At fourteen the unworldly, idealistic Jack Easy leaves the luxury of his father's estate in England and sails into a world of action and adventure aboard the sloop of war HMS Harpy. At first Jack finds it hard to stomach the discipline of naval life and, with his mischievous sense of humor, is always getting himself into scrapes. But soon he is bravely taming a band of mutinous seamen, outwitting a wily and murderous Sicilian nobleman, and breathing the smell of gunpowder and raw steel as the Harpy chases Spanish ships on the Mediterranean.
This neglected 1836 classic is both a rousing adventure story and a profound coming-of-age tale written with great skill and humor.
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"I have listened to this book and read it. It's just the best! Written in 1836, there were many of the same situations we have today. Totally politically incorrect, the transformation of Jack Easy is a miracle. This book is such an adventure! The author, retired Captain Frederick Marryat of the Royal Navy, defines and explains tall ships' sails, rigging and cannons. You really learn about these tall ships.
Much of this book is comical, some romance, but there is war on the high seas.
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Margot (5 out of 5 stars)