The Golden Ocean
O'Brian's first sea-going novel,The Golden Oceanis a precurser to the acclaimedAubrey-Maturin seriesin its excitement and rich humor, its eloquent style and and tapestry of historical detail.  Peter Palofox, second son of a poor Irish parson, sets out on the voyage of a lifetime when he seeks his fortune as a midshipman in Commodore Anson's flotilla.  With five ships under his command, Anson leaves England in 1740 to circumnavigate the globe and attack Spanish ships wherever they can be found.  Peter comes of age in the complex but sharply defined community of the fleet as they engage in battle, fight disease, and face shipwreck.