Richard Woodman


Captain Richard Martin Woodman LVO is an English novelist and naval historian who retired in 1997 from a 37-year nautical career, mainly working for Trinity House, to write full-time.

Writing

His main work is 14 novels about the career of Nathaniel Drinkwater, and shorter series about James Dunbar and William Kite, but he also has written a range of factual books about 18th century and WW2 history. These include a trilogy of studies of convoys in the Second World War and a five volume history of the British Merchant Navy. Unlike many other modern naval historical novelists, such as C.S. Forester or Patrick O'Brian, he has served afloat. He went to sea at the age of sixteen as an indentured midshipman and has spent eleven years in command. His experience ranges from cargo-liners to ocean weather ships and specialist support vessels as well as yachts, square-riggers, and trawlers.
Woodman is a regular correspondent for the shipping newspaper Lloyd's List and continues his close association with the sea as a keen yachtsman. He also serves on the Corporate Board of Trinity House. He has won several awards including the Society for Nautical Research's Anderson Medal in 2005 and the Marine Society's Harmer Award in 1978.

Honours

Woodman was appointed Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order in the 2014 New Year Honours for his services to Trinity House.

Books

Nathaniel Drinkwater series

  1. An Eye of the Fleet
  2. A King's Cutter
  3. A Brig of War
  4. The Bomb Vessel
  5. The Corvette
  6. 1805
  7. Baltic Mission
  8. In Distant Waters
  9. A Private Revenge
  10. Under False Colours
  11. The Flying Squadron
  12. Beneath the Aurora
  13. The Shadow of the Eagle
  14. Ebb Tide

    William Kite trilogy

  15. The Guineaman
  16. The Privateersman
  17. The East Indiaman

    James Dunbar novels

  18. Waterfront
  19. Under Sail

    Kit Faulkner novels

  20. A Ship for the King
  21. For King or Commonwealth
  22. The King's Chameleon

    Other fiction

  1. Neptune's Trident
  2. Britannia's Realm
  3. Masters Under God
  4. More Days, More Dollars
  5. Fiddler's Green