Captain Paul

by Edward Ellsberg

A history of John Paul Jones

Genres: History

607 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1941

About the author

Edward Ellsberg (1891-1983) graduated first in his class from the United States Naval Academy in 1914. After he did a stint aboard the USS Texas, the navy sent Ellsberg to Massachusetts Institute of Technology for postgraduate training in naval architecture. In 1925, he played a key role in the salvage of the sunken submarine USS S-51 and became the first naval officer to qualify as a deep-sea diver. Ellsberg later received the Distinguished Service Medal for his innovations and hard work.

Rear Admiral Ellsberg was awarded the C.B.E. by His Majesty King George VI, and two Legions of Merit by the United States Government.

Reviews

[neil camas · Rating 5 out of 5]

By far the best book of the sea I have ever read And i have read many

I thought this was just a novel based on John P life but realizing what this man really went through was factual ,I was completely
Taken aback by what a truly great sea dog and captain he really
Was.I was so saddened to hear how he was treated by not only the ppl he trusted but even in America. God Bless his soul. Neil c

[Ralph Echtinaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fictional character tags along with John Paul Jones as he serves the nascent American navy during the Revolutionary War. This is why I enjoy historical fiction so much. You can learn history and enjoy a great novel at the same time.

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Compelling read

As a USNA grad ,1974, I often was in he chapel crypt where JPJ is entombed. His bravery is well described in this piece of historical fiction. Well worth the time to absorb this book!

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall good book with fast pace action.

[Katherine Wacker · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Edward Ellsberg’s Captain Paul, A Tale of John Paul Jones, Tom Folger’s father has perished at sea during a whaling expedition. Now, Tom must follow in the family business to support his widowed mother. However, after having a terrifying encounter with a harpooned whale which led to loss of life, Tom is faced with a choice. Thanks to a fortuitous encounter with Captain John Paul Jones, Tom decides to join America’s fight for independence, despite its small chance of success. The only question left to be answered is, how long will Tom survive?

Captain Paul is an intriguing historical tale which is set before America’s war for independence. It is a rich nautical adventure told in incredible detail. It is very well-written even though it is told in a verbose style which is quite different than today’s era. It is reminiscent of Captain Jack Aubrey in Master and Commander. There were places in the narrative where the plot was caught in the doldrums. Nonetheless, Captain Paul is an entertaining read. If you like tales on the high sea, Captain Paul may be right up your alley.

I was given a free copy, in exchange for my honest review