Condensed from the later series of his Fragments of Voyages and Travels, this is Captain Basil Hall’s first-hand description of what a naval lieutenant and then a commander actually did: keeping watches, handling men, fitting out ships and running a command. His own career in the Napoleonic-era navy supplies the anecdotes, from storms to a mischievous ship’s pet.
A lively insider’s view of the Royal Navy of Nelson’s day, ideal for readers of Patrick O’Brian and C. S. Forester. Download the free EPUB.