Are there any experts out there on 18th century naval (age of sail) warfare?

All, just a random question:

I have been writing some amateur historical fiction novels and, naturally, one of the biggest (and most time-consuming) challenges is trying to appropriately set the scene with period-specific vernacular, social mores, daily life and etc.

What I really get stuck on is trying to detail a first person POV of a US rev war to Napeoleonic era naval battle.

Are there any suggestions as to where I can get proper data on this?

My best background so far is Wikipedia's entry on "Naval Warfare in the Age of Sail". (I'm not a sailer myself so I am starting from a blank slate).

Are there any experts out there that I can forward a few passages and ask how I'm off or what I'm doing wrong?

I have a few books on period dress, technology and daily life but I often find myself glossing over this. Sometimes, I write a chapter and look back to find a casual reader might have few clues this was actually happening in the past.

Thanks for any advice.:confused:
 

Driftless

Donor
"Two Years Before the Mast" by Richard Dana (1840). A well written memoir of his sailing era voyages as a common seaman. Not warfare, but Dana was a pretty fair writer, and describes everyday life at sea during the sailing era.

Then there's always the "Hornblower" series by C.S. Forester
Napoleonic War series

 
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All, just a random question:

I have been writing some amateur historical fiction novels and, naturally, one of the biggest (and most time-consuming) challenges is trying to appropriately set the scene with period-specific vernacular, social mores, daily life and etc.

What I really get stuck on is trying to detail a first person POV of a US rev war to Napeoleonic era naval battle.

Are there any suggestions as to where I can get proper data on this?

My best background so far is Wikipedia's entry on "Naval Warfare in the Age of Sail". (I'm not a sailer myself so I am starting from a blank slate).

Are there any experts out there that I can forward a few passages and ask how I'm off or what I'm doing wrong?

I have a few books on period dress, technology and daily life but I often find myself glossing over this. Sometimes, I write a chapter and look back to find a casual reader might have few clues this was actually happening in the past.

Thanks for any advice.:confused:

Read the Master and Commander series - one of the main characters Dr Maturin is.....not a nautical man and despite his obvious intelligence throughout the series of books manages to remain a 'Land lubber'.

This gives Patrick O'Brien licence to describe what would otherwise be very nautical terminology the layman's treatment as the crew attempts to explain what is happening to the good doctor and by extension the reader with out becoming boring or tiresome to someone who already understands terminology such as Luffing and coming about.

Its also a superb series of books and for me up there with the Harry Flashman papers ;)
 
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