Buy new:
-16% $25.25
FREE delivery Friday, May 10 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Ships from: Amazon.com
Sold by: Amazon.com
$25.25 with 16 percent savings
List Price: $30.00

The List Price is the suggested retail price of a new product as provided by a manufacturer, supplier, or seller. Except for books, Amazon will display a List Price if the product was purchased by customers on Amazon or offered by other retailers at or above the List Price in at least the past 90 days. List prices may not necessarily reflect the product's prevailing market price.
Learn more
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
FREE delivery Friday, May 10 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35. Order within 18 hrs 21 mins
In Stock
$$25.25 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$25.25
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
Amazon.com
Ships from
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Returns
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Returns
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Payment
Secure transaction
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
$17.78
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
Solid copy with some minor shelf wear. Front inside cover has a stamp on it. No writing, underlining or hightlighting within book. Pages are in good condition Solid copy with some minor shelf wear. Front inside cover has a stamp on it. No writing, underlining or hightlighting within book. Pages are in good condition See less
FREE delivery Saturday, May 11 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
$$25.25 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$25.25
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
Amazon book clubs early access
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Amazon book clubs early access

Join or create book clubs

Choose books together

Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Explore Amazon Book Clubs
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

N. A. M. Rodger
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

The Wooden World: An Anatomy of the Georgian Navy Reprint Edition

by N. A. M. Rodger (Author)
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 125 ratings
See all formats and editions
{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$25.25","priceAmount":25.25,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"25","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"25","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"JSix%2FJT3KveBQYzaGG9g7hAZG%2BVtvY3ZMJZmnEEU0bJSN3twwCpCgegtEN4U0A7GAlgp2246yKxSMOzGhWVNlV0hEvfgsQ7TDJ4vCsjKUnr7F2YCz%2BPBdovHX9bgttHRhJtRe6BcRYg%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}, {"displayPrice":"$17.78","priceAmount":17.78,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"17","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"78","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"JSix%2FJT3KveBQYzaGG9g7hAZG%2BVtvY3Zd2HPN7977JkydQtFX%2FmOmK7%2B1ehNMekU9mSmemOTFBWIJOhZXsYH%2Fbolo0L6UeFes07cIzGplj50Swb%2Fyci9yePJJtgtnIY8aCPNGyDcq62xTyXgXlTrlzRsaQRNZv3%2FFEPjVrGjiTx%2FFmqOUR5Z0S%2B8%2FWkY4wCO","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":1}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

From the award-winning naval scholar N. A. M. Rodger comes the most revealing account yet of the mighty Georgian navy and British naval society of the eighteenth century.

Meticulously researched, Rodger's portrait draws the reader into this fascinatingly complex world with vivid, entertaining characters and full details of life below the decks. The Wooden World provides the most complete history of a navy at any age, and is sure to be an indispensable volume for all fans of Patrick O'Brian, English history, and naval history.
Previous page
  1. ISBN-10
    0393314693
  2. ISBN-13
    978-0393314694
  3. Edition
    Reprint
  4. Publisher
    W. W. Norton & Company
  5. Publication date
    July 17, 1996
  6. Language
    English
  7. Dimensions
    5.5 x 1.1 x 8.2 inches
  8. Print length
    456 pages
  9. See all details
Next page
Books with Buzz
Books with Buzz
Discover the latest buzz-worthy books, from mysteries and romance to humor and nonfiction. Explore more

Frequently bought together

The Wooden World: An Anatomy of the Georgian Navy
$25.10
Get it as soon as Saturday, May 11
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
Sold by Swisstock and ships from Amazon Fulfillment.
+
The Price of Admiralty: The Evolution of Naval Warfare from Trafalgar to Midway
$15.61
Get it as soon as Friday, May 10
Only 20 left in stock (more on the way).
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors: The Extraordinary World War II Story of the U.S. Navy's Finest Hour
$13.99
Get it as soon as Friday, May 10
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Details
Added to Cart
Some of these items ship sooner than the others.
Show details Hide details
Choose items to buy together.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"[Rodger] provides the reader with the most authoritative and enjoyable text on the subject that can be imagined."
― Patrick O'Brian

From the Back Cover

'This excellent book, both scholarly and readable, gives us a new approach to the eighteenth-century British Navy, which helps to explain its historic achievement and illuminates the society of which it was a characteristic and resounding expression throughout the world.' - A.L. Rowse

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ W. W. Norton & Company; Reprint edition (July 17, 1996)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 456 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0393314693
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0393314694
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.14 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 1.1 x 8.2 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 125 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
N. A. M. Rodger

N. A. M. Rodger

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more

Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
125 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

J
5.0 out of 5 stars Really changed my views on this fascinating time and topic.
Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2023
Verified Purchase
It is uncommon to find such a deep exploration of a somewhat obscure subject that is as readable, as consistently surprising, and as satisfying as this book has been for me. I had originally purchased the book thinking that it would be fairly dry, and largely confirm what (very little) I knew of the British Navy during the Seven Year War and, maybe, get one or two interesting facts from its 340 odd pages (not including the helpful addendums). Instead I discovered that almost nothing I had previously believed about the period and people were anywhere close to the truth, and that the facts were much more engaging than anything written by Stevenson. I had to constantly stop myself from highlighting, or most of the book would be yellow, and I look forward to reading Mr. Rodger's other works.
Helpful
 Report
S. Simmons
5.0 out of 5 stars Great reference work
Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2023
Verified Purchase
It's not a novel, but it's not supposed to be. Wish it was available on Kindle.
Helpful
 Report
Tom Munro
4.0 out of 5 stars Very Good Book
Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2002
Verified Purchase
The writer of this book is an academic historian of some importance and he appears to be in the midst of writing a three volume history of the British navy. This book is a little more specalised and tells what it was like to serve on a British ship in the 18th Century.
The main theme of the book is to rebut academic theories which suggest that the British Navy of the period was run like a concentration camp. The author in some detail goes through the relations on ships and shows how the navy took a lot of care to preserve one of its key assets the sailors who manned the ships. Food was plentiful and of high quality or the time, British sailors worked out the cause of scurvey before medical science did. Care was taken to ensure that ships were clean and that sailors washed. The most interesting discussion is however on discipline. It would seem clear that in trials carried out to deterime the guilt of individual sailors, senior officers were very careful to establish the truth of charges and they were willing to aquit or to accept the sailors point of view. The book establishes that with a number of mutinies the Admirality removed incompetant officers from command and took no action against the men who mutinied, accpeting that the actions of the sailors was justified.
The author goes a long way to establishing that the reality of sea born life was one more or partnership rather than that of an oppresive regime.
The book however does more than this and describes in detail the tremendous organisational feat that was the Royal navy. It looks at all aspects of the navy from recruiting sailors, to feeding them and the reality of training and manning ships.
One finishes the book and relises what an achievment it was for England to be able to run such an effecient arm as the navy and how the way it was run led to the success it had in battle.
50 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
DH of A
5.0 out of 5 stars Wooden Ships on the water.....very free and easy.
Reviewed in the United States on September 6, 2007
Verified Purchase
I have always been intrigued by nautical history, particularly in regards to the English navy during the 1700-1800's time period. I also am an avid model ship builder and am constantly seeking information that will help me construct better masted wooden ships such as Bounty or Constitution.Rodger's book titled 'The Wooden World:An Anatomy of the Georgian Navy' excells at giving a good insight into what the British Navy was really like and also at giving information that helps in the understanding of why the ships were built the way they were. This book is easy to read, yet packed with information about all aspects of life aboard British naval vessels during a time when sailing on warships was fraught with dangers that had little to do with actual sea battles themselves. Indeed, the author emphasizes that death and illness were common in the the British navy, but usually for reasons unrelated to actual combat. He also makes it quite clear that for many, life aboard these ships was far better and safer than what they might have had on land. While Patrick O'Brian's novels give excellent views of British naval life, this book does it without need of a plot or story.
8 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Revvie
5.0 out of 5 stars Truth
Reviewed in the United States on September 4, 2022
Verified Purchase
A far, far cry from Aubrey and Hornblower, It takes us into the heart of a lost world. Fascinating.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
John Sullivan
5.0 out of 5 stars An unusual and worthwhile history
Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2013
Verified Purchase
This work is documented like an academic paper, but is in fact a fascinating review of the Royal Navy that fought, among other things, the American Revolution; its ships, its men (and boys), its leadership, its administration, its communications, just about everything but its tactics (which are well-covered in many another source). It DOES got on and on about some of that, but that just means it's time to skip to the next chapter, which may cover something of greater specific interest to you.
2 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Dennis M ONeal
5.0 out of 5 stars Does a fairly good job of explaining the UK navy of wooden ships ...
Reviewed in the United States on July 27, 2018
Verified Purchase
Does a fairly good job of explaining the UK navy of wooden ships and iron guns and iron men. I don't agree will all the conclusions, but a good book, even for experts.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Scarecrow Repair
5.0 out of 5 stars Well organized and easy to read
Reviewed in the United States on June 23, 2015
Verified Purchase
Very readable, chock full of info. He concentrates on the middle 1700s but mentions some differences from earlier and later periods.

Two surprises: it is a page turner, and it is also easy to read in short sections. You can read 5 pages in breaks, or more in longer sessions.
2 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
Richard G. St. John
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant Myth-Busting
Reviewed in Canada on May 15, 2021
Verified Purchase
This is easily one of the finest history books I have ever read, and I have read many. Many think they know that Royal Navy fighting ships in the age of sail were little more than floating concentration camps; on board were starved, flogged, terrorized sailors who had been viciously rounded up by press gangs ashore against their will.

Professor Nicholas Rodger blows away these falsehoods; he marshals solid evidence that the majority of Navy sailors volunteered for service, since they were regularly paid, very well-fed compared to those ashore, looked after by medical staff, had less work to do day-to-day compared to civilian sailors, and who were persuaded rather than compelled to act by officers, the latter's authority in those days (compared to now) being quite limited.

If the myths were true, the Royal Navy would never have won battle after battle at sea; only crack sailors could do that for them. The human element is the most important element in battle; British navy sailors were surprisingly well looked after by their officers, and - sailors being scarce - they knew their worth, just as their officers knew that worth. Together, they achieved a moral ascendancy over all their enemies at sea that long persisted.
Report
Paul T.
5.0 out of 5 stars Informative
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 30, 2023
Verified Purchase
For me the details are most interesting and sometimes surprising.
Report
MutatisMutandis
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Ouvrage !
Reviewed in France on February 4, 2023
Verified Purchase
Un excellent ouvrage indispensable pour comprendre le coeur du système de la Royal Navy dans cette période. Un seul regret, les quelques illustrations sont souvent illisibles.
Report
Thomas Fontanari
5.0 out of 5 stars Simply the best
Reviewed in Germany on May 17, 2013
Verified Purchase
Obwohl schon älter, ist der Werbetext auf dem Umschlag zutreffend: Das ist immer noch das beste Buch zur britischen Marine im 18. Jahrhundert. Besonders wertvoll ist, wie mit historischen Fakten gängige, von der modernen Populärkultur geschürte, Vorurteile widerlegt werden. Gefreut hat mich, dass das Buch trotz der vielen Quellenverweise und Zahlen unterhaltsam geschrieben ist. Alleine die zitierten Einsichten des guten Captain Wheeler wären schon den Kaufpreis wert. Absolute Kufempfehlung für jeden, der am Thema interessiert ist!
One person found this helpful
 Report
Cranky old bat
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 10, 2023
Verified Purchase
Packed with an astonishing load of detailed information but easy to read. He has a very pleasing style and he really knows his subject. It's not often you find a writer who can focus on minutiae while keeping the big picture also in focus. The man's a genius. I love that he's not afraid to draw attention to the daft notions of historians who, as a species seem totally detached from the realities of life. I wish all branches of history had heroes like this to keep pompous idiots grounded.
Report