Above and Under Hatches. Recollections of James AnthonyGardner. A Realistic, Earthy and Entertaining Account of Life at Sea

book summary

These memoirs, suffused with humour and rude vigour, represent probably the most realistic, down-to-earth, and entertaining contemporary account of sea life in the age of sail. Unlike most of the sailors' memoirs of the Nelsonic navy, Gardner's were not written for publication but purely for the entertainment of his family and friends, and did not see publication until long after his death, so potential problems of libel did not constrain him when it came to opinions of individuals, high or low, in the naval service. He himself saw plenty of action and served in a number of famous ships.