Twelve Naval Captains

Seawell, Molly Elliot, 1860-1916Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

2.9

Word count: 314K words
Chapters: 32

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Twelve Naval Captains by Molly Elliot SeawellAuthor: Seawell, Molly Elliot, 1860-1916,Language: English, Class: E151: History: America: United States, Release Date: Jul 25, 2014

Editor's review

This book is a collection of sketches of figures from American naval history by Molly Elliot Seawell, centered on the deeds of twelve naval captains and classified under American history (E151). Its value lies not in offering a systematic theory of naval strategy, but in grounding the development of early American sea power in specific people and events through a biographical approach, allowing readers to see the growth, choices, and era-bound limitations of naval officers of that time. The prose carries the narrative style of historical writing from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and is quite readable, though readers should be aware that it may contain the value judgments and rhetorical tendencies of its era and would do well to read it with a critical eye toward historical sources. It suits as supplementary reading for enthusiasts of American history and naval history, and also as long-form nonfiction reading material for English learners. Reading is best begun after gaining some background on maritime conflicts from the American Revolution to the mid-nineteenth century.

Who it's for

A good fit for

General readers interested in American naval history and early American history
Advanced learners seeking long-form nonfiction reading material in English
Readers who enjoy biographical-style historical narrative
Writers of popular history who need material on historical figures

Not a good fit for

Military researchers seeking systematic naval strategic theory
Professional historians who accept only modern academic standards and detailed annotations
Readers who prefer fast-paced fiction and lack patience for group portraits of historical figures

Reading tips

Begin with the table of contents and introduction, then start with the chapter on the captain who interests you most; there is no need to read straight through in order.
After each chapter, note in two or three sentences the figure's key decisions and the historical background, to facilitate cross-comparison.
Read alongside basic facts about the American Revolution and the War of 1812, and distinguish historical fact from the author's evaluations.
When using the book for extensive English reading, split each chapter into two sessions and skip over names of people and places at first, as this does not hinder comprehension.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book a novel or a work of history?

It is a collection of sketches of historical figures, classified as American history, narrating the deeds of twelve naval captains; it is not a fictional novel. It is best read as a historical work seen through the lens of individuals rather than as a systematic military history.

How difficult is the English?

The original is English historical narrative from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Sentences are long but grammatically regular, and unfamiliar words are concentrated in naval and historical proper nouns. Readers with CET-4 or above should be able to finish it with the help of a dictionary.

What background knowledge is needed first?

It is advisable to gain a general understanding of the American Revolution, the War of 1812, and the basic outline of early American naval development. With this background, the circumstances of the figures are easier to understand, and the author's narrative stance easier to judge.

Can the views in the book be quoted directly?

It is not advisable to quote them directly as authoritative historical sources. The author carries the narrative stance and rhetorical habits of her era, and before quoting, one should cross-check against other historical scholarship; it is better used as introductory material for understanding early American naval figures.

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About the author

Seawell, Molly Elliot, 1860-1916 Author

Molly Elliot Seawell (1860–1916) was an American writer. Public information about her life is limited, but her six works in the collection give a glimpse of her writing. Her subjects range from history to fiction: The Rock of the Lion and Twelve Naval Captains show her interest in naval history and historical figures, while novels such as Francezka and Throckmorton: A Novel display her skill in fictional narrative. Two further books, Betty at Fort Blizzard and Betty's Virginia Christmas, center on a character named Betty and have a lighter tone with a strong sense of local life. Overall, her writing stands between historical reportage and popular fiction, often concerned with military and maritime matters and with American regional life, in clear and readable prose suited to a general audience.