The Wooden World: An Anatomy of the Georgian Navy

by Nicholas A.M. Rodger and N.A.M. Rodger

Book Overview

Meticulously researched, Rodger's portrait draws the reader into this fascinatingly complex world with vivid, entertaining characters and full details of life below the decks. The Wooden World provides the most complete history of a navy at any age, and is sure to be an indispensable volume for all fans of Patrick O'Brian, English history, and naval history.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0393314693
• ISBN13: 9780393314694
• Release Date: July 1996
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
• Length: 456 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.4" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

Wooden Ships on the water.....very free and easy.

I have always been intrigued by nautical history, particularly in regards to the English navy during the 1700-1800's time period. I also am an avid model ship builder and am constantly seeking information that will help me construct better masted wooden ships such as Bounty or Constitution.Rodger's book titled 'The Wooden World:An Anatomy of the Georgian Navy' excells at giving a good insight into what the British Navy was really like and also at giving information that helps in the understanding of why the ships were built the way they were. This book is easy to read, yet packed with information about all aspects of life aboard British naval vessels during a time when sailing on warships was fraught with dangers that had little to do with actual sea battles themselves. Indeed, the author emphasizes that death and illness were common in the the British navy, but usually for reasons unrelated to actual combat. He also makes it quite clear that for many, life aboard these ships was far better and safer than what they might have had on land. While Patrick O'Brian's novels give excellent views of British naval life, this book does it without need of a plot or story.

A Guide to the Georgian Royal Navy

I originally ordered this after reading through Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey/Maturin novels. "The Wooden World" covers the world of the Royal Navy a generation or so before Jack Aubrey's day, but it is an invaluable guide to life aboard ship, to the ways ships were outfitted and manned, and to the byzantine and often slapdash administration of the Royal Navy. N.A.M. Rodger is an engaging writer with a keen eye for both the human side of the mid-Georgian Royal Navy and the details of naval finance and ship-handling. This is a fine book and highly recommended for anyone to wants to follow the workings of the Royal Navy from the days of Walpole to the coming of the age of Nelson.

A Superb Account of the mid-Eighteenth Century British Navy

A social rather than narrative history, Rodger examines the working of the navy... from the boys, seamen and officers serving on the men-of-war to the Admirality at the time of the Seven Years War (1755-1763). The complex organisation of society on board a man-of-war is examined in depth. The myth of the navy of that time being based on harsh and brutal discipline is soon, surprisingly perhaps, dispelled. Punishments were rare and usually light, seamen having far more freedom and liberty than would be tolerated in the modern service. Seamen were valuable experienced experts and in short supply at time of war. The Admiralty took great efforts over their care especially in terms of diet (meat four times a week was more than most landsmen could hope for) and medical needs were addressed with new hospitals (including Haslar - at the time the largest brick building in Europe) established. Grievances were taken seriously and investigated - more than one captain was replaced after complaints from seamen. It becomes apparent that the whole ship's company cooperated to create a smooth and efficient machine, which greatly aided British superiority at sea. The problem of finding seamen is examined - the use of the impress gangs was widely detested, although they did not round up all and sundry but only those who worked at sea. Desertion was guarded against, but great lenience was exercised in dealing with defaulters, especially those who had merely absented themselves for a few days. This should not imply that all seamen sought to escape - very few true desertions took place and there were always experienced seamen who volunteered for service. A very interesting topic is the use of patronage and interest in the promotion of officers. Far from being an inefficient system, it worked surprisingly well, producing some great naval heroes. Its operation is detailed, noting that unlike on land, skill and experience were essential factors in promotion. Rodgers writes smoothly demonstrating an extensive mastery of the sources (mainly based on official and private letters) and skillfully blending quotations into the text without disruption. The direct use of so much source material is highly effective and gives a real insight into comtemporary society and the views of naval personnel. The result is a scholarly yet highly readable book with extensive footnotes placed unobtrusively at the rear and tables and graphs placed in appendices.

A fantastic Resource about Life in the Georgian Navy

"The Wooden World" is a wonderful book on many different levels. For one, it chronicals the life of the sailor, from the press gangs to life at sea, the lives and duties of the officers, the convoluted and impossibly complex beaurocracy of the English Navy and the stresses involved in each of these.The most amazing part of this book to me was the job of the Purser. While, I had some basic idea of the intricacies involved in the job, Rodger took my understanding to a whole new level. I was shocked at the detail, and the negatives to the job. The Navy's beaurocracy was so complex that pursers had to do all of their purchasing on credit from their own pocket. It often took them years and years to finally be repaid. It was a job that you had to pretty much be independantly wealthy to do. Of course, Rodgers also explains all the scams a purser could pull to make a little money on the side.I'd strongely suggest this book to readers who have an interest in Naval history of the 18th century (1740-60's), or who are fans of that Genre of historical fiction (C.S. Forester, Patrick O'Brian, etc). The book is filled with revelations like the one above. Together, they really give a greater depth to the world that history and those stories are set in.

An Intriguing Look at a Unique World

The Wooden World is a valuable work for both the serious student of naval history and the reader of the `age of sail' fiction of Patrick O'Brian, Alexander Kent, and others. While the latter genre typically deals with the Royal Navy of the Napoleonic Wars, Rodger concentrates on the earlier period of the War of the Austrian Succession and the Seven Years War (1740-1763). However, these conflicts are peripheral to the book's treatment of naval life; the author comments that the reader need know no more than that Britain was at war with France, and later Spain. Rodger provides a detailed account from contemporary sources of life in the Navy of George II and III, dealing in particular with manning and the issue of volunteering vs. pressed service, discipline, and officers. The reader will find such nuggets as the place of women on board, the fact that the Navy had no developed legal code and the problem this posed for naval justice, and the shortcomings of navigation at the time. Rodger provides fascinating appendices with statistics on, for example, desertion rates and the age of ships' companies. Anyone interested in maritime matters or eighteenth-century history will appreciate this work.