Recommended Reading

Introduction
Here follows a list consisting of reading recommendations for fans of this game who want to learn more about naval history, battles or simply enjoy reading about the adventures and exploits of Captains. Reading the novels and books listed here is an excellent way of picking up Naval expressions and slang terms, and learning about the Naval life of centuries gone by.

Hornblower Series
By C. S. Forester

A series of books depicting the exploits of Horatio Hornblower, it was this Series of books that the TV Series “Hornblower” where based upon. Recommended By Captain Jones

Link: http://www.csforester.org/

Books in order:
 * Mr Midshipman Hornblower
 * Lieutenant Hornblower
 * Hornblower and the Hotspur
 * Hornblower and the Crisis
 * Hornblower and the Atropos
 * The Happy Return
 * A Ship of the Line
 * Flying Colours
 * The Commodore
 * Lord Hornblower
 * Hornblower in the West Indies

Richard Bolitho Series
By Alexander Kent

A series of books where the first book starts of with the character being a midshipman aged 16 in 1772 and goes on right through his career. An excellent series of books and very descriptive allowing the reader to feel immersed in the 18th century.

Recommended by Captain Upton

Link: http://www.bolithomaritimeproductions.com/

Books in order: Form Line of Battle!
 * Richard Bolitho - Midshipman
 * Midshipman Bolitho and the Avenger
 * Stand Into Danger
 * In Gallant Company
 * Sloop of War
 * To Glory We Steer
 * Command a King's Ship
 * Passage to Mutiny
 * With All Despatch
 * Enemy in Sight!
 * The Flag Captain
 * Signal - Close Action!
 * The Inshore Squadron
 * A Tradition of Victory
 * Success to the Brave
 * Colours Aloft
 * Honour This Day
 * The Only Victor
 * Beyond the Reef
 * The Darkening Sea
 * For My Country's Freedom
 * Cross of St George
 * Sword of Honour

The Aubrey-Maturin Series
By Patrick O'Brian

Starting with Master and Commander, these books trace the career of Jack Aubrey, a fictitious naval Captain whose life is modelled on that of Admiral Thomas Cochrane. Superbly written, an inordinate amount of attention to detail, they really are required reading!

Recommended by Captain Walker

Link: http://www.wwnorton.com/pob/pobtitles.htm

Books in order:
 * Master and Commander
 * Post Captain
 * HMS Surprise
 * The Mauritius Command
 * Desolation Island
 * The Fortune of War
 * The Surgeon's Mate
 * The Ionian Mission
 * Treason's Harbour
 * The Far Side of the World
 * The Reverse of the Medal
 * The Letter of Marque
 * The Thirteen-gun Salute
 * The Nutmeg of Consolation
 * Clarissa Oakes (Called Truelove in the USA )
 * The Wine-dark Sea
 * The Commodore
 * The Yellow Admiral
 * The Hundred Days
 * Blue at the Mizzen

Nicholas Ramage Series
By Dudley Pope

A Series of novels about Lord Nicholas Ramage, eldest son of the Tenth Earl of Blazey, Admiral of the White. A set of books that are very easy to read and a definite recommendation to anyone who is new to this genre.

Recommended by Captain Upton

Link: http://www.winthrop.dk/dpope2.html

Books in Order order:
 * Ramage
 * Ramage and the Drumbeat
 * Ramage and the Freebooters
 * Governor Ramage RN
 * Ramage's Prize
 * Ramage and the Guillotine
 * Ramage's Diamond
 * Ramage's Mutiny
 * Ramage and the Rebels
 * The Ramage Touch
 * Ramage's Signal
 * Ramage & the Renegades
 * Ramage's Devil
 * Ramage's Trial
 * Ramage's Challenge
 * Ramage at Trafalgar
 * Ramage and the Saracens
 * Ramage and the Dido

One Hundred Days
By Admiral Sandy Woodward & Patrick Robinson

This book is the account of the Falklands War from the point of view of the Task Force Commander. An excellent book, well written, with superb analyses of both the naval and land phases of the conflict.

Recommended by Captain Walker

Link: http://www.sama82.org.uk/garden/0/6/5/woodward.htm

The Illustrated Guide to Nelson's Navy
By Nicholas Blake & Richard Lawrence

An excellent introduction to the Age of Sail, this looks like a coffee table book, but actually packs a fair punch textually. The book describes all aspects of naval life between 1793 and 1815, from the Admiralty to Pusser's Rum, and uses both real life and the novels of O'Brian and the like to illustrate its points. Beautifully illustrated, I recommend this book highly! (And it only took 3 days to get through!) Link: http://www.chathampublishing.com/boo...companion.html

Jackspeak
By Commander Rick Jolly

A book devoted to naval slang and traditions. A very funny read! (and you may be able to decipher some of my more esoteric ramblings!)

Recommended by Captain Walker

Link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...076430-1874245

Nelson's Favourite HMS Agamemnon at War 1781-1809
By Anthony Deane, Chatham Publishing (London) 1999

Recommended by Captain Hutton

Link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...895447-2090017

The Arming and Fitting of English Ships of War, 1600-1815
By Brian Lavery, Conway Maritime Press

Link: http://books.google.com/books?id=djwmMDm48uwC

and

The Masting and Rigging of English Ships of War 1625-1680
By James Lees, Naval Institute Press

Link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...895447-2090017

Both plainly informal about the construction of English Ships of War, but very interesting.

Recommended By Captain Norrington

Patrick O'Brian's Navy: The Illustrated Companion to Jack Aubrey's World
Editor: Richard O'Neill

As the title says, it simply goes into some detail about the lives of the men who made up the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars. It also has excellent period artwork. Although everyone interested in the period will enjoy it, it has references that apply only to Aubrey/Maturin series readers.

Recommended By Captain Hunt

Publisher: http://www.runningpress.com/bookstor...ct.asp?sku=512

Nelson's Navy: Ships, Men and Organization, 1793-1815 (Conway's History of Sail)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...363958-7398809

To Rule the Waves, How the British Navy Shaped the Modern World
By Arthur Herman

It is a very comprehensive book and I would recommend everyone give it a read.

Recommendations by Captains of the SGS
The Captains of our Squadron have selected some of their favourite texts relating to historical Naval life and have recommended the following pieces:

Duncan, D. “The Yankee Privateer”, 1779. TheWorld.com Online. http://theworld.com/~dduncan/p...eprivateer.html

Konstam, Angus. The History of Pirates. The Lyons Press, 1999, 2002.

Lehman, John. On Seas of Glory: Heroic Men, Great Ships, and Epic Battles of the American Navy. Simon & Schuster, New York, New York, 2002.

MacLay, Edgar S., A History of American Privateers. Ayer Co. Publishers, 1977.

Maloney, Linda M. "The Captain from Connecticut: The Life and Naval Times of Isaac Hull, 1986". SeacoastNH.com, Online. Http://www.seacoastnh.com/navyyard/isaachull.html

Morison, Samuel Eliot. John Paul Jones. Time Incorporated, New York, 1959.

Paine, Ralph D. "The Old Merchant Marine. United States Publishing 1919." Public Domain Books - Online. http://www.authorama.com/old-merchant-marine-1.html

Petrie, Donald A., "The Prize Game". Naval Institute, Annapolis, 1999.

Stivers, Rueben E., "Privateers and Volunteers", Naval Institute, Annapolis, 1975.

Thomas, Evan. John Paul Jones: Sailor, Hero, Father of the American Navy. Simon & Schuster, New York, 2003.

Willis, Sam. "Fighting Ships 1750-1850" Link: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fighting-Ships-1750-1850-Sam-Willis/dp/1847241719

Wilson, Sally D. “Who was Commodore Whipple?” Revolutionary Portraits: People, Places and Events from Rhodes Island Historic Past. Rhode Island Bicentennial Foundation, 1976. pp 6-15. Online. Http://www.whipple.org/abe/commodore.html NAVAL WARFARE IN THE AGE OF SAIL THE EVOLUTION OF FIGHTING TACTICS 1650-1815

Dr. Howard, Frank, "Sailing Ships of War 1400-1860" Convay Maritime Press Ltd. 1979. 256 pages (German version from 1983: "Segel-Kriegsschiffe 1400-1860" Bernard & Graefe Verlag ISBN 3-7637-5239-0)

Websites
This section contains additional materials sent in by members of SGS.
 * If you can't find the word or expression here then try:
 * http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/server/show/conWebDoc.1257


 * Item contains: costs, artillery size, range, etc. (very detailed)
 * http://www.portsdown.demon.co.uk/ord.htm


 * Excellent site for coins of the realm. Learn all about the currency of the day.
 * http://www.umich.edu/~ece/student_projects/money/


 * William Falconer's Dictionary of the Marine:
 * http://southseas.nla.gov.au/refs/falc/1290.html


 * The Official HMS Victory Website:
 * http://www.hms-victory.com/


 * The Royal Marines:
 * http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Marines#Origin


 * Most interesting information about the "Golden Age of Pirates"
 * http://www.gentlemenoffortune.com/