The sea has always held a fascination for me not only the waves and the wind, but the men and ships who braved them. My Nicholas Cruwys Naval Series grew out of a lifelong passion for naval history, from the earliest voyages of discovery to the great wars of the eighteenth century.
From an early age, I was captivated by tales of daring expeditions and the sheer determination it took to sail into the unknown. Over the years, that spark developed into a deeper study of the period a time when the Royal Navy stood as Britain’s shield and its ships carried the nation’s fortunes across the world. I immersed myself in reading about seamanship, naval battles, and the daily life of sailors, both aboard ship and ashore.
Yet what truly drives my writing is not simply the grandeur of history, but the human side of it. Behind every broadside and every voyage lies the story of individuals officers struggling with duty, sailors enduring the hardships of sea life, and communities shaped by the tides of war and trade. It’s these stories that bring the past to life, allowing us to glimpse not only the strategies and outcomes of naval conflict, but also the lived experiences of those who were there.
Through my books, I aim to recreate that world in all its richness the creak of timbers, the snap of sails, the smoke of battle, and the social hierarchies that governed both ship and shore. Writing about the age of sail is, for me, a way of sharing the adventure and resilience of a time that continues to shape our imagination today.
Hi Adrian , I just started reading Liberty’s Edge , I am just as just as excited and
can’t wait to read more – You do have this very special way of writing which I haven’t experienced with other Naval writers- well done
Daniel thank you very much for your comment. I’m enjoying writing these books and knowing that readers seem very positive.
Dear Mr. Westbrooke – Thank you so much. I have read the first 5 books (and hope for many more) and just wanted to let you know how much I have enjoyed them. I have read extensively of the naval history of the period, both fiction and non-fiction, and am impressed with the scholarship displayed. You combine the flair for action of Kent and Lambdin with the erudition of O’Brian. Again, thank you for many hours of reading pleasure.
Dear Mr. Wimbourne,
You are very welcome and thank much for your kind words. Like you I have enjoyed this genre since I was young and I always had some tales in the back of my mind that I thought would be fun to write and share. Really just as a sort of hobby project and it has given me great satisfaction to find that many seem to enjoy the books. Comments like yours are wonderful to receive and motivating, and indeed I am working hard on a sixth book.
You may already be aware of this series, but I’d like to draw your attention to “The Call of the Sea”, a completed 15 book series by Andrew Wareham. The progress’s of the main character from farmhand to Admiral stretches credulity, but the books are well written, technically correct, and offer the asides on the life of the period that we both enjoy. The first book is:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09964462B?ref_=dbs_m_mng_rwt_calw_tkin_0&storeType=ebooks&qid=1763909681&sr=1-4
Best Regards, Stephen.
Would like to know more about you. Where do you live, writing experience, background?
I am very impressed by your knowledge of the age of sail, detailed descriptions of ships, places and seamanship. I am lifelong sailor, offshore voyager and racing sailor, so I know that your sailing terms and nautical terminology are correct. Please enlighten us.
Thank you Captain Jack. I too have sailed all my life, and did some racing when I was younger, including offshore along with some offshore cruising and a lot of coastal cruising. I am trying to keep my privacy but will say for a fellow sailor my favorite boat among those I owned over the years was a Nic 35. Wonderful boat still miss her. I am glad you are enjoying the books. I hope to have the next out fairly soon it will be the last before the French revolutionary wars and on we sail.