Age of Fighting Sail Fiction

[Lance Williams]

In the last year I have read all of the major fictional series that occur in the 1770-1820 period of the age of sail. I have enjoyed all of them with their slightly different takes on the period. They include:

The Hornblower Series by C.F. Forester
The Aubrey/Maturin Series by Patrick O'Brian
The Bolitho Series by Alexander Kent
The Lewrie Series by Dewey Lambdin
The Ramage Series by Dudley Pope

and I'm still trying to find the Matty Groves series by Broos Campbell

If I had to nitpick I guess that Lambdin's Alan Lewrie would be my favorite, but not by much. Are there any other series from this period that anyone might recommend and what are your personal favorites.

[Marmat]

One more ...

... the George Abercrombie Fox series by Adam Hardy. Think Richard Sharpe of the sea, the series dates back to the early 70's.


If you want a real change of pace, check out the "Bandy Papers" series by Donald Jack. Three volumes in the series won the Stephen Leacock Memorial Medal for Humour. The series recounts the life of Bart Bandy, a WWI flying ace, who's a combo of Billy Bishop, and Forrest Gump.

It's Canadian humour, but I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.


http://www.sybertooth.com/bandy/

[OpanaPointer]

SecNav reports for 1812-1814.

[Selous]

SecNav reports for 1812-1814.

Do they qualify as fiction? I suppose if the SecNav was a bit tricky with the figures...

[johnbryan]

In the last year I have read all of the major fictional series that occur in the 1770-1820 period of the age of sail. I have enjoyed all of them with their slightly different takes on the period. They include:

The Hornblower Series by C.F. Forester
The Aubrey/Maturin Series by Patrick O'Brian
The Bolitho Series by Alexander Kent
The Lewrie Series by Dewey Lambdin
The Ramage Series by Dudley Pope

and I'm still trying to find the Matty Groves series by Broos Campbell

If I had to nitpick I guess that Lambdin's Alan Lewrie would be my favorite, but not by much. Are there any other series from this period that anyone might recommend and what are your personal favorites.

I would like to suggest the "Privateers and Gentlemen" series by Jon Williams. Very well written!

[Post Captain]

My own favourite would be the Kydd series by Julian Stockwin, an excellent set of tales following a pressed man rising through the ranks of the Royal Navy.

[Kevinmeath]

have you read a biography of Thomas Cochrane?

If not you must since it reads like a work of fiction--- but is true and you may well recognise incidents in his life that have been taken up by writers of fiction.

[OpanaPointer]

Do they qualify as fiction? I suppose if the SecNav was a bit tricky with the figures...

Sorry, history nerd joke. When I was reading them I tended to notice a slight disconnect from reality as reported by the folks on the ships. Not much, but enough to make me wonder.

You can see them here: http://lcweb2.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/[email protected](sp0252)):

[Lance Williams]

My own favourite would be the Kydd series by Julian Stockwin, an excellent set of tales following a pressed man rising through the ranks of the Royal Navy.

Kydd was my very close second favorite.

[Mountain Man]

I would have a tough time choosing between Hornblower and Bolitho, myself.

Just FYI, Alexander Kent is the alternate ID of Douglas Reeman, who wrote memorable WWI and WWII books about sea warfare as seen from the "little boats, and a great series about the Royal Marines over a century or more following one family. Reeman wrote one book a year, as Reeman one year and Kent the next.

[GCoyote]

Not fiction, however

The Flesh and Blood Behind Horatio Hornblower


http://www.historynet.com/mhq-review...hornblower.htm

[Lance Williams]

The Flesh and Blood Behind Horatio Hornblower


http://www.historynet.com/mhq-review...hornblower.htm

How is it? I'm on a waiting list for it at the library.

[GCoyote]

Haven't read it yet but I saw the review recently in MHQ and after seeing this thread it sounded like something you might like.

[Lance Williams]

Haven't read it yet but I saw the review recently in MHQ and after seeing this thread it sounded like something you might like.

Gary,

Well I just got my reserve notice from the local library to pick up Taylor's book about Pellew. I'll let you know what I think about it. I'm very curious to see how accurate these fictional series really are.

[Jannie]

James L. Nelson wrote at-least 5 book set, Revolution at Sea about the Revolution and Captain Isaac Biddlecomb. The first title is By Force of Arms.

He also has written a trilogy, The Brethern of the Coast that takes place in southern waters 1701-1705 during pirate days.

And he has also written some non-fiction, including one titled George Washington's secret navy , and some Civil War fiction and non-fiction involving sailing.