Books like Kydd

Read this book in 2005, and its the 1st volume of the wonderful "Thomas Kydd" series, from the author, Julian Stockwin.The year is AD 1793, and England needs seamen to make the numbers on board the fighting ships, Thomas Kydd, a young wigmaker by trade from Guildford, finds himself press-ganged, and shortly afterwards member of the lower deck of the 98-gun ship-of-the-line, the "Royal William".While on board this ship-on-the-line he will get to know a certain Nicholas Renzi, a man with a secret inheritance, and several others who will play a big part in this tale in teaching Kydd the way of life at sea, and most of those other persons will also feature in future books.Though old and rotten in most places this Royal William will be Kydd's test to become an able seaman, with all its risks and courage that's needed when one wants and needs to succeed as a true sailor.What is to follow is an astonishing naval story accompanied with authentic sea-language speaking on board this ship-of-the-line "Royal William", and where every action is wonderfully pictured and brought to life by the author in his own remarkable and knowledgeable fashion.Highly recommended, for this is a fantastic opener of a great series, and that's why I like to call this first episode: "A Glorious Thomas Kydd Begin"!