hawkwing_lb: (Default)
hawkwing_lb ([personal profile] hawkwing_lb) wrote2008-05-22 05:20 pm

(no subject)

Books 2008: 69.

69. David Cordingly, Heroines and Harlots: Women at Sea in the Great Age of Sail.

As a general introduction to the topic of women at sea, this scores a resounding meh. As a scholarly work, it's made of fail. While Cordingly treats of a number of interesting individuals, that is the main focus of his work: a chatty, shallow treatment of individuals, with very little rigorous analysis of social trends, conditions, consequences. His approach is haphazardly thematic, with little-to-no space given to consideration of change over time, and very little consideration of non-English or American evidence or individuals.

I mean, not that it's not interesting? But it's shallow, and I confess myself rather disappointed.

#

In other news, I have performed some study. I should probably go now to perform more.

[identity profile] hawkwing-lb.livejournal.com 2008-05-23 06:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, thanks. I have Slave Ship - I'm probably taking it and Villains to Crete with me, since I'm going to miss out on the good fiction this summer. From the opening few pages, it seems to be up to the expected standard. :P