The Best Nautical Novels That You Should Read

Nautical novels make for great reading. The seas serve as a perfect setting for telling many great stories with powerful themes and characters. Reading these nautical novels can feel like you’ve undertaken an unforgettable voyage.

It will provide you with an enriching experience where you will learn plenty about life on the sea. You also get a chance to learn about different cultures. So, if you want an escape from your day-to-day life and have the spirit of adventure, make sure to read these nautical novels:

Moby Dick

Moby Dick, written by Herman Melville, deserves to be first on the list. It has served as a source of great inspiration for many writers. The book is a long and enjoyable read. Herman Melville is a master at characterization. There is also plenty of wit in the story.

The story is about a character named Captain Ahab and his obsession with revenge. He wishes to take revenge against a giant white sperm whale named Moby Dick for having bitten his leg off on a voyage. He sets out on his whaling ship to search for it. He is incredibly short-tempered throughout the story.

The Old Man and the Sea

This old classic written by the legendary writer Ernest Hemingway still speaks to the modern audience. It is a story about a fisherman who finally gets his hands on a huge fish on his fishing expedition. However, his catch ends up getting consumed by a shark.

Although the story is extremely simple and the book is short, it has the ability to leave a strong impact on its readers. It has themes of perseverance and optimism. The story continues to serve as an inspiration and is quoted by many people.

The Bounty Trilogy

The Bounty Trilogy by Charles Nordhoff and James Normal Hall is actually based on a true story about a mutiny that happened on the Royal Navy Vessel HMS Bounty. The three novels – ‘Mutiny on the Bounty,’ ‘Men Against the Sea’ and ‘Pitcairn’s Island’ have some of the best writing you will ever see. The story will interest modern readers as it will give them an insight into the people that lived in the 18th century.

Captain Blood

Captain Blood is a well-known novel. It’s about an Irish physician named Peter Blood who is dealt with a bad hand in life. He is a man of good character and morals who is wrongfully accused of high treason and is sentenced to death.

However, through a chain of events, he finds himself going from a respected physician to a slave and finally to one of the most famous pirates on the seas. The character development is fascinating to read.

This book was also adapted into a movie in 1935, where Captain Blood was played by Errol Flynn. The movie drew many people to read the book. Both the book and the movie undoubtedly withstood the test of time.