Life of Frederick Marryat

"Life of Frederick Marryat" by David Hannay is a historical biography that recounts the life of Frederick Marryat, a 19th-century English novelist celebrated for his seafaring stories, like "Mr. Midshipman Easy". The biography begins with Marryat's birth in Westminster and explores his family's connections to politics and literature, while also narrating his difficult childhood, including his distaste for school and multiple attempts to escape to sea. Eventually, his father enrolls him in the navy, where he serves under Captain Lord Cochrane. These early naval experiences deeply influenced Marryat and served as the basis for his later literary works.