Das erste Buch, dass ich im neuen Jahr zufrieden schließen kann, und dann gleich ein glatter 5-Sterner! Ganz großes Kopfkino war das, sollte man nur mit Ölzeug und 'ner Buddel Rum bewaffnet lesen :D ( )

Warning: This review contains spoilers.

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This book chronicles the adventures of Edmund Talbot, a young English gentleman who is going to Australia to start a position with the governor of New South Wales. In the first volume, Edmund keeps a journal for the amusement of his godfather, who got him the position with the governor; in volumes 2 and 3, he keeps the journal for his own amusement. The bulk of the book is taken up with the sea voyage, which is really a formative experience for Edmund. He is young and privileged and on his own for the first time: he is keen to observe but is sometimes not very observant of himself, so the reader gets a chuckle or two at his expense. Along the way the ship experiences all sorts of adventures, and the characters aboard end up almost like a family.

Of the three volumes, the first had the strongest narrative arc. (Indeed, in the second volume Edmund himself notes that there isn't as strong a narrative for him to focus on.) the second probably has the most adorable story, and the third is the most thrilling. And throughout, one almost develops a parental pride in Edmund as he matures and learns more about himself and life. I particularly liked when he tried to speak "Tarpaulin", aka sailor lingo, and his occasional use of untranslated Greek lent the narrative an authentic flavour (although I should check to see if anyone's commented on it and translated it).

The end of the third volume left me with mixed feelings. It kind of felt like the end of the movie version of The Return of the King; you keep thinking that THIS chapter will be the end, it makes sense, you're prepared to let it go, and then nope, there's another chapter. Still, it was an interesting technique and I can respect what he did, although I personally would have ended it after the incident with Charles, which made me so sad I almost finished reading there anyway. Oh Charles!

Overall, this is a very interesting story. The individual volumes are best read fairly close together but perhaps not one immediately after the other. I would recommend this if you like tales of the sea and the Napoleonic Wars. ( )