The Mission (eBook)

Captain Frederick Marryat (1792–1848) was an English Royal Navy officer, novelist, and a pioneer of the sea story genre of fiction. Born on July 10, 1792, in London, Marryat entered the Royal Navy at the age of 14 and served with distinction during the Napoleonic Wars. His experiences at sea provided a rich repository of material for his later career as a writer. Marryat's first novel, 'The Naval Officer, or Scenes and Adventures in the Life of Frank Mildmay' (1829), established him as a popular author. He retired from the navy in 1830 to devote himself to writing, producing a prodigious body of work that includes 'Mr. Midshipman Easy' (1836) and 'Peter Simple' (1834), both recognized as seminal works in the genre of nautical fiction. His 1846 novel, 'The Mission; or Scenes in Africa,' also known as 'The Mission,' stands out for its blend of adventure and a detailed depiction of colonial life in Africa. Marryat's literary style was characterized by a combination of realism, humor, and a deep understanding of shipboard life and the complexities of character. His works influenced later maritime writers, including Herman Melville and Joseph Conrad. In addition to his novels, Marryat also wrote a piratical adventure for children, 'The Children of the New Forest' (1847), proving his versatility as a writer. He died on August 9, 1848, leaving behind a legacy as a master of maritime literature.