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Man of War Life
Charles Norhoff's (1830-1901) tales of his circumnavigation as a ship's boy sailing on the 74-gun USS Columbus from 1845 to 1848 during her circumnavigation (including visits to Java, China, Manila, Japan and Honolulu) under the command of Commodore James Biddle.
Like many a restless teenager before him, Charles Nordhoff craved excitement and in 1844, when barely 14, he managed to talk his way into the US Navy. A bookish lad who had been apprenticed to a printer, Nordhoff was better educated than most of his fellow seamen, and was well equipped to describe what became a three-year round-the-world adventure. He was lucky in his ship, USS Columbus, a large 74-gun ship of the line that had been chosen to undertake a diplomatic mission to China, and then to Japan, in an abortive attempt to open the latter to American trade. In the course of this voyage, Nordhoff was to see many countries of south-east Asia and the Far East, before crossing the Pacific, visiting South America, rounding Cape Horn, and finally returning to Norfolk, Virginia, having crossed the Equator six times.
Apart from its descriptions of exotic climes, much of the interest in the book lies in a boy's view of naval life and how the ship was run. The US Navy was small and followed very conservative principles, with an emphasis on discipline, routine and training that would have been familiar a century earlier. However, it was also subtly different: more humane in its treatment of the crew, less draconian in punishment, and a promoter of what would be considered 'Victorian' moral values. The book offers a valuable and entertaining account of life in the last days of the sailing warship.
Nordhoff's grandson, also Charles, is well known as a historian and co-author of the Mutiny on HMS Bounty Trilogy.
Like many a restless teenager before him, Charles Nordhoff craved excitement and in 1844, when barely 14, he managed to talk his way into the US Navy. A bookish lad who had been apprenticed to a printer, Nordhoff was better educated than most of his fellow seamen, and was well equipped to describe what became a three-year round-the-world adventure. He was lucky in his ship, USS Columbus, a large 74-gun ship of the line that had been chosen to undertake a diplomatic mission to China, and then to Japan, in an abortive attempt to open the latter to American trade. In the course of this voyage, Nordhoff was to see many countries of south-east Asia and the Far East, before crossing the Pacific, visiting South America, rounding Cape Horn, and finally returning to Norfolk, Virginia, having crossed the Equator six times.
Apart from its descriptions of exotic climes, much of the interest in the book lies in a boy's view of naval life and how the ship was run. The US Navy was small and followed very conservative principles, with an emphasis on discipline, routine and training that would have been familiar a century earlier. However, it was also subtly different: more humane in its treatment of the crew, less draconian in punishment, and a promoter of what would be considered 'Victorian' moral values. The book offers a valuable and entertaining account of life in the last days of the sailing warship.
Nordhoff's grandson, also Charles, is well known as a historian and co-author of the Mutiny on HMS Bounty Trilogy.
- GenresHistory
277 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1855
About the author
Charles Nordhoff
182 books7 followersThis describes the 19th century journalist and author. For the 20th century novelist most famous for Mutiny on the Bounty, see Charles Bernard Nordhoff.
Charles Nordhoff was an American journalist, descriptive and miscellaneous writer.
He was born in Erwitte, Germany (Prussia) in 1830, and emigrated to the USA in 1845. He was educated in Cincinnati, and was for nine years at sea, in the navy and merchant service; from 1853 to 1857 in various newspaper offices; was then employed editorially by the Harpers (1861), and for the next ten years on the staff of the New York Evening Post.
From 1871 to 1873 Nordhoff travelled in California and visited Hawaii. He then became Washington correspondent of the New York Herald. His most widely known books are Northern California, Oregon and the Sandwich Islands (1874), The Communistic Societies of the United States (1857) and God and the Future Life (1881).
Charles Nordhoff was an American journalist, descriptive and miscellaneous writer.
He was born in Erwitte, Germany (Prussia) in 1830, and emigrated to the USA in 1845. He was educated in Cincinnati, and was for nine years at sea, in the navy and merchant service; from 1853 to 1857 in various newspaper offices; was then employed editorially by the Harpers (1861), and for the next ten years on the staff of the New York Evening Post.
From 1871 to 1873 Nordhoff travelled in California and visited Hawaii. He then became Washington correspondent of the New York Herald. His most widely known books are Northern California, Oregon and the Sandwich Islands (1874), The Communistic Societies of the United States (1857) and God and the Future Life (1881).
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 25, 2026
Thirteen and went to sea. I'm not sure they make kids the same today as back then! Still, a well written book of that time in history. He saw and experienced some amazing times!
November 3, 2025
The author/protagonist Charles Nordhoff mentioned his childhood at the beginning of the book, but never mentioned his parents and possible siblings. At fist I just thought his family members are very careless to let a 14-year-old minor to carry 25 dollars, go to seashore, find a job on a ship and travel the world. Then after a few pages, he still never mentions his family at once even though he just remains 2.5 dollars and have yet found a job. I was gaining curiosity so I googled a bit, found out a little detailed information about his family:
Charles Nordhoff was born in Erwitte, a village in Westphalia, Prussia. At five, he emigrated with his parents to Ohio, where they died. Left an orphan in the care of a family in Cincinnati, he was apprenticed to a printer at age thirteen. After serving a year, he ran away. link
All these events aren't shown a bit in the book as far as I read. I can't keep on reading without knowing the beginning of his life. It makes the story incomplete and a part of Mr. Nordhoff is unknown to me. It feels like Mr. Nordhoff hide part of the story from his book, which I do not like.
DNF
Charles Nordhoff was born in Erwitte, a village in Westphalia, Prussia. At five, he emigrated with his parents to Ohio, where they died. Left an orphan in the care of a family in Cincinnati, he was apprenticed to a printer at age thirteen. After serving a year, he ran away. link
All these events aren't shown a bit in the book as far as I read. I can't keep on reading without knowing the beginning of his life. It makes the story incomplete and a part of Mr. Nordhoff is unknown to me. It feels like Mr. Nordhoff hide part of the story from his book, which I do not like.
DNF
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews