Sail On By Trivia Quiz

Answer: Patrick O'Brian

"The Golden Ocean", published in 1956, was the first of Patrick O'Brian's historical naval books. Set in 1740, it centers around Peter Palafox, an Irish boy or teenager, who joins Commodore George Anson's mission against the Spanish as a Midshipman. The mission becomes a circumnavigation of the globe as misfortunes befall the ships and it is also a sort of "coming-of-age" story.

It is a sometimes humorous story and features many historical figures, including Anson and Peter's fellow Midshipman, Augustus Keppel. "The Golden Ocean" is followed by "The Unknown Shore".

Answer: David Donachie

The book is set in 1793 at the onset of the French Revolution and centers around John Pearce, who is illegally press ganged and forced to join a ship of the Royal Navy as a Landsman, the lowest rank there is. Run by Captain Barclay, HMS Brilliant is a brutal ship, but Pearce triumphs in the end.

The book focuses on the hard lot of the pressed men. "By the Mast Divided" is the first book in the "John Pearce" series.

Answer: C.S. Forester

"The Happy Return" (published as "Beat to Quarters" in the United States) was the first book published in the famous "Horatio Hornblower" series, although not the first book chronologically. Published in 1937, it tells the story of Captain Horatio Hornblower's mission to supply a Nicaraguan landowner with guns and ammunition to rebel against the Spanish. On this mission he also battles with the enemy ship "Natividad" and meets his future wife, Lady Barbara Wellesley.

The book was adapted into the 1951 film "Captain Horatio Hornblower R.N.", starring Gregory Peck.

Answer: Alexander Kent

This book, known mostly as "Richard Bolitho, Midshipman" but also sometimes as "Mr Midshipman Bolitho", is set in 1772. Although Britain is technically at peace with her usual enemies, Spain and France, pirates are troubling British shipping, and the HMS Gorgon, with Midshipman Bolitho aboard, has a mission to investigate.

This is the first book in a series of 30; the first 25 feature Richard Bolitho, while the last 5 feature his nephew, Adam Bolitho.

Answer: Sean Thomas Russell

"Under Enemy Colors" is the first in a series of four by Canadian author S. Thomas Russell. It chronicles the voyage of the HMS Themis under Captain Josiah Hart, which Lieutenant Charles Hayden has been ordered to join. Captain Hart is a cowardly Captain who refuses to take opportunities for action and Hayden finds that the crew is ready to mutiny. With an English father and French mother, Hayden's loyalty often comes under question, but the state of the Themis is much more pressing.

Answer: Patrick O'Brian

This is the first in O'Brian's Jack Aubrey/Stephen Maturin series and is more mature than "The Golden Ocean". The book centers around Jack Aubrey, a Commander in the Royal Navy in 1803, and the physician on his ship, as well as his best friend, Stephen Maturin.

Although the two characters get off to a bad start, they are soon friends, with Jack inviting Stephen to work aboard his ship. Stephen, who is literally starving for want of a job, agrees. Action on the high seas follows, of course!

Answer: G.S. Beard

Set in 1792, Midshipman Fury makes his way through the Royal Navy knowing that 10 years previously his unstable father, a Captain in the Navy, provoked his own crew to mutiny. Docking in Bombay, Fury's ship HMS Amazon learns that she must discover why ships of the East India Company have been disappearing--and Fury finds himself at the fore of the investigations. First published in 2006, "Mr Midshipman Fury" has only one sequel, "Lieutenant Fury".

Answer: Dudley Pope

"Ramage" is the first book in the 18-novel "Lord Nicholas Ramage" series. Published in 1965, the book begins as Lieutenant Ramage is forced to take command of HMS Sibella after the deaths of the rest of the officers. Forced to abandon ship in the face of the enemy, Ramage and his remaining crew set out to complete their mission: to rescue some sympathetic Italian nobility, including the charming Marchessa di Volterri.

Answer: C.S. Forester

Although not the first "Hornblower" book Forester wrote (which was "The Happy Return"), "Mr Midshipman Hornblower" begins the series by being the first book in chronological order. Essentially a collection of short stories, the book chronicles Hornblower's first years in the Navy, from bullied Midshipman under the rule of the vicious Midshipman Jack Simpson, to a fledgling young officer under the command of Captain Sir Edward Pellew.

Much of this book was adapted into the A&E miniseries "Hornblower", starring Ioan Gryffudd.

Answer: Richard Woodman

Set in the 1780s, "An Eye of the Fleet" details the early career of Nathaniel Drinkwater, a young officer aboard the HMS Cyclops. While he tries to battle the evil that he sees upon his own ship, he also falls in love with Elizabeth, a clergyman's daughter, back home in England. This is the first book in Woodman's "Nathaniel Drinkwater" series.