Hi folks. Wondering if anyone can help me. Looking for historical novels on a certain topic but not finding much on Google searches.
Anyone know of some nautical fiction that's set in the Far East anytime between 1880s-1930s? Currently re-reading 'West From Singapore' by Louis L'Amour (stories about a tramp ship captain in 1940s East Indies) and really like it. I'd be keen to read something similar to that, just within the time period I described. Doesn't need to be as action-packed as 'West From Singapore', just as long as the story moves along well and is accurate on the maritime aspects. Something on riverboats (Yangtze, Mekong, Pearl, etc.) would be grand too. Even if the whole book isn't shipboard, as long as a fair chunk of it revolves around seafaring or harbour life I'd be interested. Not really interested in navy stuff, would prefer to read about civvy ships.
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Looking for recommendations
- MLE (Emily Cotton)
- Bibliomaniac
- Posts: 3566
- Joined: August 2008
- Interest in HF: started in childhood with the classics, which, IMHO are HF even if they were contemporary when written.
- Favourite HF book: Prince of Foxes, by Samuel Shellabarger
- Preferred HF: Currently prefer 1600 and earlier, but I'll read anything that keeps me turning the page.
- Location: California Bay Area
Re: Looking for recommendations
For a realistic look at ship life circa 1910, read A Vagabond Journey Around the World https://www.amazon.com/Vagabond-Journey ... e-redirect by Franck. It was just digitized and can be had for Kindle (the book was merely scanned, and from an old copy at that, but for sheer veracity and atmosphere, it's worth overlooking all the ls that have come out as 1s and the like.
Frank is a man of his time (actually, he's pretty tolerant for his time) but in his unvarnished manner of telling what happens to him as a sailor and tramp working his way around the globe, many people today would take issue with the very politically incorrect language.
For more shipping novels in the far east (abouot the founding of Hong Kong, mostly) read Tai-Pan by James Clavell.
Frank is a man of his time (actually, he's pretty tolerant for his time) but in his unvarnished manner of telling what happens to him as a sailor and tramp working his way around the globe, many people today would take issue with the very politically incorrect language.
For more shipping novels in the far east (abouot the founding of Hong Kong, mostly) read Tai-Pan by James Clavell.
Re: Looking for recommendations
Cheers. That looks like an interesting one. I don't have a Kindle but it looks like there are hard copies available too. The writing style you described wouldn't bother me at all. I'd much prefer an honest and accurate depiction of the time than something that has to sacrifice detail for 'political correctness'.
Just ordered it a couple days ago. Reviews looked good.MLE (Emily Cotton) wrote: For more shipping novels in the far east (abouot the founding of Hong Kong, mostly) read Tai-Pan by James Clavell.
Re: Looking for recommendations
Lord Jim by Joseph Conrad springs to mind. You should find a free PDF available at Archive.org. You might find other Conrad novels to fit the bill.
Currently reading - Emergence of a Nation State by Alan Smith
- MLE (Emily Cotton)
- Bibliomaniac
- Posts: 3566
- Joined: August 2008
- Interest in HF: started in childhood with the classics, which, IMHO are HF even if they were contemporary when written.
- Favourite HF book: Prince of Foxes, by Samuel Shellabarger
- Preferred HF: Currently prefer 1600 and earlier, but I'll read anything that keeps me turning the page.
- Location: California Bay Area
Re: Looking for recommendations
It's set in the Atlantic, but definitely the right time period, and all the little boat details. Rudyard Kipling's Captains Courageous.
Re: Looking for recommendations
Ah yeah heard of that one but never read. Nice to see it's available free!SGM wrote:Lord Jim by Joseph Conrad springs to mind. You should find a free PDF available at Archive.org. You might find other Conrad novels to fit the bill.
Thanks.MLE (Emily Cotton) wrote:It's set in the Atlantic, but definitely the right time period, and all the little boat details. Rudyard Kipling's Captains Courageous.
- Vanessa
- Bibliomaniac
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- Currently reading: The Farm at the Edge of the World by Sarah Vaughan
- Interest in HF: The first historical novel I read was Katherine by Anya Seton and this sparked off my interest in this genre.
- Favourite HF book: Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell!
- Preferred HF: Any
- Location: North Yorkshire, UK
Re: Looking for recommendations
I was going to suggest The Sea of Poppies series by Amitav Ghosh but I think they may be set In the eRly 1800s.
currently reading: My Books on Goodreads
Books are mirrors, you only see in them what you already have inside you ~ The Shadow of the Wind
Books are mirrors, you only see in them what you already have inside you ~ The Shadow of the Wind
Re: Looking for recommendations
Yeah a bit earlier than what I was looking for, but thanks anyway.Vanessa wrote:I was going to suggest The Sea of Poppies series by Amitav Ghosh but I think they may be set In the eRly 1800s.
- Rubrius
- Scribbler
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- Currently reading: God of Vengeance, by Giles Kristian & Warrior in Bronze, by George Shipway
- Interest in HF: growing up watching movies like Ben-Hur, Quo Vadis, & The Vikings; there weren't enough of them to satisfy me, so turned to books as my personal time machine
- Favourite HF book: The Earth is the Lord's, by Taylor Caldwell - fascinating account of the youth of Chingis Khan
- Preferred HF: Like the whole breadth of history, but am partial to the ancient Mediterranean and Feudal Japan
- Location: Toronto
Re: Looking for recommendations
You might try 'China Seas' by John Harris, about pirates, smuggling, and general nefariousness up and down the China coast around 1900 or so.
I bought the book for my kindle, but haven't gotten around to it yet, so can't say how good it is, but here's the link on Amazon anyway:
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss ... ohn+harris
Although not nautical in nature, you might also enjoy 'Master of Dragons' by H. Bedford-Jones, who was known as the 'King of the Pulps', about two American soldiers of fortune running up against various Chinese warlords during the 1920's. Very enjoyable:
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss ... ford+jones
I bought the book for my kindle, but haven't gotten around to it yet, so can't say how good it is, but here's the link on Amazon anyway:
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss ... ohn+harris
Although not nautical in nature, you might also enjoy 'Master of Dragons' by H. Bedford-Jones, who was known as the 'King of the Pulps', about two American soldiers of fortune running up against various Chinese warlords during the 1920's. Very enjoyable:
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss ... ford+jones