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eljaspero's review against another edition
3.0
The life of the common sailor is a useful lens through which to view the golden age of sail, and Taylor’s sources are admirably voluminous. But I wished for a meatier, more rewarding work. There’s no real thesis to this book; it’s just a string of below-decks anecdotes and flip sides to familiar events, many of which he repeats more than once. It’s charming, but ultimately a bit fluffy.
ellimundo's review against another edition
5.0
If you have ever read any of the master & commander books, you’ll love this book. Sons of the Waves takes a global look at the life of the average British seaman during the heroic age of commerce and exploration. The book is unflinching in its look at both the brutality and the adventure of a life dedicated to the seas.
Stephen Taylor does an excellent job of outlining the transformation of Britain from a barely seafaring nation into the most formidable naval forces on the planet. It had details on the intricacies of impressment and the surprising dichotomy of freedom experienced by sailors in charting their own fates, offset by fear of forced conscription at nearly any time to be shipped off to far flung locales.
I was thoroughly impressed by Taylor’s weaving historical events into the shifts in psyche of the seaman, backed up by letters and rules changes by the naval administration. The book dives into every aspect of life, from sexuality aboard to the long gaps in relationships while sailors are away at sea. How mail and letters were delivered and the intricacies of naval provisions, are touched on as well. Shipboard combat is fleshed out thoroughly, showing both the scale of fights to the frequency and intensity. How wounds impacted the life of the sailor after the guns had silenced.
The book does not shy away from the darkest sides of maritime history either, devoting space to chronicling the experience of both slaves and slavers crossing the Atlantic. In addition it covers ships boys, and the rampant issues of abuse and horrifying predation that occurred on the high seas.
Overall an incredible and wide spanning account of many stories and facts, fully of interest to anyone who loves tall ships and wants to know how life worked onboard, and off.
Stephen Taylor does an excellent job of outlining the transformation of Britain from a barely seafaring nation into the most formidable naval forces on the planet. It had details on the intricacies of impressment and the surprising dichotomy of freedom experienced by sailors in charting their own fates, offset by fear of forced conscription at nearly any time to be shipped off to far flung locales.
I was thoroughly impressed by Taylor’s weaving historical events into the shifts in psyche of the seaman, backed up by letters and rules changes by the naval administration. The book dives into every aspect of life, from sexuality aboard to the long gaps in relationships while sailors are away at sea. How mail and letters were delivered and the intricacies of naval provisions, are touched on as well. Shipboard combat is fleshed out thoroughly, showing both the scale of fights to the frequency and intensity. How wounds impacted the life of the sailor after the guns had silenced.
The book does not shy away from the darkest sides of maritime history either, devoting space to chronicling the experience of both slaves and slavers crossing the Atlantic. In addition it covers ships boys, and the rampant issues of abuse and horrifying predation that occurred on the high seas.
Overall an incredible and wide spanning account of many stories and facts, fully of interest to anyone who loves tall ships and wants to know how life worked onboard, and off.