The Shipmaster

The Onedin Line #1

by Cyril Abraham

The Onedin Line The Shipmaster

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1972

About the author

Born in Liverpool in England, the son of John Abrahams, an oil mill labourer, and Agnes (née Davies), a widow, who married in 1918, as a boy Abraham attended the Liverpool Collegiate School and as a youth on the training ship HMS Conway before going to sea as an apprentice with the Liverpool shipping line Lambert and Holt. He had a period as a Bevin Boy down Bold Colliery before serving as a Marconi wireless operator in the Merchant Navy during World War II. After the war, having literary aspirations but not knowing how to pursue them, he became a bus driver with Liverpool City Transport; here he worked with Harold Hargreaves Harrison, the father of George Harrison.

His first marriage in 1945 to Evelyn M Howarth was later dissolved. While still driving buses in Liverpool he met local school teacher Joan Thomas; she encouraged him to start writing by renting a typewriter for him when he could not afford to do so for himself. She hired him the cheapest available, a pink model as these were not suitable for offices because of their bright colour. The couple married in Liverpool in 1964. Initially his short stories and articles were published in Australian magazines before he made the break into writing for television.

Reviews

[Redfox5 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those books that may be unfairly judged by it's naff cover. Taken from the tv show that aired in the seventies, it now looks very dated and unappealing. This is a shame because if your the kind of person who loves a family saga, then this may just be the one for you.

I personally love a family saga, especially when it's played out over a couple of books! The Onedin family has all the typical drama you would expect, a baby out of wedlock, a love triangle, an arranged marriage, conflict within the family etc. It just so happens that some of it takes place on a ship!

Really enjoyed this and looking forward to reading the other books from the series.

[Liedzeit Liedzeit · Rating 3 out of 5]

Life is short, so why read a book for the third time that is, maybe, not of the highest literary value? I do not have a very good excuse. Except, that I really like it. From rags to riches. Only, our hero, James Onedin, does not start really poor. He is a Captain with 175 pounds. But to buy the ship he has to marry the daughter of her owner. And he does. Brave man. And then there is the brother Robert and sister Isabel. So this time I will read the follow up books.

7/10

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Nicht die größte Literatur der Welt, aber hübsch und spannend erzählt, und alle Figruen sind aus der Fernsehserie noch in meinem Kopf, dazu die geniale Musik aus Spartacus.

[Hannah Polley · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me a little while to get into this book (I think it was the shipping theme) but I was actually quite enjoying it by the end.

James Onedin is trying to make his forture and uses a marriage pact to buy a ship. He actually seems to pick a remarkably good wife and I look forward to seeing their relationship develop in future books.

In the backdrop, you have his sensible brother, Robert, who is trying to make ends meet and becoming a father for the first time.

You also have his sister, Elizabeth, who is betrothed and thinking she will be married soon, loses her virginity. Obviously, the wedding then doesn't happen and she is left alone and pregnant. Will she go through with marrying another man to cover her pregnancy? And will he notice that the baby is 2/3 months early?

I look forward to reading the next book.

[Paul SWITZER · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much better than I thought it was going to be. Thoroughly enjoyed it, and will read the next in the series when I can get it.

[Cleopatra Hensby · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a great saga and I enjoy reading it, even after seeing the series a few times. All the characters are full of life, of personality.

[Sue · Rating 2 out of 5]

Robert Onedin inherits his father's shop, his brother wants to buy a boat, his sister hankers after love and riches. Rather too much business/shipping for my tastes but an interesting book. Apparently the first in a series.