A book review by Tony Gerard
Voyages, Aventures et Combats (Seaman Garneray)
By Louis Garneray, A new translation by Roland Wilson
While it seems, a person could spend a lifetime reading all
the various accounts of British seamen and books about the Royal Navy during
the Napoleonic wars there is very little written about, or by, the opposition.
Garneray’s account is one of the few available written from
the French side of the wars. Louis Garneray joined the French navy in 1796 when
he was 13. Three years later he was serving as an aide to Robert Surcouf, one
if the most famous French privateers. He was then captured and spent nine years
as a prisoner of the British, and time he also wrote about (and previously reviewed
on this website).
Garneray writing. as translated, is very readable, almost novel
like in form, with many direct quotes. Written decades after the actual events
this should not be taken as such. He had a tendency to stretch the truth in
telling, elevating his own importance and always putting himself close to the principle
characters. I would have appreciated it if he had included more of what daily life was like on a French privateer and
a bit less of the hero worship and quoted speeches of various important
figures. Having said that it was a very enjoyable and easy read. I did learn
some things. I was shocked to learn how lackadaisical the French navy was about
desertion, especially considering the harsh penalty it drew in the British
Royal Navy.
The editor and translator of the edition I have, Roland
Wilson, provides a great introduction with excellent insights into Garneray as an
individual, revolutionary France and the French navy and privateers at the
time. He also provides excellent explanatory and supplemental notes printed on
the sides of the page, much preferable to
having to look up a footnote in the back of the book!
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