A sea of words
a lexicon and companion for Patrick O'Brian's seafaring tales
by Dean King · first published 1995
100% recommend
Why HN recommends it
Companion lexicon to Patrick O'Brian's seafaring novels, explaining nautical terms, shipboard life and navy vocabulary. It is an excellent read in itself and a big help for newcomers to the series.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
More than 50,000 devoted Patrick O'Brian fans have made A SEA OF WORDS their companion book of choice. In response to passionate reader demand, Dean King adds hundreds of new definitions and new illustrations and background essays referenced in O'Brian's clipper ship adventure sagas, including two new novels.
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Also recommend A Sea of Words, which is a lexicon of the nautical terminology from the books.
on “Show HN: Sail a historical full-rigged ship in real global weather” ↗+1e9 for "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.
on “A Private Life – Nikolai Tolstoy Remembers Patrick O'Brian” ↗For those having difficulties with naval terminology, seek out a copy of "A Sea of Words: A Lexicon and Companion to the Complete Seafaring Tales of Patrick O'Brian" by Dean King. Hornblower's naval terminology is the same as O'Brian's, and it's great guide to both.
on “Thomas Cochrane” ↗You could try "Sea of Words" by Dean King. It's pretty good. (Presumably the same Dean King mentioned in the linked article, FWIW.)
on “A Private Life – Nikolai Tolstoy Remembers Patrick O'Brian” ↗