Written by: Julian Stockwin
Submitted By: David Coote
These five books, published in 2001, 02, 03, 03 and 04 respectively are the first five in a series which follows the life of a young wig-maker from Guidlford after he is taken by the press-gang to serve in an old ship of the line in Britain's Royal Navy in 1793. Together with his friend Nicholas Renzi, his voyages cover the world and he becomes, by turns, an able seaman, petty officer and masters mate before being commissioned following the Battle of Camperdown.
In the latest book his ignorance actually helps him to become "a true gentleman" as he escapes the class he was born into and can now progress to the very top of the naval ladder.
For a series depicting the harsh realities for a seaman at the end of the eighteenth century, this would be hard to beat and makes for very good and interesting reading.
