Mr. Midshipman Easy

Frederick Marryat, a Royal Navy captain turned novelist, sends his hero to sea with a head full of nonsense. Jack Easy is raised by an eccentric father devoted to the rights of man and the perfect equality of all people, ideas that fare badly the moment Jack steps aboard a King’s ship during the war with Napoleon. Through scrapes, duels, captured prizes, and a good deal of Mediterranean adventure, the young midshipman is gradually cured of his father’s philosophy and shaped into a capable officer. Brisk, funny, and rich in authentic naval detail, it is one of the liveliest sea stories of its age. Free to read here as a PDF and EPUB download.