Peter Simple (Mint Editions (Nautical Narratives)) - Softcover

Marryat, Frederick

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1513291459 ISBN 13: 9781513291451

Publisher: Mint Editions, 2021

Synopsis

Peter Simple (1834) is a novel by Frederick Marryat. Inspired by the author’s experience as a captain in the Royal Navy, Peter Simple is a tale of bravery, foolishness, and the manifold reasons for men to take to the high seas. Frequently funny, often profound, Marryat’s novel is an underappreciated classic of nineteenth century fiction. “If I cannot narrate a life of adventurous and daring exploits, fortunately I have no heavy crimes to confess: and, if I do not rise in the estimation of the reader for acts of gallantry and devotion in my country’s cause, at least I may claim the merit of zealous and persevering continuance in my vocation.” Rejected by his aristocratic family, Peter Simple sets out to sea to prove himself as a midshipman in the Royal Navy. As he rises through the ranks with the help of a veteran sailor and makes a name for himself during the fierce fighting of the Napoleonic Wars, Peter discovers new depths to his fortitude and experiences things he would never have seen on land. Adapted for a 1957 BBC television series, Peter Simple is considered one of the most accurate portrayals of naval life during the Napoleonic era. This edition of Frederick Marryat’s Peter Simple is a classic of British literature reimagined for modern readers.

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About this title

About the Author

Frederick Marryat (1792-1848) was an English naval officer and novelist. Born in London, Marryat was raised in a prominent merchant family by Joseph Marryat, a member of Parliament, and his American wife Charlotte. He joined the Royal Navy in 1806 as a midshipman on the HMS Imperieuse, serving under Lord Cochrane. Throughout his naval career, he served on several ships and was present at battles against the French fleet off the coast of Spain. On the HMS Spartan, he fought in the War of 1812 and participated in raids on New England. After the war, he worked as an inventor and artist, patenting a new lifeboat and making a famous sketch of Napoleon on his deathbed in Saint Helena. He retired from the Royal Navy in 1830 to pursue a career as a professional writer, producing nautical novels and finding success with Mr. Midshipman Easy (1836). He frequently based his stories on his own experiences and earned a reputation as a member of Charles Dickens’ influential literary circle. His novels of adventure on the high seas would inspire countless storytellers, including Mark Twain, Ernest Hemingway, and Joseph Conrad.

From the Back Cover

As the eldest son of Lord Privilege, Peter Simple struggles to prove himself as presumptive heir of the family fortune. Considered “the fool of the family,” he sets out to sea to serve as a British midshipman in the Napoleonic Wars. Considered the most accurate portrayal of naval life in nineteenth century fiction, Peter Simple is a novel by Frederick Marryat.

Edition details

• Publisher: Mint Editions
• Publication date: 2021
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1513291459
• ISBN 13: 9781513291451
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 466