester and O'Brian, so they're quite promising, and I'll likely continue to seek them out.
Frederick Marryat - Mr. Midshipman EasyMarryat (1792-1848) actually lived during the period in these books! His novel 'Mr. Midshipman Easy' is a semi-autobiographical tale about life in the Navy. He served for many years in the Royal Navy, reaching the rank of Captain.
He's written many novels, but I've only read one so far.
Series I Have Not Yet Read:Richard Woodman's Nathaniel Drinkwater series
C. Northcote Parkinson's Richard Delancey series
James L. Nelson's Revolution At Sea series
S. Thomas Russell's Charles Hayden series
and many, many others...
Enjoy!
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