Looking for something a little more current, or perhaps with a supernatural touch? Try On Stranger Tides by Tim Powers. The book influenced the most recent Pirates of the Caribbean movie, but is tremendously more interesting and entertaining.
In the nonfiction category, try Jack Aubrey Commands by Brian Lavery, the book used as a reference by Peter Weir in the making of the film Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. Along those same lines, try the fascinating biography of one of O'Brian's inspirations, Thomas Cochrane, in Cochrane: The Real Master and Commander by David Cordingly. Poxed & Scurvied by Kevin Brown is a superior look at the history of nautical medicine and, piratically speaking, you can't miss with anything written by Benerson Little. (Speaking of whom, don't forget to enter to win his The Sea Rover's Practice by leaving a comment here; the drawing happens December 26th!)
Finally, you can never go wrong with Melville's classic Moby Dick. Click over to Primary Source Nexus to see a larger version of the above map. Entitled "The Voyage of the Pequod", it should inspire you to read the book again yourself. And why not; you're entitled to a little gift as well...
Header: The Voyage of the Pequod mad via Primary Source Nexus dot org
Happy Friday (and Mayan Apocalypse day) to you and to all the brethren, Pauline! To borrow a line from R.E.M. "It's the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine."
ReplyDeleteAn appropriate post for me since I am going to the bookstore at lunchtime...
Cool map too!
And a happy Solstice/Yule to one and all - how I neglected to mention that is beyond me.
ReplyDeleteI hope this helps those last minute shoppers. Plus I was pretty pressed for time with medical appointments and a sick kid and all...
Excuses, excuses; I know.