Seamen Classic Naval Novels

[Fenixbird]

I do so love the ocean & well my last marriage was to a Navy man (Italian Navy)...enough of that history...However, the sea (la mer) holds such amazing appeal. What other great novels on these subjects have YOU read and would share??

[Brooke]

Try Nathaniel Philbrick's "In the Heart of the Sea." He retells the true story of a whale ramming a Nantucket whaling ship and sinking it. This historical event was Melville's inspiration for "Moby Dick."

It's a riveting history.

[Stephen]

If you like a good sea tale and perhaps one told less circuitously than this try reading the Hornblower novels. Start with Mr. Midshipman Hornblower but be aware that C.S. Forester didn't write them in chronological order and this one is of a different format than the others. Each chapter kind of reads like it's own short story.

[Roger]

The Cruel Sea by Nicholas Monsarrat is a WW2 naval classic.

Roger Weston, author of The Golden Catch
http://www.amazon.com/The-Golden-Catc...

[Gordon]

I agree that The Cruel Sea is a very good book, with some insights into the psychology of individuals forced together and their responses to the danger and brutality of their existence. For something more along the lines of Moby-Dick, with its extended philosophical digressions, however, many of Joseph Conrad's works are excellent. I would recommend beginning with the short story Freya Of The Seven Isles and moving on to Heart Of Darkness or The Shadow-Line.

[Karen]

I love this genre and have read all of the ones mentioned! In the Heart of the Sea is a great nonfiction read, but by far the best of any I've read is Patrick O'Brian's series starting with Master and Commander. I also liked Kenneth Roberts' books about the sea, especially Boon Island. The Cruel Sea is excellent as are all of Conrad's books. I also very much enjoyed Dewey Lambdin's series about Alan Lewrie. The Hornblower stories are fun, but so are Alexander Kent's books about Richard Bolitho.

[Stephen]

Then perhap you should try the The Mutiny on the Bounty Trilogy The first story is well known, but the other two are interesting as well.The Guernseyman is also the beginning of an interesting naval series. And if you can stand a more modern naval yarn try In Harm's Way The movie was kind of cheesy but the book is better.

[Richard]

Star of the Sea - one of the best books i've ever read

[Jakkob]

The Sea Wolf,by Jack London.

It's the first book that comes to mind when I recommend a follow up to Moby Dick. London has enough authenticity to keep real sailors happy, good dialog for the philophers, and action for adventurists.

[Øystein]

The Sharks, by Jens Bjørneboe is a really good book. Dark and psychological.

[[deleted user]]

I don't know what to make of this, but it "might" explain our facination with the sea...

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/dylan.mo...

[Geoffrey]

I just read SACRED HUNGER and found it in need of some editing to tighten up the plot. It was not as successfully experimental as the STONE VIRGIN by the same author or as interesting as MORALITY PLAY, nor was the moral dilemmas as poignant as in his novel about the Christain potentate during the Crusades.

[Joe]

The Voyage of the Frog is a great quick read about a kid who gets lost at sea fulfilling his uncle's last dream.

[Dave]

read this book a couple of years ago - relentlessly depressing - but given the subject matter what else could one expect

[Mark]

For fun read The Frozen Pirate by William Clark Russell. Dr. Watson was reading a book by Russell in one of the Sherlock Holmes stories.

[Karl Ivan]

From all my reading I have only ever come across one navel novel I consider genuinely great that book is Joseph Conrad's Typhoon, The Sharks by Jens Bjørneboe is also interesting though I rate his The Moments of Freedom trilogy higher.

[Feliks]

The best sea-writing I've ever encountered --even better than Conrad--is HM Tomlinson's "The Sea and the Jungle".

I feel that Conrad's best sea tale is 'the Ni**er of the Narcissus' but this even tops that. Just in terms of sheer descriptive skill. Tomlinson's book is a work of nonfiction; so I'm not comparing drama-to-drama. Just saying; Tomlinson gives an incredible account of what it feels like to be far out at sea.

[Mick]

Nathaniel Philbrick's "In the Heart of the Sea
Carsten Jensen "We The Drowned"
Horatio Hornblower series
Mutiny on the Bounty trilogy
Two years Before the Mast
all these are excellent reads

[Mackenzie]

Two years Before the Mast was required reading for midshipmen in the 19th century.

[Robert]

[Robert]

I'm surprised not to see some mention here of the "Richard Bolitho" novels by Alexander Kent. They are quite similar in format to Forrester's "Hornblower" books, and I found them quite satisfying as British 19th century historical naval fiction.

[Kirk]

I liked the Patrick O'Brien series a lot, and the Hornblower books before that.

I can also recommend The Caine Mutiny.

[Feliks]

Sailing Alone around the World
Typhoon

[Kirk]

Thanks for reminding me about Joseph Slocum's voyage. Sailing Alone around the World is a true story.

[Michael]

Two Years Before the Mast: A Sailor's Life at Sea

[Feliks]

Kirk wrote: "Thanks for reminding me about Joseph Slocum's voyage. Sailing Alone around the World is a true story."

Yep. Good on ye mate. More people should be aware of this great American.

[James]

The Black Ship by Dudley Pope & Man of War Life by Charles Nordhoff.

And Moby Dick is mandatory. It just is so quit arguing and read it.

[Feliks]

Looking for a Ship