The Wreck of the Grosvenor (Classics of Naval Fiction)

by W. Clark Russell

Paperback, 1998

Status

Available

Call number

823.8

Genres

Historical Fiction

General Fiction

Fiction

Collection

Your library

Publication

Mcbooks Press (1998), Edition: First Edition Thus, 318 pages

Description

Classic Literature. Fiction. HTML: After a career at sea that caused his health to deteriorate, William Clark Russell retired and turned his attention to writing. Though he published several novels before The Wreck of the Grosvenor, this action-packed account of growing tensions among a ship's crew that eventually erupt into full-blown mutiny was his first major success..

User reviews

LibraryThing member Stbalbach

The Wreck of the Grosvenor (1877) was the most popular mid-Victorian melodrama of heroism and adventure at sea, according to Johnathan Sutherland. Russell was admired by Joseph Conrad and the similarities are striking. Russell is at best good genre fiction - Conrad took it to a new level. If your

looking for an easy to read 19th century sea tale with heroic deeds, evil captains, epic storms, salty old seamen who would stick ya, this is probably one of the best. It's not high literature but the action is non-stop and it feels authentic. Its portrayal of the heroin is hilarious at times but instructive of how far we have come. All around good light fun with a forgotten classic of the 19th century.

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LibraryThing member Schmerguls

I have wanted to read this book for years and when I came across a copy I was glad.. The book was first published in 1877. apparently by Dodd, Mead * Company.. The copy I read was published by Grosset and Dunlap but no year of publication is shown in the book. It starts out very excitingly and

event is piled on event, including a rescue of a beautiful woman and her aged father and a murderous mutiny. There is a fierce storm, but after the mutineers leave the ship the story becomes didactic and overly sentimental and its very predictable conclusion made the book less satisfactory. , There is a lot of sailing ship language which certainly suggests the author knew a lot about sailing ships but adds nothing to the enjoyment of the story.

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