Frederick Marryat
The Poacher; or, Joseph Rushbrook is a novel by Frederick Marryat, a British Royal Navy officer and writer known for his adventure tales, particularly those set at sea. Published in 1841, this work diverges from Marryat’s usual nautical themes and instead focuses on rural England, exploring social issues and the life of an orphaned boy turned poacher.The novel follows the life of Joseph Rushbrook, a young boy left orphaned and forced to fend for himself in the harsh realities of early 19th-century England. After being mistreated by those who should have cared for him, Joseph turns to poaching-a crime punishable by severe penalties at the time-to survive.As he grows, Joseph faces numerous hardships, including run-ins with the law, moral dilemmas, and struggles with societal prejudice. The story examines themes of justice, redemption, and social inequality, as Joseph navigates a world where the poor are often pushed into crime simply to survive.While not as famous as Marryat’s sea novels (Mr. Midshipman Easy, The Children of the New Forest), The Poacher remains an interesting exploration of class and survival in rural England. It reflects Marryat’s broader concerns with social justice and the struggles of the underprivileged.About the AuthorCaptain Frederick Marryat CB FRS (10 July 1792 - 9 August 1848) was a Royal Navy officer and novelist. He is noted today as an early pioneer of nautical fiction, particularly for his semi-autobiographical novel Mr Midshipman Easy (1836). He is remembered also for his children’s novel The Children of the New Forest (1847). In addition, he developed a widely used system of maritime flag signalling, known as Marryat’s Code. From 1832 to 1835, Marryat edited The Metropolitan Magazine. Additionally, he kept writing novels; his biggest success came with Mr Midshipman Easy in 1836. He lived in Brussels for a year, travelled in Canada and the United States, and moved to London in 1839, where he was in the literary circle of Charles Dickens and others. He was in North America in 1837 when rebellion broke out in Lower Canada, and served with the expeditionary force sent to suppress it.Marryat’s novels are typical of their time, with concerns of family connections and social status often overshadowing the naval action. He based much of his fiction on his 25 years’ experience at sea. Among those who admired his works were Mark Twain, Joseph Conrad, and Ernest Hemingway. As the first nautical novels, they served as models for 20th century works by C. S. Forester and Patrick O’Brian. These also were set in the time of Nelson and told of young men rising through the ranks due to their successes as naval officers.Marryat was also known for short writings on nautical subjects. These short stories, plays, pieces of travel journalism, and essays were published in The Metropolitan Magazine, and many were later collected in book form as Olla Podrida.Marryat’s 1839 Gothic novel The Phantom Ship contained 'The White Wolf of the Hartz Mountains'. This featured the first female werewolf to appear in a short story.In 1839, Marryat also published his Diary in America, a travelogue that reflects his criticisms of American culture and society. The book and the author were both subject to acts of violence. The book and Marryat’s effigy were each burned in public.Controversy arose among Marryat’s readers. Some criticized him for careless writing, others admired his vivacity about life at sea. His later novels were generally for the children’s market, including his most famous novel today: The Children of the New Forest, published in 1847 and set in the countryside round the village of Sway, Hampshire... (wikipedia.org)
