This finely researched book is a portrait of the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic wars; but it is particularly a portrait of the Navy's people, of the officers and men who formed that formidable fighting force made popular by novels of C.S. Forester and Patrick O'Brian. These men were assembled from all classes in society and came from all parts of the British Isles and so the social history of the Navy demonstrates a complete cross-section of contemporary life, and the divisions aboard ship, between quarter deck and lower ...
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This finely researched book is a portrait of the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic wars; but it is particularly a portrait of the Navy's people, of the officers and men who formed that formidable fighting force made popular by novels of C.S. Forester and Patrick O'Brian. These men were assembled from all classes in society and came from all parts of the British Isles and so the social history of the Navy demonstrates a complete cross-section of contemporary life, and the divisions aboard ship, between quarter deck and lower deck for instance, reflected divisions on land. But parentage and social background form only a small fragment of the story. The author follows their lives from the cradle to the grave and paints a detailed picture of both the expectations and the reality of life at sea. He describes how men came to go to sea and explains the volunteer, the press and the quota; the story of officer-entry is dealt with, along with the whole complex business of shipboard and naval hierarchy. Pay, prize money and other inducements are explained along with insight into the unhappier predicament of half-pay. In the twenty-two years of war the cost in lives was heavy and every sailor was confronted by the persistent and daily dangers of the sea itself, the enemy and disease. If he was lucky enough to survive then an officer retired ashore on half-pay, not rich but proud of his service; a sailor from the lower deck might find a snug berth in one of the naval hospitals. He would have little but then he never expected much. First published in 1960, Lewis' book is a masterful account of how the men of the Nelsonic navy, at sea in those far-distant storm-beaten ships', organized their insular social world.
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Add this copy of A Social History of the Navy 1793-1815 to cart. $30.00, very good condition, Sold by Satellite Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Burlington, VT, UNITED STATES, published 1960 by George Allen & Unwin Ltd.
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Seller's Description:
Very Good. Size: 12x9x1; Hardcover. First British edition. Tight binding. Clear text. Price clipped. Slight cock to the spine. Dust jacket shows some wear, but is protected in an archival mylar wrap. Free of any markings and no writings inside. For any additional information or pictures, please inquire.
Add this copy of A Social History of the Navy 1793-1815 to cart. $31.06, fair condition, Sold by Ladylisabooks rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Chester, , UNITED KINGDOM, published 1960 by George Allen & Unwin.
Add this copy of A Social History of the Navy 1793-1815 to cart. $33.13, good condition, Sold by Stephen White Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Bradford, WEST YORKSHIRE, UNITED KINGDOM, published 1960 by Allen & Unwin.
Add this copy of A Social History of the Navy 1793-1815 to cart. $51.81, good condition, Sold by Vive Liber Books rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Somers, CT, UNITED STATES, published 2006 by Greenhill Books.
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Seller's Description:
Good. Pages are clean with normal wear. May have limited markings & or highlighting within pages & or cover. May have some wear & creases on the cover. The spine may also have minor wear. May not include CD DVD access code or any other supplemental materials.
Add this copy of A Social History of the Navy 1793-1815 to cart. $104.55, new condition, Sold by GridFreed rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from North Las Vegas, NV, UNITED STATES, published 2006 by Greenhill Books.
