The Fighting Temeraire

Hearts of Oak Trilogy #1

by Sam Willis

The extraordinary story of the mighty Temeraire , the ship behind J. M. W. Turner's iconic painting. The H.M.S. Temeraire , one of Britain`s most illustrious fighting ships, is known to millions through J.M.W. Turner`s masterpiece, The Fighting Temeraire (1839), which portrays the battle-scarred veteran of Britain`s wars with Napoleonic France. In this evocative new volume, Sam Willis tells the extraordinary story of the vessel behind the painting and the making of the painting itself.

Turner's Temeraire was the second ship in the Royal Navy to carry the name. The first, a French warship captured and commandeered by the British in 1759, served with distinction during the Seven Years' War before being sold off in 1784. The second Temeraire , named in honor of her predecessor, was a prestigious three-decked, 98-gun warship that broke through the French and Spanish line directly astern of Nelson`s flagship Victory at Trafalgar in 1805, saving the Vice-Admiral at a crucial moment in the battle. This tale of two ships spans the heyday of the age of the climaxes of both the Seven Years War (1756-63) and the Napoleonic Wars (1798-1815).

Filled with richly evocative detail, and narrated with the pace and gusto of a master storyteller, The Fighting Temeraire is an enthralling and deeply satisfying work of narrative history. 36 pages of color illustrations

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Military History, Naval History, Nautical, War, 19th Century

352 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 2009

About the author

Dr Sam Willis is a maritime historian and archaeologist and is a fellow of the Royal Historical Society.

He is the author of the best-selling Hearts of Oak Trilogy and the Fighting Ships Series. He has consulted on maritime history for many clients including the BBC, Channel 4, NBC America and Christie's.

Sam's work is coloured by his knowledge and experience of seamanship. Sam's unique approach to maritime history and his vivid style of writing has led to him being described as 'A Nautical Tour de Force'.

Reviews

[Bfisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was first exposed to The Fighting Temeraire as a schoolboy in the 60’s, via Sir Henry Newbolt’s poem, just before the dramatic curriculum revisions of the late 60’s and 70’s.

Now the sunset’s breezes shiver,
And she’s fading down the river,
But in England’s song for ever
She’s the Fighting Temeraire.

Here is a link to a recording of Newbolt reading his poem:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p019pxhc

There is a vast amount of excellent historical fiction on the Royal Navy in the Age of Fighting Sail, especially of the sailors of the Napoleonic era. There are also some useful histories of naval developments and naval warfare of the period. There is a thinner selection of popular history of the period, and this books fills a useful role in that.

It is a history of two ships, the second the namesake of the first. Together, they cover a period from the later stage of the Seven Years War to the pioneering of steam. Over this period the two Temeraires participated in famous amphibious operations like the capture of Havana, saw blockade duty at Brest, served in the Baltic campaign, operated on the fringe of the Peninsular War at the seige of Cadiz, and served various other roles such as prison hulk and receiving ship. At the apogee of that is her role in the Battle of Trafalgar, for which she was celebrated. As a part of all this, Sam Willis describes how a Napoleonic era ship of the line was built and maintained, and of how she passed into history as an exemplar of her type, immortalized in verse, and painted by J.M.W. Turner in his masterpiece.

[Eli Giltrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great look at the famous painting, the age of fighting sail, and England as a whole.

[Andrew Otis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slightly pedantic and nationalistic at times but a fascinating historical study

[Mhbright · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful account of the ship that captured two French ships at Trafalgar and was much later the subject of Turner's painting, voted the favorite of the English public. The painting, in turn, inspired Newbolt's poem: "Now the sunset's breezes shiver, / And she's fading down the river, / But in England's song for ever / She's the Fighting Temeraire.

[Lee Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

second..or maybe the third time I have read this...it gets better every time :)

[Lee Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb! Makes you proud to be British

[Crissy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sam Willis does not fail to explore any avenue linked to this legendary ship. It is a thrilling description of of the great age of sail and a worthwhile read for anyone interested in this era.

[Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Would have been nice if the author discussed Trafalgar a bit more but overall great book.

[Mick · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a recent poll, J. M. W. Turner's The Fighting Temeraire tugged to her last berth to be broken up, 1838, depicting an aging warship being towed up the Thames to a breaking yard, was voted the British public's favourite painting. It's easy to see why. The Fighting Temeraire is a remarkable work, created at the peak of Turner's ability, and is a beautiful tribute to the passing of the previous age of tall ships and a time when Britannia - for better or worse - ruled the waves.

Many people may not be familiar with the history behind the masterpiece, a decades-long story of two great warships and several wars, and a starring role in Britain's greatest naval victory at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. This story comprises the heart of the first of Sam Willis' 'Hearts of Oak trilogy', which has the ambitious aim of creating biographies of a ship (HMS Temeraire), a man (The Admiral Benbow: The Life And Times Of A Naval Legend), and a battle (The Glorious First of June). More accurately, though, this book is a biography of two great ships (both the great Second-rate depicted in Turner's painting and the French built 74-gun ship of the line captured at the spectacular British victory at the Battle of Lagos during the Seven-Years War) and of the many men who served and died aboard them.

In this Willis absolutely succeeds, devoting each chapter of the book to a specific vignette or aspect of command or life aboard ship in a way which helps to simplify what might otherwise have been a very complex history. In doing so he addresses the key points in the histories of the two ships, such as the second Temeraire's decisive actions at Trafalgar, service in the Baltic, mutiny, and post-war retirement as a prison hulk and victualing depot. On doing so he uses the story of the two Temeraires to a tell a greater narrative, that of the triumph of the Royal Navy during the late 18th/early 19th centuries and the eventual twilight of the great age of fighting sail.

The story is a fascinating one, well worth the telling, and Willis does so in a way that is highly accessible to non-technically minded readers, entertaining, and robust in its scholarship.

[David Bird · Rating 3 out of 5]

Willis is clearly more interested in naval history than art history. His take on the former is detailed, and has an interesting focus on the Seven Years War (known in these parts as the French and Indian War), where the original French ship of this name was captured by the British. As with David Cordingly's The Billy Ruffian: The Bellerophon and the Downfall of Napoleon, the story of a single ship provides a frame for naval history of the period through both the well known fleet actions and the boredom of blockade. He resists telling Trafalgar in detail. Instead, he explores the degree to which Temeraire's reputation, singled out among the British fleet, was built by the efforts of her captain, who had a gift for self-promotion; the question is not whether Temeraire fought well, but why she received disproportionate praise.

Willis is on less certain ground with art history. He returns repeatedly to the poll that named Turner's painting most popular in England, and he talks a bit about the structure of the work, but this section is a postscript more than a parallel to the earlier naval history.

I did appreciate his reconstruction of the big ship's final trip up the Thames as a public spectacle. As with Jame Austen's Persuasion, it is a moment where the terrestrial society caught a glimpse of the maritime on which it depended, but mostly from a distance.

He closes with a discussion of iconic ships and their preservation. What is missed here is any discussion of why some ships are saved, and others lost. He paints a vision of Constitution or Victory up for auction, but these ships are protected by the myths they embody. In contrast, USS Olympia is in active peril, the only surviving pre-dreadnought. But as Dewey's flagship in the Spanish-American War, she symbolizes an imperial episode that most Americans not only forget, but of which they are happy to remain ignorant.

[Manda · Rating 5 out of 5]

While mostly a biography (in a loosely-termed way) of one of the most famous ships of the Royal Navy, an historical subsection that didn't really exist until a few years ago, this book is even more unique for the element of art history contained in its final chapters. The majority of the book is devoted to the Temeraire's years in service, including her most famous day at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, all the way to her final years as a prison hulk, a depot ship, to finally being broken up in a wrecker's yard when she was deemed surplus to the peacetime Navy's needs. In the book's final chapters exploring the painting J.M.W. Turner created in her image and the relationship that the British public have today with that painting, Sam Willis also asks the reader to think about what the value of history is, and to appreciate and try to protect that history before it goes the way of Temeraire and most of her compatriots.

I would also recommend if you like this: The Billy Ruffian: The Bellerophon and the Downfall of Napoleon

[John Gordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

The HMS Temeraire was a 98 gun ship of the line at Trafalgar and played a crucial part in that battle. This ship has a long and illustrious history in the days of fighting sail. Thanks to the iconic painting "The Fighting Temeraire" by JMW Turner we have a nostalgic connection to the story of this great ship.

This book is well written, it traces the story of the capture of the original Temeraire from the French at Lagos Bay (1759) and its subsequent service. Then after the war and scrapping, a new 98 gun ship of the line continued the name and service through the Napoleonic wars. The detail of life aboard the ship, victualling, logistics, and command I found fascinating.

Later, when the days of fighting sail were but a memory, the Temeraire was finally sold off. Being towed to the yard for scrapping, was the moment Turner chose to represent in his iconic painting. I found it fascinating that the numerous technical errors in the painting were actually intentional - Turner was not painting a true image of the event, but rather trying to convey an emotion, ultimately perhaps in the value of history and how we should treasure it.

A great narrative, recommended reading.

[Tim Chamberlain · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is essentially a history of two ships and a painting - all three connected by the single word 'Temeraire', which makes for an interesting and somewhat novel angle for a historical enquiry. Sam Willis is an engaging writer and the book flows nicely, even though the history itself can tend a little toward the military-patriotic bombast of the "what made 'Great' Britain great" kind. That said though, the book is an excellent examination of cultural perception, i.e. - how the ships and the paintings (including Turner's first rendering of the Battle of Trafalgar itself) were perceived both then and now, which the short compendium of poems at the end adds to nicely (this reminded me rather of the obssessive notes of a "sub-sub-librarian" which precede Melville's 'Moby Dick' a little). This absorbing book was a wonderful combined read for someone like me who has a general interest in both nautical and art history, however, Willis is clearly more at home here discussing to a greater depth the nautical element of his history of the 'fighting' Temeraire.

[Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read a lot of history intended for the lay public as opposed to professional historians, You could call this "big picture" or "macro" history. This book is "micro" history covering in detail the story of two ships and a painting, starting in the year 1759.
For the general reader this micro history would be deadly boring, but for denizens of the gunroom it is fascinating stuff.
The first ship was built by the French and captured by the British navy in the Seven Years War in 1759.
The second ship was built by the British in the 1790's and given the name of the first ship in honor of the original victory. The new Temeraire played a key role in the famous battle of Trafalgar in the Napoleonic war.
The fame of the Temeraire today, however, rests on the exsquisite painting by Joseph Turner.
Click on the link below to see the painting where it now resides adjoining Trafalgar Square.

http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/pai...

[Jesse · Rating 2 out of 5]

I first noticed The Fighting Temeraire because of the Temeraire fantasy series by Naomi Novik. This book covers the history of the two British ships that shared the name Temeraire (the first was a French prize). Spanning much of the Age of Sail and featuring many of the most famous battles of the era, The Fighting Temeraire was a real effort to wade through. I don’t mind working to get through a book (A Random Walk Down Wall Street, I glance in your direction…), but the learning really has to pay off, and I didn’t walk away with a real feel for what the age of sail was like. Details that would have helped me picture what life on the ship was like were consistently skipped, and yet I was bogged down by dates and names that I could never picture or come to grips with. I'd like to be friendly to histories about the Age of Sail, but overall this book just didn't do it for me. I do like Turner's famous painting of the ship, but that's not terribly unusual.

[David Linzee · Rating 3 out of 5]

A famous ship provides the launch pad for entertaining explorations of British history. Actually, there were two ships. The first Temeraire took part in what we Americans call the French and Indian War, but was actually the first world war. The second won fame at Trafalgar, but also took part in less-known activities in the Baltic and elsewhere. The painting became Britain's all-time favorite, though its meaning is not as simple and nostalgic as it appears to be. The writing is lively and humorous, as the wide-ranging author delves into such subjects as mutiny, prison hulks, and cowardly admirals. The reader will painlessly learn a lot he or she didn't know.

[Kate K. F. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good non-fiction book can make you feel as if you're reading a narrative with added history, this book does that incredibly well. Willis charts the history of the two ships to carry the Temeraire and how they inspired the British nation and fit into the naval history of the 1700 and 1800s. Each chapter is headed the something Temeraire and takes the reader into different eras of history to explain the power of these great ships. I recommend this book to anyone interested in naval history or art history.

[Koit · Rating 5 out of 5]

I find something inspiring in the way Mr Willis writes these naval stories, they are often uplifting but also provide a window into a time two centuries ago. 'The Fighting Temeraire', as the others in his three-book trilogy, does not disappoint; rather it provides for an interesting story that spans the globe and which illustrates the best of Britain at a time when the country was at near-endless war.

[Steve Chambers · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good history of the two most famous ships to bear the name.
Considering the lack of good primary source documents and images this is a surprisingly complete account of service 200+ years ago.
I did struggle to stay interested through the final esoteric discussion on art history and how it has impacted on ship preservation though.

[Sally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. Tells the story of an iconic battleship, highlighting the lives of those who served - and died - as part of her crew, and as her enemies.

The book also provides a view of why these old vessels, such as Temeraire and Victory are still of great value to us, culturally and as part of our long naval history.

[Bob Keeney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always been fascinated by the Brits' fascination with Turner's painting of the Temeraire being towed by a steam tug to be broken up. This book explains it - the highs and lows of the ship's history, the battle of Trafagar, and the pathos of watching an ancient warrior towed to the boneyard.

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

An interesting but ordinary read about one of Nelson's ships of the line. The story really started to drag after the Battle of Trafalgar, and the final chapter about the symbolism of Turner's painting was really dry. It seemed as if the author was just trying to bring the book to an end.

[Allan Harle · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting book. I was more interested in the historical side of the book. So the artistic part was a destraction, although not a bad one. I probably will look at paintings more closely in future. I have the other two books of the series to read, but not straight away.

[Riff · Rating 5 out of 5]

A ripping good history of bravery, one of the most famous ships, and one of the greatest paintings in history.

[pete saussy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Saucy Temeraire

The art of war in the art of war, the ship, her crew, the painting and what it means. Good

[Hunter Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite reads of 2016.

[Graham Bear · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book . Turners painting comes to life. Awesome work from the historical master .

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A compelling biography of two ships and one of the most famous paintings in the world.