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A selection of Captain Marryat's wonderful naval and adventure stories. Includes: The Phantom Ship, Mr. Midshipman Easy, Peter Simple, The Naval Officer: or Scenes and Adventures in the Life of Frank Mildmay, The King's Own, Newton Forster, Japhet in Seach of a Father, Percival Keene, The Dog Fiend, The Pacha of Many Tales and The Poacher. Frederick Marryat (1792 1848) was a distinguished naval officer and novelist. While at sea, Marryat wrote and in 1829 published The Naval Officer, or, Scenes and Adventures in the Life of Frank Mildmay. The vivid and lifelike narrative of naval adventure, much of which he had experienced, took the public by storm: the book was a literary and financial success. He had already written The King's Own (published in 1830), and, having settled down to his new profession of literature, he rapidly produced Newton Forster (1832); Peter Simple and Jacob Faithful (both 1834); The Pacha of many Tales (1835); Mr. Midshipman Easy, Japhet in Search of a Father, The Pirate and the Three Cutters (all 1836); Snarleyyow, or, The Dog Fiend (1837); The Phantom Ship (1839); Poor Jack (1840); Joseph Rushbrook, or, The Poacher (1841); Percival Keene (1842); The Privateer's Man (1846); and Valerie (1849). When in need of ready cash he drew cartoons, which were made into etchings by his friend George Cruikshank. When the readiness with which he had poured out novels of sea life at the rate of as many as three a year began to fail, he found a new source of profit in his popular books for children. He drew the material of his stories from his professional experience and knowledge: the terrible shipwreck, for instance, in The King's Own is a coloured version of the loss of the Droits de l'homme, while Frank Mildmay was avowedly autobiographical. Marryat made his sailors live, and in this and his robust sense of fun and humour lay the secret of his success. DNB In quarter calf bindings with marbled boards. Externally, generally quite smart with occasional slight rubbing and bumping. The Phantom Ship has some loss to the boards. One spine label missing. Three hinges weak, nine strained and five slightly strained. Internally, generally firmly bound although tender towards the hinges, with the occasional leaf detached but present and several working loose. Nice and bright, and generally clean, with just the odd spot or handling mark. Loss to page 285 of Peter Simple. Good.
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