Sons of the Waves: The Common Seaman in the Heroic Age of Sail (Hardcover)

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Sons of the Waves: The Common Seaman in the Heroic Age of Sail By Stephen Taylor Cover Image
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Description


A brilliant telling of the history of the common seaman in the age of sail, and his role in Britain’s trade, exploration, and warfare

“No other book resurrects the wooden world of Jack Tar in such captivating and voluminous detail.”—Roger Ekirch, Wall Street Journal

“[A] rollicking narrative . . . Superb”—Ben Wilson, Times
  
British maritime history in the age of sail is full of the deeds of officers like Nelson but has given little voice to plain, "illiterate" seamen. Now Stephen Taylor draws on published and unpublished memoirs, letters, and naval records, including court-martials and petitions, to present these men in their own words.

In this exhilarating account, ordinary seamen are far from the hapless sufferers of the press gangs. Proud and spirited, learned in their own fashion, with robust opinions and the courage to challenge overweening authority, they stand out from their less adventurous compatriots.

Taylor demonstrates how the sailor was the engine of British prosperity and expansion up to the Industrial Revolution. From exploring the South Seas with Cook to establishing the East India Company as a global corporation, from the sea battles that made Britain a superpower to the crisis of the 1797 mutinies, these "sons of the waves" held the nation’s destiny in their calloused hands.

About the Author


Stephen Taylor is a writer of maritime history, biography, and travel. He has worked as a foreign correspondent for The Times, The Observer and The Economist, and is the author of The Caliban Shore, Storm and Conquest, and Commander.

Praise For…


“[A] rollicking narrative…[An] absorbing and original book…Superb”—Ben Wilson, Times

“There is much in Taylor’s book. It is interesting to see how pragmatically humane the navy could be, particularly in peacetime.”—David Mills, Sunday Times

“Smyth excels at presenting singable versions of beloved repertoire . . . highly recommended.”—Craig Edwards, WoodenBoat Review
 

“Taylor is masterful, capturing moments or sensations in a way that few historians can equal … Sons of the Waves will become a classic. Beautifully written and easy to read, based on original, virtually unknown memoirs, it is filled with insights and experiences of the common sailor that both confirm and defy modern assumptions.” —Frederick C. Leiner, US Naval Institute History Magazine
 
Certificate of Merit, Mounbatten Book Prize awards, 2020
"An excellent book, combining an original approach to the subject with original research. Jack Tar, the quintessential British hero, emerges from this collective biography as a self-confident fellow, part of the collective body that sustained national prosperity, security and power.”—Andrew Lambert, author of Nelson

"This enthusiastic account gives a vivid picture of life below decks in the era of the sailing navy. It is a classic of its kind, brimful with riotous episodes and gripping anecdotes anchored in detailed research."—Margarette Lincoln, author of Trading in War



"The Royal Navy had some great leaders but what made their achievements possible was the thousands of unknown and unheard-from seamen who manned these vessels. This book starts the exploration of those fascinating lives."—Sir Robin Knox-Johnston



Product Details
ISBN: 9780300245714
ISBN-10: 0300245718
Publisher: Yale University Press
Publication Date: May 19th, 2020
Pages: 416
Language: English