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The King's Own
William Seymour grows up on shipboard in the Royal Navy, after his father is hanged during the mutiny at the Nore (1797), and later, he is impressed into the crew of a daring smuggler. This amusing and exciting novel blends in the classic true tale of an English captain who deliberately lost his frigate on a lee shore, in order to wreck a French line-of-battle ship.
398 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1830
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329 people want to read
About the author
Frederick Marryat
908 books89 followersCaptain Frederick Marryat was a British Royal Navy officer and novelist, an early pioneer of the sea story.
For more information, please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederic...
For more information, please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederic...
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
April 26, 2021
It is apparent that Marryat intimately knows the sea, its sailors, and its unforgiving nature. The scenes of naval conflicts are conveyed with a natural continuity that preserves the chaotic and horrific details of men fighting each other with cutlasses, on the decks of ships made of wood, and moved by canvas. He’s also familiar with the humor that permeates naval life either in the form of the antics played on fellow seamen or in the irony associated with naval commanders trying to shift blame away from their own shortcomings.
Beyond the sea, Marryat instills reality into his characters. He constantly brings forth small universal truths that support the actions and behaviors of his characters, which adds a greater depth or deeper meaning to his story. And while some of these truths are a bit outdated, there is a sort of contemplating fun in bringing them forward 200 years to see if they have indeed changed or if they still hold true. This all shows that Marryat thought that reality was an important aspect of his writing, probably more so than his contemporaries including Scott and Cooper.
But contrary to the realistic writing, the plot suffers from being too episodic. Each chapter or two covers a single event in the life of one of the main characters and once that event has passed it is seldom mentioned again. As such, there is no sense of learning from past experiences that I think makes a novel about a life worth reading.
Overall, Marryat’s sensitivity to his own contemporaneous surroundings results in a book that feels right while reading it, but does not come together holistically. Previous reviews have reported that The King's Own is not regarded as Frederick Marryat's best work. There are some that say that that honor belongs to a book entitled Mr. Midshipman Easy. As such, I’ll probably have another go with Frederick Marryat the next time I wish to return to the sea.
Beyond the sea, Marryat instills reality into his characters. He constantly brings forth small universal truths that support the actions and behaviors of his characters, which adds a greater depth or deeper meaning to his story. And while some of these truths are a bit outdated, there is a sort of contemplating fun in bringing them forward 200 years to see if they have indeed changed or if they still hold true. This all shows that Marryat thought that reality was an important aspect of his writing, probably more so than his contemporaries including Scott and Cooper.
But contrary to the realistic writing, the plot suffers from being too episodic. Each chapter or two covers a single event in the life of one of the main characters and once that event has passed it is seldom mentioned again. As such, there is no sense of learning from past experiences that I think makes a novel about a life worth reading.
Overall, Marryat’s sensitivity to his own contemporaneous surroundings results in a book that feels right while reading it, but does not come together holistically. Previous reviews have reported that The King's Own is not regarded as Frederick Marryat's best work. There are some that say that that honor belongs to a book entitled Mr. Midshipman Easy. As such, I’ll probably have another go with Frederick Marryat the next time I wish to return to the sea.
August 18, 2021
The only reason I started this was to get a maritime life in the Age of Sail described by someone who's actually lived it. It sorta does that. But in all other aspects it's so unbearably badly written, so repetitive and moralizing, and is evidently working out such a thoroughly romantic overblown story that I just can't face the slog. Quitting at little more than two-thirds.
July 24, 2011
'King's Own' by Captain Frederick Marryat is a flawed but engrossing novel. Typical of Marryat's style, it is conversational, informal, and vivid. Marryat--who actually served as a naval officer during the Napoleonic Wars and Victorian period--was writing what he knew, and his portraits of characters are memorable, engaging, amusing, and discursive, so that the tale often wanders far from its plot. This, however, is typical of Marryat, and not necessarily a flaw, once you realize you have sat down for a pint with a true seaman who's going to spin you plenty of yarns. Being a tall ship sailor myself, reading this book was very much like gathering around the mess table with rum and potables to hear the adventures of my mates. Nonetheless, the novel does depart from the plot in rather flagrant ways. For example, a scene in which Marryat breaks the fourth wall to give us a description of his actual condition, his ship being tossed by a gale, and he clinging to his table attempting to write, the table itself having been lashed down, his feet hooked into the lashings to keep him from pitching over, and a river of water streaming across the deck beneath him. Such moments let you know you are in the hands of a real sailor.
The tale concerns the adventures of Willy Seymour, tattooed with the broad arrow that denotes the king's property, and a host of varied characters, such as the rake Rainscourt, the honest smuggler McElvina, the daring Captain M. who wrecks his ship and loses his life, and various minor but amusing characters such as the mouthy Mr. Midshipman Jerry and the surgeon-naturalist, Macallan. In this latter character we find the inspiration for Stephen Maturin as written by Patrick O'Brian. Full of mordant humor and with a long casualty list, 'The King's Own' is not a good choice for the first time Marryat reader; whereas for the seasoned fan of the captain, accustomed to more lighthearted works such as 'Frank Mildmay', 'Peter Simple', or 'Mr. Midshipman Easy,' it will come as a surprise that the book does not have a happy ending. In spite of the flaws, I prefer it to the Patrick O'Brian books; Marryat is an entertaining and accessible writer. POB can give you brilliant research, but Marryat was really there.
The tale concerns the adventures of Willy Seymour, tattooed with the broad arrow that denotes the king's property, and a host of varied characters, such as the rake Rainscourt, the honest smuggler McElvina, the daring Captain M. who wrecks his ship and loses his life, and various minor but amusing characters such as the mouthy Mr. Midshipman Jerry and the surgeon-naturalist, Macallan. In this latter character we find the inspiration for Stephen Maturin as written by Patrick O'Brian. Full of mordant humor and with a long casualty list, 'The King's Own' is not a good choice for the first time Marryat reader; whereas for the seasoned fan of the captain, accustomed to more lighthearted works such as 'Frank Mildmay', 'Peter Simple', or 'Mr. Midshipman Easy,' it will come as a surprise that the book does not have a happy ending. In spite of the flaws, I prefer it to the Patrick O'Brian books; Marryat is an entertaining and accessible writer. POB can give you brilliant research, but Marryat was really there.
March 16, 2008
From LJ, while I was reading it:
I'm eighty pages into "The King's Own" and so far little Willy has gone through four guardians and three names. I'm amused. I was worried it would be too serious a book, with not enough humour to set it off, but it's picking up wonderfully and M'Elvina's argument that smuggling was a perfectly honest trade was something I'm sure he could have argued endlessly with Mr Midshipman Easy if given the chance. Haha.
One of my favourite bits so far, though, is this:
"The squadron of men-of-war and transports was collected, the commodore’s flag hoisted, and the expedition sailed with most secret orders, which, as usual, were as well known to the enemy, and everybody in England, as they were to those by whom they were given. It is the characteristic of our nation, that we scorn to take any unfair advantage, or reap any benefit, by keeping our intentions a secret. We imitate the conduct of that English tar, who, having entered a fort, and meeting a Spanish officer without his sword, being providentially supplied with two cut-lasses himself, immediately offered him one, that they might engage on fair terms.
The idea is generous, but not wise. But I rather imagine that this want of secrecy arises from all matters of importance being arranged by cabinet councils. In the multitude of counsellors there may be wisdom, but there certainly is not secrecy. Twenty men have probably twenty wives, and it is therefore twenty to one but the secret transpires through that channel. Further, twenty men have twenty tongues; and much as we complain of women not keeping secrets, I suspect that men deserve the odium of the charge quite as much, if not more, than women do. On the whole, it is forty to one against secrecy, which, it must be acknowledged, are long odds.
On the arrival of the squadron at the point of attack, a few more days were thrown away,—probably upon the same generous principle of allowing the enemy sufficient time for preparation."
*snerk!* XD
I'm eighty pages into "The King's Own" and so far little Willy has gone through four guardians and three names. I'm amused. I was worried it would be too serious a book, with not enough humour to set it off, but it's picking up wonderfully and M'Elvina's argument that smuggling was a perfectly honest trade was something I'm sure he could have argued endlessly with Mr Midshipman Easy if given the chance. Haha.
One of my favourite bits so far, though, is this:
"The squadron of men-of-war and transports was collected, the commodore’s flag hoisted, and the expedition sailed with most secret orders, which, as usual, were as well known to the enemy, and everybody in England, as they were to those by whom they were given. It is the characteristic of our nation, that we scorn to take any unfair advantage, or reap any benefit, by keeping our intentions a secret. We imitate the conduct of that English tar, who, having entered a fort, and meeting a Spanish officer without his sword, being providentially supplied with two cut-lasses himself, immediately offered him one, that they might engage on fair terms.
The idea is generous, but not wise. But I rather imagine that this want of secrecy arises from all matters of importance being arranged by cabinet councils. In the multitude of counsellors there may be wisdom, but there certainly is not secrecy. Twenty men have probably twenty wives, and it is therefore twenty to one but the secret transpires through that channel. Further, twenty men have twenty tongues; and much as we complain of women not keeping secrets, I suspect that men deserve the odium of the charge quite as much, if not more, than women do. On the whole, it is forty to one against secrecy, which, it must be acknowledged, are long odds.
On the arrival of the squadron at the point of attack, a few more days were thrown away,—probably upon the same generous principle of allowing the enemy sufficient time for preparation."
*snerk!* XD
January 16, 2022
This 1830 novel was Marryat's second and I enjoyed it notably more than his first novel, which was dull and a mess.
This has some fine passages and a more lively narration. That said, it is also unfocused and poorly structured. You can sense him spinning it out for the commercial length required for three volumes and I suspect he was writing it as it was being published in parts.
Halfway through the final volume, he confesses he has failed to make the title character the hero and focus of his book, and tries to remedy this in the closing chapters. I don't think this simply was a narrative device...
Heavily flawed but engaging enough, on balance, to encourage me to continue making my way slowly through Marryat's oeuvre.
This has some fine passages and a more lively narration. That said, it is also unfocused and poorly structured. You can sense him spinning it out for the commercial length required for three volumes and I suspect he was writing it as it was being published in parts.
Halfway through the final volume, he confesses he has failed to make the title character the hero and focus of his book, and tries to remedy this in the closing chapters. I don't think this simply was a narrative device...
Heavily flawed but engaging enough, on balance, to encourage me to continue making my way slowly through Marryat's oeuvre.
July 24, 2021
The sentences are so long and uwieldy that it was sometimes an active struggle to read, but I understand that it was the writing style at the time, so ultimately I treated it as a learning experience. The amount of humor and levity, in contrast to the dark and tragic opening, suprised me pleasantly, as did the chapter where the author cheekily breaks the fourth wall to ostensibly pad out the book.
June 1, 2017
If you like Patrick O'Brian's Jack Albury series, read this to see where he got some of his ideas--the doctor who is a natural philosopher, rumination about the despotic power of a captain that makes normal friendships difficult, the friendship between the captain and the doctor, the crew member who gets literary quotations wrong--all are here.
November 25, 2018
One can accept and enjoy a long and diverse journey if at the end there is at worst a quiet repreve, however, to travel so far on a wander trail only to fall a cliff,well!
I Marryat's books and given many positive reviews, but he were not dead and beyond my reach I would have to slap him for King & Country.
I Marryat's books and given many positive reviews, but he were not dead and beyond my reach I would have to slap him for King & Country.
January 17, 2024
It does have some very interesting scenes, ideas, and aesthetics, but ultimately the book gets SO slow. I spent an eternity getting through half of it and I don't want to spend another. Might give Mr Midshipman Easy a go later.
May 27, 2023
Direct antecessor of C.S. Forester and Patrick O'Brian. Archaic language but rollicking story line with interesting scenarios.
April 1, 2012
The age of sail, fighting ships at sea. Marryat is much closer in real time to his subject than anyone else I've read, and the scenes related to sailing are very convincing, not just the technical details but the personalities as well. Marryat is very discursive, and a number of his chapters would stand alone just fine as short stories. Of course this book was first published in 1830, when the discursive style was more contemporary. In 2012 the style is less fun.
Given that I'm reading this for historical perspective, I'm content with the experience. It's the first time I've actually held a book by Frederick Marryat in my hands after decades of reading back-of-book blurbs about "the tradition of Marryat" being carried out by a modern author, and I'm glad to know what that was all about. But I don't believe I'd have the patience to read another.
Given that I'm reading this for historical perspective, I'm content with the experience. It's the first time I've actually held a book by Frederick Marryat in my hands after decades of reading back-of-book blurbs about "the tradition of Marryat" being carried out by a modern author, and I'm glad to know what that was all about. But I don't believe I'd have the patience to read another.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews