This.

I wrote about Charlton Heston writing about Patrick O'Brian in an academic book. What's not to like about that sentence? evanmwilson.substack.com/p/arms-and-t...

Historian achievement unlocked: I've just had my own book explained to me by a stranger.

It's the hover-text that does it. Historians, click through: xkcd.com/3127/

In Nelson's era, were British ships really worse than French and Spanish ships? I investigate Patrick O'Brian's claims: evanmwilson.substack.com/p/men-of-war...

I wrote about Patrick O'Brian's evolving relationship with Lord Cochrane, and about how Stephen Maturin lies about his income to Diana Villiers when he proposes in HMS SURPRISE. Check it out! evanmwilson.substack.com/p/hms-surpri...

Stephen Maturin reflects on the types of naval officers in HMS Surprise. He wasn't the first to do that: evanmwilson.substack.com/p/hms-surpri...

Patrick O'Brian's Stephen Maturin is an unbelievable character, in the most literal sense. Yet he compels us to suspend our disbelief, and he sticks in our mind long after we're finished with the series. A post from my dad: evanmwilson.substack.com/p/really #navalhistory

@evanwilson.bsky.social’s excellent The Horrible Peace makes the point that while a celebrated portion of the Royal Navy was busy trying to stop the slave trade, the British army was suppressing enslaved people’s bids for freedom in Barbados, Demerara & Jamaica. alanlester.co.uk/blog/the-wes...

A short post about Nelson’s handwriting and signature collectors: evanmwilson.substack.com/p/nelsons-le... #navalhistory

O'Brian's POST CAPTAIN culminates in the Battle of Cape Santa Maria. Here's what the real-life British captains thought about killing hundreds of people (including women and children) with little warning. They still wanted their prize money! #navalhistory evanmwilson.substack.com/p/post-capta...

Mrs. Williams vs Diana Villiers—the single-ship action at Mapes Court in Patrick O’Brian’s Post Captain. evanmwilson.substack.com/p/post-capta... #navalhistory

We started with Aubrey and Maturin in Post Captain and ended up with Jane Austen and her two naval brothers. evanmwilson.substack.com/p/post-capta... #navalhistory

Some thoughts on Jane Austen's depiction of naval officers: evanmwilson.substack.com/p/post-capta... #navalhistory

Maybe they were drunk? An occasional series about the eighteenth-century Royal Navy. #navalhistory evanmwilson.substack.com/p/maybe-they...

We have an exciting event coming up soon over on our Patreon! Award winning naval historian Evan Wilson @evanwilson.bsky.social will be joining us for a meet the author experience on the 23rd May, for more details please see our Patreon patreon.com/thenapoleoni...

Our first post on Post Captain, noting the similarities with Pride and Prejudice. evanmwilson.substack.com/p/post-capta...

Here's a post recapping what we said about Master and Commander. I've also got an excerpt from a letter from 1780 in which the future earl of St. Vincent threatens to disown his nephew. Check it out! evanmwilson.substack.com/p/master-and...

Today I had the opportunity to speak at my workplace about my new book with Paul Kennedy, Planning for War at Sea: 400 Years of Great Power Competition. I was joined on stage by several contributors including @rdwadle.bsky.social and Professors Hattendorf, McCranie, Maurer, Kennedy, and Erickson.

On counter-factuals in Ireland, 1796-98: Bantry Bay, the Great Mutinies, and the United Irishmen. evanmwilson.substack.com/p/master-and...

Another 13-10 donation, $131.00 plus fees. @shutdownfullcast.bsky.social @newap-georgia.bsky.social @hollyanderson.bsky.social @edsbs.bsky.social

Another post on Master and Commander, on oath-taking. Check it out! evanmwilson.substack.com/p/master-and... #navalhistory

Pope Leo X and Charles V discover environmentalism

A 🧵 About the most astonishing source I ever found: The Alpenpost, a handwritten anti-Nazi and anti-Stalinist newspaper edited and illustrated by two absurdly precocious girls from 1935 to 1940.

How O'Brian gets us from shore to ship in chapter 2: evanmwilson.substack.com/p/master-and...

[email protected] asks all the right questions here, in my opinion. warontherocks.com/2025/04/how-...

Here’s another post in my series on re-reading Master and Commander, on honor, duty, and the duel. In it, I argue that dueling is the underpants gnomes theory of conflict resolution. Hope you check it out! #navalhistory evanmwilson.substack.com/p/master-and...

"At Anchor off Plymouth" ⚓️🇬🇧 Two British two-deckers lie quietly at anchor off Plymouth, the flagship in the foreground flying the flag of a Vice Admiral of the Blue from her foretop. The Admiral’s barge pulls away, heading ashore—duty never sleeps. #NavalHistory #AgeOfSail #Dominic Serres

Why we turn the page when we read Patrick O’Brian. evanmwilson.substack.com/p/master-and... #navalhistory

Can't wait to visit this exhibition around my birthday! www.rmg.co.uk/whats-on/nat... #history #maritime #pirates

On the real-life inspirations for O'Brian's characters, according to O'Brian: evanmwilson.substack.com/p/master-and... #navalhistory

A pleasure to have @abbymullen.bsky.social contribute! Her chapter is on the First Barbary War, naturally. Check out Abby’s definitive history of that war! www.press.jhu.edu/books/title/...

Here's the first post in the series "Re-reading Patrick O'Brian." I didn't even make it to page 1 before I wrote this post: evanmwilson.substack.com/p/master-and...

Introducing a new series: Re-Reading Patrick O'Brian. The plan is to post about once a week on the historical and literary achievement of O'Brian's novels. It's been done before, yes, but not by me! (or my dad) #navalhistory evanmwilson.substack.com/p/re-reading...

It’s never too late to think about your duty as a military professional. This book offers an evaluation of the major contributors to the #profession discussion and contemporary perspectives from practitioners, academics, and serving officers. The #profession and your nation are counting on you.

Here's an abridged version of my chapter in Planning for War at Sea: (thread below) evanmwilson.substack.com/p/what-to-ex...

Writing about fibre-optic drones today, and the tidbit I've found that best sums up war is that the Ukrainians sourced the cable for theirs by... figuring out which Chinese factory makes it for Russia and just placing an order

"Roses are red Bullies are mean Who the hell puts a steam engine Inside a submarine?"

Replica French sailing Frigate "Hermione". #NavalHistory

Today in auction news, a ceramic Sir John Franklin in which the heroic sailor soul looks as if he's suffering from the world's worst bout of food poisoning.

"Toulon Blockade" June 1796, on her first commission, Surprise under Captain Miller was ordered to report to Admiral Sir John Jervis, then commanding the blockade of Toulon from HMS Victory. ©️Geoff Hunt #NavalHistory

A new book, from me and Paul Kennedy: evanmwilson.substack.com/p/best-laid-... #navalhistory

Found when sorting an old drive. I still, very occasionally, say 'not many badgers in the House of Lords' and this is why:

JUST IN: A federal judge in Massachusetts has ordered a block on the Fork "deferred resignation" program until additional litigation can take place.

Interesting piece on blurbs www.nytimes.com/2025/02/04/b...

right in the tim

Registration for the 2025 McMullen Naval History Symposium is now live! It’s a great conference, it will be a great place to think seriously about the value of history for our armed forces, and it’s free! www.usna.edu/History/Symp...

One ship, two shipwrecks. 🧵👇