In this seminal story of naval life during the Napoleonic wars, Frederick Marryat's young hero embarks upon a life at sea and finds it to be a rough school indeed. Simple's trials and triumphs, alongside his faithful mentor, Terence O'Brien, mirror Marryat's personal experience, from the hand-to-hand combat of cutting-out missions to the devastating hurricane off St. Pierre and the mutiny aboard the Rattlesnake.
Peter Simple is a towering tale from the great age of sail, filled with keen wit, vivid characters, and gripping adventure.
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"This was surprisingly entertaining, except for the two excruciatingly dreadful scenes set in Barbados, wherein the author felt the need to demonstrate his opinion that black people are not actualy humans and exist purely to provide comic relief to white people. "
— India (4 out of 5 stars)
“A robust Dickensian romance…One of the most attractive and neglected early Victorian novels.”
— Kirkus Reviews“Highly discursive, but the characters are so sympathetic and their tales are so amusing that you don’t mind…A sort of nautical fairy tale…Reading Peter Simple is like drinking in a tavern with old salts who never let the facts get in the way of a good story.”
— HistoricNavalFiction.com" Very good. The author has an uncommon knack for humor and turn of phrase. "
— Stephen, 2/16/2010Captain Frederick Marryat (1792–1848) first attempted to run away to sea at fourteen. His father, a member of Parliament, helped him secure a midshipman’s berth on a frigate commanded by the daring Thomas Cochrane. He would go on to serve in the Royal Navy for over twenty years, in the Battle of Aix Roads and the War of 1812. When he turned his pen to naval life, he became the preeminent chronicler of British naval seamen in the great age of Nelson. His many novels were admired by such authors as Conrad, Hemingway, Thackeray, Coleridge, and Washington Irving.
Frederick Davidson (1932–2005), also known as David Case, was one of the most prolific readers in the audiobook industry, recording more than eight hundred audiobooks in his lifetime, including over two hundred for Blackstone Audio. Born in London, he trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and performed for many years in radio plays for the British Broadcasting Company before coming to America in 1976. He received AudioFile’s Golden Voice Award and numerous Earphones Awards and was nominated for a Grammy for his readings.