I hope you’ll forgive a little triumphalism this week, but last Thursday, I received the Anderson medal for the best maritime history book of 2017 from Admiral Sir Kenneth Eaton, chairman of the awarding body, the Society for Nautical Research. Although I’d known about the award for some months, and blogged about it in some detail here, it was still a proud and exciting moment. A nervous one, too, as I also had to deliver a lecture on the subject of the book, but fortunately, the large audience was gentle with me, partly because a good number of friends and family had turned up to support me!
Mind you, one audience member left half way through, grumbling audibly, and then spent much of the drinks reception kicking me…perhaps I should point out, though, that Felix is three months old.
(photo – Nigel Blanchford)
Anyway, normal blogging will be resumed next week, when I’ll be publishing the first in a series of blogs linked to my new book, Destiny’s Tide, in the buildup to its publication on 26 June. What links Atlantis, H P Lovecraft and Notre Dame cathedral? Find out next time!
A brilliant achievement – and a great lecture delivered!
Thank you BWR!!
Congratulations!
Thank you!
Congratulations Mr Davies! Good to see!
Thank you Gael!
Congratulations (again)! Your well-deserved awards are stacking up. You may need a large new shelf for all of them.
Thanks Judy!
Congratulations David. Incidentally I have a copy of your Peyps’ Navy taking a very long time to arrive from Abebooks. Whilst checking on it I came across a complete 1914 5 volume set of Monson’s Naval Tracts. I’m not familiar with it. Is it worthwhile?
Thanks Grant. Yes, the Monson Tracts contain some fascinating stuff!
Grant – as David says, a set of Monson is fascinating for the period from the 1590’s through to about 1635. Make sure you buy a uniform 1st edition set published 1902 – 1914 in five volumes (of six) in the blue and white buckram. Some are ‘made’ sets in different editions and/or the later blue cloth reprints, but the 1st editions are the most handsome. Rothwell &Dunmore (reliable ABA dealers) have what appears to be a good set at £75 – Patrick Marrin of Marrins appears to have a ‘made’ set at the same price. Otherwise, uniform sets are scarce. I rarely buy second-hand books from Amazon – much wider choice and prices on the Abe books site. As ever, price generally reflects condition but beware the optimists ! Very few of the NRS 1st editions are unmarked, many are ex library and rarely indeed are the glassine covers included.
Mine is a ‘cobbled together’ set from different sources, assembled over the years.
Congratulations. Modesty is not called for – trumpets should be blown and a good book celebrated. Alas, I missed the event through force majeure – ended up in Sheffield that day, but not because I was confused about where Greenwich was !
I never doubted it!
Well done, David. Excellent book; excellent talk.
Thanks Alan, that’s much appreciated!