Shaving and Nautical Fiction

[MathMarc]

Hey all,

Just curious if there are any other fans of the "age of sail" fiction, ie. books by Patrick O'brien and Alexander Kent for example?. This is one of my favorite genres. Something about this time period (late 18th century) just captures my imagination. Also, in the Kent books particularly, there is
a lot of mentioning of shaving. The main character, Richard Bolitho, always
is shaved before a battle to show "how calm he is" to his crew. I cant
imagine being able to sit still, while a man shaves you with a straight on a heavily rocking ship, while slowly floating to your possible death.


Any other avid tall-ship fans in B&B world?

[ClunkClunk]

I just recently started listening to the audiobook version of POB's Master & Commander, since a friend recommended it to me. So far, I'm about 1/4th of the way through, and really enjoying it.

[Jim]

I read O'Brian the series a few years back and enjoyed it.

[Elmo]

read them all; my favorites are:

the Horatio Hornblower stories
C.S. Forester

Historians praise him for the accuracy of his backgrounds. Seamen praise him for his knowledge of the sea, for his authentic treatment of ships and action at sea.
These are marvelous books. Winston Churchill's favourite fiction. Highly recommended. The standard against which all marine fiction writers are measured

the Aubrey/ Maturin stories
Patrick O'Brien

O'Briens Aubrey/Maturin series of best selling naval tales was described by the New York Times Book Review as "the best historical novels ever written."

Richard Bolitho books
Alexander Kent

Fine storytelling, careful atention to historical background, and sweeping scenes of naval action account for the success of these books. Pope was aclaimed as "one of our foremost writers of naval fiction" by the London Sunday Times


try my web site for more info

[Bowcephalus]

The wife gave me a model of the USS Constitution for Christmas...(She still holds her own, escorted here by a flock of angels) ....Looks like it's gonna be a pretty good little project.....Having just read a bit about Howe and the British fleet coming up between Long Island and Staten Island with 120 ships, my interest is up a bit in these things...Thanks for the book references....Man this place sells more books than straight razors!

[Bowcephalus]

Great website Elmo....Thanks for the reference......

[Howard Newell]

I enjoy reading about USN's history, along with naval history in general. I'd definitely recommend Six Frigates in addition to the other books listed.

[MathMarc]

I would also add the Richard Woodman series and the mystery series by David Donachie. The latter is a series of 6 novels, mostly mysteries set at sea. The first 4 and 5 I loved, the last was eh.

I can read and re-read both the Kent and O'brien books. They are just
well written and describe the life aboard a ship to the detail. Hornblower
is a fun read. More swash-buckling then day-to-day life aboard a ship.

[Emilius]

One of my favourite genres, even if the Spanish fleet takes the worst part. I have read the complete Aubrey/Maturin and Hornblower series. I prefer the former.

I am also extremely fond od the sea, sailing and tallships. I intend to to get my sailing license soon. I also visited two great gatherings of tallships, Portsmouth 98 and Rouen 99. They were places full of nostalgia, I can tell you, for that was how sea ports must have been in the mast: true forests of masts.

Ah, there is nothing like the feel of sailing and the sound of the wind on the sails...