Other editions of book Peter Simple

This complete edition of the sea adventure tale Peter Simple contains both volumes of Marryat's humorous epic, with no abridgments. First released in 1833, Peter Simple is a comic retrospective of life on the high seas. Set upon a British sailing vessel, we witness the titular character in his attempts to find fame and fortune through sailing. Set during the Napoleonic Wars at a time when navies and ship technology was advancing rapidly, the tale fuses old fashioned adventure with a keen sense of humor. Although some of the humor - largely that with racial or prejudiced overtones - belongs to the era, much of Marryat's comic writing remains amusing even today. The gentlemanly, compassionate side of Marryat's nature is firmly advertised in this book, which depicts a protagonist gradually approaching a mature attitude toward his trade and a respect of life upon the seas. Peter Simple also contains insight into the workings of the navies of the era; the command structure, the British Admiralty, the technology and weapons aboard the ships, and how officers were expected to behave are all parts of the narrative. Thus, this novel acts a creditable historical supplement as well as an entertaining and amusing coming-of-age tale. Frederick Marryat was himself a sailor in the Royal Navy, serving as a midshipman on various vessels, partaking in a variety of combat operations and staging a perilous escape during a raid on Orleans, Massachusetts during the War of 1812. He proved an adept and innovative seaman, devising a system of flag signalling called Marryat's Code. After leaving the naval service, Marryat focused on both scientific studies and his literary career, authoring several successful works of fiction.

*This Book is annotated (it contains a detailed biography of the author). *An active Table of Contents has been added by the publisher for a better customer experience. *This book has been checked and corrected for spelling errors. Peter Simple is an 1834 novel written by Frederick Marryat about a young British midshipman during the Napoleonic wars. It was originally published in serialized form in 1833.

If I cannot narrate a life of adventurous and daring exploits, fortunately I have no heavy crimes to confess: and, if I do not rise in the estimation of the reader for acts of gallantry and devotion in my country’s cause, at least I may claim the merit of zealous and persevering continuance in my vocation. We are all of us variously gifted from Above, and he who is content to walk, instead of to run, on his allotted path through life, although he may not so rapidly attain the goal, has the advantage of not being out of breath upon his arrival. As well as I can recollect and analyse my early propensities, I think that, had I been permitted to select my own profession, I should in all probability have bound myself apprentice to a tailor; for I always envied the comfortable seat which they appeared to enjoy upon the shopboard, and their elevated position, which enabled them to look down upon the constant succession of the idle or the busy, who passed in review before them in the main street of the country town, near to which I passed the first fourteen years of my existence.

From the Father of Modern Nautical Fiction While Frederick Marryat had achieved commercial success with his previous books, Peter Simple was perhaps his first "classic." Indeed, Peter Simple is considered by many to be the best of Captain Marryat's novels. Peter Simple goes to sea as a young, naive, midshipman during the Napoleonic wars. He is taken under the wing of Terence O'Brien, a Master's Mate, who, a bit at a time, brings Peter into a mature adulthood. Together they form a kind of nautical Don Quixote/Sancho Panza team that experiences the best and the worst that the nautical life has to offer. From cutting-out missions, to hurricanes, to mutiny, Peter Simple set the standard for presenting vivid characters and heart stopping adventure to the nautical reader. "[Marryat's] stories depict, with detailed realism, those qualities of courage, seamanship, tyranny, cruelty, recklessness, and good fellowship, all of which combined to render the British Navy so formidable a fighting instrument." J.A. Buckley The Guide to British Historical Fiction

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.