Sons of the Waves

"[A] rollicking narrative...[An] absorbing and original book...Superb"-Ben Wilson, Times

"There is much in Taylor's book. It is interesting to see how pragmatically humane the navy could be, particularly in peacetime."-David Mills, Sunday Times

"[A]n accessible, humanistic portrait of a life characterised by hardship and comradeship."- History Revealed

"Episodes [are] gripping to read and fascinating in their particulars"-Ian Garrick Mason, Spectator

"Taylor's research, skilful exposition, and elegant integration of text, archive and image has produced a compelling account of the men who made modern Britain, one that supplants all those that has gone before. Essential reading for sailors of the open ocean and the armchair."-Andrew Lambert, BBC History Magazine

"If most of these men's names have seeped into oblivion like so much sea froth, Taylor has brought their experiences back to vivid and exhilarating life: he stitches together the brutality and wonder of their lives with intelligence, judgement and compassion."-Mathew Lyons, Literary Review

"Sons of the Waves is the heir apparent to [John] Masefield's book as the best introduction for the general reader to the lives of eighteenth-century British seamen...Using the full range of available sources, Taylor has brought out the authentic, rarely heard, voice of Jack Tar."-John B. Hattendorf, Times Literary Supplement

"A vivid and engaging 'history from below' which provides a rich and readable demonstration of the ways in which the skills and experiences of seafarers helped to shape our society"-Nautilus Telegraph 'Book of the Month'

"An excellent book, combining an original approach to the subject with original research. Jack Tar, the quintessential British hero, emerges from this collective biography as a self-confident fellow, part of the collective body that sustained national prosperity, security and power."-Andrew Lambert, author of Nelson

"This enthusiastic account gives a vivid picture of life below decks in the era of the sailing navy. It is a classic of its kind, brimful with riotous episodes and gripping anecdotes anchored in detailed research."-Margarette Lincoln, author of Trading in War

"The Royal Navy had some great leaders but what made their achievements possible was the thousands of unknown and unheard-from seamen who manned these vessels. This book starts the exploration of those fascinating lives."-Sir Robin Knox-Johnston