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Post by antonin on Sept 28, 2019 14:32:49 GMT -6
Recently I read Dudley Pope's book "Life in Nelson's Navy." It's a truly wonderful book! I'm sure many of you have read it. It has enabled me to really appreciate (and understand) Patrick O'Brian's Jack Aubrey novels. Years ago I read one of the Aubrey books; I don't remember which one. I just felt lost among the arcane naval terms and dialogue. But after reading "Life in Nelson's Navy," O'Brian has suddenly become crystal clear to me.
Does anyone know of a Dreadnought- or pre-Dreadnought era version of Pope's book? Something that describes life and combat aboard a large warship? Something that discusses shipboard routines, food, and provides details on how gunners do their jobs?
Thanks in advance for any info.
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Post by oldpop2000 on Sept 28, 2019 15:00:44 GMT -6
Recently I read Dudley Pope's book "Life in Nelson's Navy." It's a truly wonderful book! I'm sure many of you have read it. It has enabled me to really appreciate (and understand) Patrick O'Brian's Jack Aubrey novels. Years ago I read one of the Aubrey books; I don't remember which one. I just felt lost among the arcane naval terms and dialogue. But after reading "Life in Nelson's Navy," O'Brian has suddenly become crystal clear to me. Does anyone know of a Dreadnought- or pre-Dreadnought era version of Pope's book? Something that describes life and combat aboard a large warship? Something that discusses shipboard routines, food, and provides details on how gunners do their jobs? Thanks in advance for any info. I can recommend "With the Battle Cruisers" by Filson Young written in 1921. There is another titled "The Fighting At Jutland: The Personal Experiences of Forty-five Officers and Man of the British Fleet" edited by Fawcett and Hooper of the Royal Navy. Use this link to internet archive to search for these two books, they are free in different formats - archive.org/index.php |
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Post by antonin on Sept 28, 2019 17:37:38 GMT -6
Thank you!
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Post by antonin on Sept 29, 2019 20:13:47 GMT -6
I think I will try the free versions. My local library only has "The Fighting at Jutland," but only in an abridged version.
I have to ask...why are these books free? I don't have a Kindle, though I have considered getting one. Most young people where I work use e-readers, but I have no experience with them. I just downloaded a pdf of "The Fighting at Jutland" (abridged, unfortunately). It seems almost too good to be true that such wonderful books could be free. My budget for books is limited because my precious wife will soon retire, meaning that our disposable funds will shrink drastically, so my main option for new books, on the rare occasions where I buy books, has been Half Price Books. I mostly rely on the library.
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Post by williammiller on Oct 1, 2019 9:22:13 GMT -6
They are out of copyright...in the US at least if the work is > 75 years old it generally loses copyright protection...
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Post by oldpop2000 on Oct 1, 2019 9:46:47 GMT -6
I think I will try the free versions. My local library only has "The Fighting at Jutland," but only in an abridged version. I have to ask...why are these books free? I don't have a Kindle, though I have considered getting one. Most young people where I work use e-readers, but I have no experience with them. I just downloaded a pdf of "The Fighting at Jutland" (abridged, unfortunately). It seems almost too good to be true that such wonderful books could be free. My budget for books is limited because my precious wife will soon retire, meaning that our disposable funds will shrink drastically, so my main option for new books, on the rare occasions where I buy books, has been Half Price Books. I mostly rely on the library. As William has said, any book or document over 75 years is beyond its copyright. Also, books written for the US government are generally free. I use e-readers all the time. My work in avionics for the government required a computer and a microfiche reader so I got very used to them. Digital books are much cheaper. I have over 500 books from Amazon at lease half price. They have some books that are free and you can download them. Google books has books that are free because of the copyright is out of date. Many are books on naval vessels, which is where I got my early 20th century engineering books from. I have at least three e-readers including one for the car. I also have one for my granddaughter to use when she is here. The flexibility is excellent and many don't require lights turned on because they are backlighted. Samsung makes the best, IMHO. Samsung Galaxy versions are excellent. |
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Post by antonin on Oct 1, 2019 16:16:42 GMT -6
I completely forgot about the loss of copyright protection after 75 years.
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Post by vonfriedman on Oct 14, 2019 11:27:55 GMT -6
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Post by oldpop2000 on Oct 14, 2019 14:32:03 GMT -6
Interesting book but remember he was not at Jutland and he was a journalist who was a friend of David Beatty which taints his comments. But none the less, very interesting. |
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Post by vonfriedman on Oct 15, 2019 1:32:01 GMT -6
About Jutland and the life aboard German ships it is interesting to read von Hase's book (I don't remember if you've already mentioned it). To see: archive.org/details/kieljutland00haseuoft/page/n8?q=von+Hase+JutlandIn general, in the initial part of the autobiographies of more or less known naval characters of that era there are descriptions of everyday life, which are often the best part of the book. In the following the author often becomes pompous and strives to justify all his decisions and to criticize those of others. I remember the "Memoirs (Erinnerungen)" of Adm. von Tirpitz (who, for example, writes about the brewery of the German base in Tsingtao, beer that is still produced for the benefit of the Chinese Navy). Also the book of Adm. Percy M. Scott (the gunnery expert of the Royal Navy) "Fifthy Years in the Royal Navy" deserves to be consulted. See: archive.org/details/fiftyyearsinroya00scotrich/page/n12?q=Scott+Thirty+years+in+the+Royal+Navy |
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Post by oldpop2000 on Oct 15, 2019 11:12:59 GMT -6
About Jutland and the life aboard German ships it is interesting to read von Hase's book (I don't remember if you've already mentioned it). To see: archive.org/details/kieljutland00haseuoft/page/n8?q=von+Hase+JutlandIn general, in the initial part of the autobiographies of more or less known naval characters of that era there are descriptions of everyday life, which are often the best part of the book. In the following the author often becomes pompous and strives to justify all his decisions and to criticize those of others. I remember the "Memoirs (Erinnerungen)" of Adm. von Tirpitz (who, for example, writes about the brewery of the German base in Tsingtao, beer that is still produced for the benefit of the Chinese Navy). Also the book of Adm. Percy M. Scott (the gunnery expert of the Royal Navy) "Fifthy Years in the Royal Navy" deserves to be consulted. See: archive.org/details/fiftyyearsinroya00scotrich/page/n12?q=Scott+Thirty+years+in+the+Royal+NavyI have all of those and they are excellent. Try to read Julian Corbett's, "Naval Operations". History of the Great War Based on Official Documents. It has four volumes and they are free from Google Books, but they might be available at Internet Archive. There is also Home Fleet Documents which is free. One of best documents is the Admiral Reeves Lectures about the Battle of Jutland. The lectures were given in May 1925. |
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Post by antonin on Nov 5, 2019 16:39:18 GMT -6
Thank you guys for these recommendations!
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Post by vonfriedman on Jul 19, 2021 7:26:28 GMT -6
I found very interesting the personal diary excerpts, letters and official reports written by the then Lt.Cmdr. Joseph H. Wellings USN in 1940-41, when he served as an observer on board of various British ships. He was aboard HMS Hood a few month before the hunt of the Birsmark and moreover he was going home aboard HMS Rodney, which at first was escorting SS Britannic. She later set out to hunt the German battleship. A quite detailed account of the hunt and of the final battle is also given. Above all, he provides a vivid and detailed account of life on board, of the duties performed by officers and sailors and so on. digital-commons.usnwc.edu/historical-monographs/5/ |
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Post by antonin on Apr 9, 2022 11:47:53 GMT -6
In June 2020, as a birthday present for myself (and to help me get through a pandemic-related depression), I bought Campbell's "Jutland: An Analysis of the Fighting." Lately I've felt like re-reading it. It's a truly extraordinary book. I'm currently reading Anthony Everitt's biography of Alexander the Great, but after that I think I will return to The Great War.
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Post by oldpop2000 on Apr 9, 2022 19:34:38 GMT -6
In June 2020, as a birthday present for myself (and to help me get through a pandemic-related depression), I bought Campbell's "Jutland: An Analysis of the Fighting." Lately I've felt like re-reading it. It's a truly extraordinary book. I'm currently reading Anthony Everitt's biography of Alexander the Great, but after that I think I will return to The Great War. I have that in paper format, excellent book. |
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