White Jacket, or The World in a Man-of-War


Read by James K. White

(4.6 stars; 76 reviews)

This is a tale based on Melville's experiences aboard the USS United States from 1843 to 1844. It comments on the harsh and brutal realities of service in the US Navy at that time, but beyond this the narrator has created for the reader graphic symbols for class distinction, segregation and slavery aboard this microcosm of the world, the USS Neversink. (Introduction by James K. White) (17 hr 30 min)

Chapters

I - Preface and The Jacket 7:02 Read by James K. White
II - Homeward Bound 4:53 Read by James K. White
III - A Glance At The Principal Divisions, Into Which A Man-of-War's Crew Is Divided 13:46 Read by James K. White
IV - Jack Chase 13:29 Read by James K. White
V - Jack Chase on a Spanish Quarter-Deck; VI - The Quarter-Deck Officers, Warrant Officers, and Berth-Deck Underlings Of A Man-of-War; Where They Live In The Ship; How They Live; Their Social Standing On Shipboard; And What Sort Of Gentlemen They Are 30:30 Read by James K. White
VII - Breakfast, Dinner, And Supper 7:36 Read by James K. White
VIII - Selvagee Contrasted With Mad-Jack 11:32 Read by James K. White
IX - Of The Pockets That Were In The Jacket; X - From Pockets To Pickpockets 11:37 Read by James K. White
XI - The Pursuit of Poetry Under Difficulties 11:39 Read by James K. White
XII - The Good or Bad Temper of Men-of-War's Men, In a Great Degree, Attributable to Their Particular Stations and Duties Aboard Ship 15:03 Read by James K. White
XIII - A Man-of-War Hermit In A Mob 7:54 Read by James K. White
XIV - A Draught In A Man-of-War; XV - A Salt-Junk Club In A Man-of-War, With A Notice To Quit 29:35 Read by James K. White
XVI - General Training In A Man-of-War 20:04 Read by James K. White
XVII - Away! Second, Third, and Fourth Cutters, Away! 7:30 Read by James K. White
XVIII - A Man-of-War Full As A Nut 4:03 Read by James K. White
XIX - The Jacket Aloft 8:52 Read by James K. White
XX - How They Sleep In A Man of War 6:59 Read by James K. White
XXI - One Reason Why Men-of-War's Men Are, Generally, Short-Lived 8:24 Read by James K. White
XXII - Wash-Day And House-Cleaning In A Man-Of-War 11:27 Read by James K. White
XXIII - Theatricals In A Man-of-War 17:58 Read by James K. White
XXIV - Introductory To Cape Horn 10:43 Read by James K. White
XXV - The Dog-Days Off Cape Horn 10:53 Read by James K. White
XXVI - The Pitch of the Cape 16:20 Read by James K. White
XXVII - Some Thoughts Growing Out Of Mad Jack's Countermanding His Superior's Order 13:28 Read by James K. White
XVIII - Edging Away 9:09 Read by James K. White
XXIX - The Night-Watches 9:27 Read by James K. White
XXX - A Peep Through a Port-Hole at the Subterranean Parts of a Man-of-War 9:28 Read by James K. White
XXXI - The Gunner Under Hatches 11:16 Read by James K. White
XXXII - A Dish of Dunderfunk 5:52 Read by James K. White
XXXIII - A Flogging 13:27 Read by James K. White
XXXIV - Some of the Evil Effects of Flogging 11:25 Read by James K. White
XXXV - Flogging Not Lawful 11:41 Read by James K. White
XXXVI - Flogging Not Necessary 13:38 Read by James K. White
XXXVII - Some Superior Old "London Dock" From the Wine-Coolers of Neptune 6:05 Read by James K. White
XXXVIII - The Chaplain and Chapel In A Man-of-War 10:49 Read by James K. White
XXXIX - The Frigate In Harbour.--The Boats.--Grand State Reception of The Commodore 15:05 Read by James K. White
XL - Some of the Ceremonies in a Man-of-War Unnecessary and Injurious 4:26 Read by James K. White
XLI - A Man-of-War Library 6:55 Read by James K. White
XLII - Killing Time In A Man-of-War In Harbour 17:54 Read by James K. White
XLIII - Smuggling In A Man-of-War 15:24 Read by James K. White
XLIV - A Knave In Office In A Man-of-War 27:10 Read by James K. White
XLV - Publishing Poetry In A Man-of-War 4:23 Read by James K. White
XLVI - The Commodore on the Poop, And One of 'The People" Under the Hands of the Surgeon 13:20 Read by James K. White
XLVII - An Auction In A Man-of-War 16:51 Read by James K. White
XLVIII - Purser, Purser's Steward, And Postmaster In A Man-of-War 8:11 Read by James K. White
XLIX - Rumors Of A War, And How They Were Received By The Population Of The Neversink 6:57 Read by James K. White
L - The Bay of All Beauties 8:08 Read by James K. White
LI - One of "The People" Has An Audience With The Commodore And The Captain On The Quarter-Deck 7:58 Read by James K. White
LII - Something Concerning Midshipmen 14:25 Read by James K. White
LIII - Seafaring Persons Peculiarly Subject To Being Under The Weather.--The Effects Of This Upon A Man-Of-War Captain 7:18 Read by James K. White
LIV - The People Are Given "Liberty" 13:36 Read by James K. White
LV - Midshipmen Entering The Navy Early 5:56 Read by James K. White
LVI - A Shore Emperor On Board A Man-Of-War 12:14 Read by James K. White
LVII - The Emperor Reviews The People At Quarters 6:02 Read by James K. White
LVIII - A Quarter-Deck Officer Before The Mast 4:42 Read by James K. White
LIX - A Man-Of-War Button Divides Two Brothers 8:33 Read by James K. White
LX - A Man-Of-War's-Man Shot At 4:50 Read by James K. White
LXI - The Surgeon Of The Fleet 11:40 Read by James K. White
LXII - A Consultation Of Man-Of-War Surgeons 7:35 Read by James K. White
LXIII - The Operation 28:06 Read by James K. White
LXIV - Man-Of-War Trophies 6:24 Read by James K. White
LXV - A Man-Of-War Race 14:45 Read by James K. White
LXVI - Fun In A Man-Of-War 8:27 Read by James K. White
LXVII - White-Jacket Arraigned At The Mast 12:58 Read by James K. White
LXVIII - A Man-Of-War Fountain, And Other Things 10:11 Read by James K. White
LXIX - Prayers At The Guns 12:22 Read by James K. White
LXX - Monthly Muster Round The Capstan 13:24 Read by James K. White
LXXI - The Genealogy Of The Articles Of War 7:52 Read by James K. White
LXXII - "Herein Are The Good Ordinances Of The Sea, Which Wise Men, Who Voyaged Round The World, Gave To Our Ancestors, And Which Constitute The Books Of The Science Of Good Customs" --The Consulate Of The Sea 16:46 Read by James K. White
LXXIII - Night And Day Gambling In A Man-Of-War 13:11 Read by James K. White
LXXIV - The Main-Top At Night 21:50 Read by James K. White
LXXV - "Sink, Burn, And Destroy."--Printed Admiralty Orders In Time of War 12:43 Read by James K. White
LXXVI - The Chains 9:07 Read by James K. White
LXXVII - The Hospital In A Man-Of-War 19:08 Read by James K. White
LXXVIII - Dismal Times In The Mess 6:13 Read by James K. White
LXXIX - How Man-Of-War's Men Die At Sea 8:35 Read by James K. White
LXXX - The Last Stitch 7:52 Read by James K. White
LXXXI - How They Bury A Man-Of-War's Man At Sea 2:49 Read by James K. White
LXXXII - What Remains Of A Man-Of-War's Man After His Burial At Sea 3:15 Read by James K. White
LXXXIII - A Man-Of-War College 13:01 Read by James K. White
LXXXIV - Man-Of-War Barbers 13:58 Read by James K. White
LXXXV - The Great Massacre of the Beards 20:51 Read by James K. White
LXXXVI - The Rebels Brought To The Mast 5:07 Read by James K. White
LXXXVII - Old Ushant At The Gangway 12:36 Read by James K. White
LXXXVIII - Flogging Through The Fleet 10:12 Read by James K. White
LXXXIX - The Social State In A Man-Of-War 8:26 Read by James K. White
XC - The Manning Of Navies 27:08 Read by James K. White
XCI - Smoking-Club In A Man-Of-War, With Scenes On The Gun-Deck Drawing Near Home 14:55 Read by James K. White
XCII - The Last Of The Jacket 11:35 Read by James K. White
XCIII - Cable And Anchor All Clear 7:30 Read by James K. White
The End 6:34 Read by James K. White

Reviews

Old Navy


(4 stars)

If someone is interested in the American Navy early in our nationhood; it is an interesting book. Nothing the great tales of adventure like the books that I have read of him beforehand. My review is somewhat slanted because I am an American History buff.

White Jacket /Man-of-War


(5 stars)

The awesomeness of Monsieur Melville. Captivating onsite of intricacies the brutality & lack of human rights on Warships. Yet also the slight humor & dignity the men aboard were. Great insight of all this only Melville carries throughout the book.

Great series of vignettes from 19th century sea


(4 stars)

As with Melville’s Redburn, this is a series of vignettes as the author travels on a ship, tho this time he is a seasoned sailor and it is a military vessel. Well narrated here.


(4 stars)

If you've read Melvilles previous or later work, it's reminiscent of those. this is definitely autobiographical. Billy Budd echoes it and I'd say Redburn is a prequel...

Fantastic book, Great narration


(5 stars)

Not a huge fan of Melville but this book was great and the narration was fantastic.

this is a truly great reader, although he mispronounces a few


(4 stars)

nautical terms.,

wonderful account of life on board a man o'war. Superbly read


(5 stars)


(5 stars)

I love sea tales and this doesn't disappoint. Very well read!