Nelson & His World

This week's issue of The London Review of Books [6 November 2008] comments on two new books, the first in a series, that may be of interest:

'Drawing on its extensive archives, the National Maritime Museum is beginning a series of attractive packaged gift editions of unusual first-hand memoirs describing life at sea in the age of sail. Launching the series are two female perspectives. Mary Lacy disguised herself as a man and went to sea at the age of 15. Her autobiography was first published in 1773.'


The second one is a little later than 'our' period, but it may be of interest, nonetheless: 'Fanny Loviot set sail for California in 1855, but her ship was intercepted by Chinese pirates. This is a gripping account of her capture and rescue.'

'The Female Shipwright' by Mary Lacy and 'A Lady's Captivity among Chinese Pirates' by Fanny Loviot

[NMM publications ISBN 978 1 90636 700 8/978 1 90636 701 5]