4 ms·

You could try "Sea of Words" by Dean King. It's pretty good. (Presumably the same Dean King mentioned in the linked article, FWIW.)

• saintaardvark 2y ago
  +1e9 for "A Sea of Words" (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/218275.A_Sea_of_Words https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/218275.A_Sea_of_Words). It's excellent reading in itself and helped a lot understanding the vocabulary.
• robterrell 2y ago
  Strongly recommend this. I enjoyed "Master & Commander" (and read the first three books in the series, which are really one continuous story) before finding "A Sea of Words" and was astounded, on a re-read, at how much I didn't understand about sailing terminology, life onboard, the navy, etc. But it's also a book that rewards knowledge of French, Latin, the history of science, music, geography... really an astounding book.
  • giraffe_lady 2y ago
    Sea of words would probably do well as a companion but I think for understanding you'd be better off with just an illustrated sailing manual like royce's or the annapolis book. He was a good writer who understood he was writing for a modern audience and had a plan about it. The royal navy period social stuff is explained in detail as it becomes relevant. Sometimes things are mentioned without being explained, but he always fills in a detail before it actually matters for the plot. The sailing specific jargon though there is just too much and a lot of it you can functionally treat as technobabble and the books read fine. I think having knowledge of the points of sail and their dynamics is the main thing he assumes that is actually important for following the action.