Newton Forster

Frederick Marryat

Dec 2009 · Fireship Press

About this ebook

From the Father of Modern Nautical Fiction Newton Forster first appeared in 1832 as a series in Metropolitan Magazine, a periodical of which Frederick Marryat was the editor, and which initially hosted several of his works. It is remarkable in that it deals largely with the merchant navy, as opposed to the military. This makes it a refreshing departure from most of the books in this genre. Yet, despite this fact, there is no shortage of action as we learn that the ships of the Honourable East India Company not only had guns-they knew how to use them very well. Newton Forster, the master of a coastal brig, is illegally pressed into the Royal Navy. Through a variety of maneuvers, however, he winds up on an East Indiaman where he undergoes a series of adventures with the Bombay Marine-the East India Company's private military arm. Included are shipwrecks, escapes, and love interests as he eventually rises to command his own ship. Especially interesting is Marryat's fictional account of the Battle of Pulo Aura, in which a squadron of merchant ships engaged, defeated, and then chased a powerful French naval squadron in the Indian Ocean. The book appeared to rave reviews and proved to the skeptics that Marryat could not only sustain, but increase the excellence of his work with every new book.

About the author

Frederick Marryat was born on July 10, 1792 in London, England. He entered the Royal Navy at the age of 14 and served with distinction in many parts of the world before retiring in 1830 with the rank of captain. From 1832 to 1835, he edited the Metropolitan Magazine. His first novel, The Naval Officer, was published in 1829. His other adult novels include Mr. Midshipman Easy, The Kings Own, Newton Forster, Peter Simple, Jacob Faithful, and The Phantom Ship. He also wrote a number of children's books including Masterman Ready, Settlers in Canada, The Mission, The Children of the New Forest, and The Little Savages. He travelled in Canada and the United States from 1837 to 1839. Afterward, he recorded his impressions in A Diary in America. He died on August 9, 1848.