Sons of the Waves: The Common Seaman in the Heroic Age of Sail

A brilliant telling of the history of the common seaman in the age of sail, and his role in Britain’s trade, exploration, and warfare “No other book resurrects the wooden world of Jack Tar in such captivating and voluminous detail.”—Roger Ekirch, Wall Street Journal “[A] rollicking narrative . . . Superb”—Ben Wilson, Times    British maritime history in the age of sail is full of the deeds of officers like Nelson but has given little voice to plain, "illiterate" seamen. Now Stephen Taylor draws on published and unpublished memoirs, letters, and naval records, including court-martials and petitions, to present these men in their own words. In this exhilarating account, ordinary seamen are far from the hapless sufferers of the press gangs. Proud and spirited, learned in their own fashion, with robust opinions and the courage to challenge overweening authority, they stand out from their less adventurous compatriots. Taylor demonstrates how the sailor was the engine of British prosperity and expansion up to the Industrial Revolution. From exploring the South Seas with Cook to establishing the East India Company as a global corporation, from the sea battles that made Britain a superpower to the crisis of the 1797 mutinies, these "sons of the waves" held the nation’s destiny in their calloused hands.

About the Author :
Stephen Taylor is a writer of maritime history, biography, and travel. He has worked as a foreign correspondent for The Times, The Observer and The Economist, and is the author of The Caliban Shore, Storm and Conquest, and Commander.

Review :
“No other book resurrects the wooden world of Jack Tar in such captivating and voluminous detail.”—A. Roger Ekirch, Wall Street Journal “[A] rollicking narrative. . . . [An] absorbing and original book. . . . Superb.”—Ben Wilson, Times (UK) “There is much in Taylor’s book. It is interesting to see how pragmatically humane the navy could be, particularly in peacetime.”—David Mills, Sunday Times “Sons of the Waves is the heir apparent to [John] Masefield’s book as the best introduction for the general reader to the lives of eighteenth-century British seamen. . . . Using the full range of available sources, Taylor has brought out the authentic, rarely heard, voice of Jack Tar.”—John B. Hattendorf, Times Literary Supplement “Engrossing . . . suffused with a dark Dickensian melancholy.”—Roger Lewis, Daily Mail, Book of the Week “Fascinating and satisfying. . . . A kaleidoscope of individual personalities and adventures.”— N. A.M. Rodger, London Review of Books “Episodes [are] gripping to read and fascinating in their particulars.”—Ian Garrick Mason, Spectator “An accessible, humanistic portrait of a life characterised by hardship and comradeship.”—History Revealed “Taylor’s research, skilful exposition, and elegant integration of text, archive and image has produced a compelling account of the men who made modern Britain, one that supplants all those that has gone before. Essential reading for sailors of the open ocean and the armchair.”—Andrew Lambert, BBC History Magazine “If most of these men’s names have seeped into oblivion like so much sea froth, Taylor has brought their experiences back to vivid and exhilarating life: he stitches together the brutality and wonder of their lives with intelligence, judgement and compassion.”—Mathew Lyons, Literary Review “A vivid and engaging ‘history from below’ which provides a rich and readable demonstration of the ways in which the skills and experiences of seafarers helped to shape our society.”—Nautilus Telegraph, Book of the Month “Taylor’s experience as a writer of maritime history is evident in his adroit crafting of narrative, vivid portrayal of his characters and clear familiarity with his archival sources.”—Global Maritime History Certificate of Merit, Mounbatten Book Prize awards, 2020 “An excellent book, combining an original approach to the subject with original research. Jack Tar, the quintessential British hero, emerges from this collective biography as a self-confident fellow, part of the collective body that sustained national prosperity, security and power.”—Andrew Lambert, author of Nelson “The Royal Navy had some great leaders but what made their achievements possible was the thousands of unknown and unheard-from seamen who manned these vessels. This book starts the exploration of those fascinating lives.”—Sir Robin Knox-Johnston “This enthusiastic account gives a vivid picture of life below decks in the era of the sailing navy. It is a classic of its kind, brimful with riotous episodes and gripping anecdotes anchored in detailed research.”—Margarette Lincoln, author of Trading in War