Peter Simple (1834) is a novel by Frederick Marryat. Inspired by the author’s experience as a captain in the Royal Navy, Peter Simple is a tale of bravery, foolishness, and the manifold reasons for men to take to the high seas. Frequently funny, often profound, Marryat’s novel is an underappreciated classic of nineteenth century fiction. “If I cannot narrate a life of adventurous and daring exploits, fortunately I have no heavy crimes to confess: and, if I do not rise in the estimation of the reader for acts of gallantry and devotion in my country’s cause, at least I may claim the merit of zealous and persevering continuance in my vocation.” Rejected by his aristocratic family, Peter Simple sets out to sea to prove himself as a midshipman in the Royal Navy. As he rises through the ranks with the help of a veteran sailor and makes a name for himself during the fierce fighting of the Napoleonic Wars, Peter discovers new depths to his fortitude and experiences things he would never have seen on land. Adapted for a 1957 BBC television series, Peter Simple is considered one of the most accurate portrayals of naval life during the Napoleonic era. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of Frederick Marryat’s Peter Simple is a classic of British literature reimagined for modern readers.
