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Book synopsis

"White Jacket or the World in a Man-of-War" is a compelling semi-autobiographical novel by Herman Melville that offers a detailed and often critical examination of life aboard a United States Navy frigate. Drawing from Melville's own experiences as a common sailor, the narrative follows the titular protagonist, named for his distinctive white coat, as he navigates the rigid hierarchies and harsh discipline of a nineteenth-century man-of-war. The book serves as both a gripping adventure on the high seas and a powerful social commentary on the naval justice system of its time, particularly the practice of flogging.

Through vivid descriptions of daily routines, the interpersonal dynamics among the crew, and the atmospheric pressures of life at sea, "White Jacket" provides a panoramic view of a floating society. Melville masterfully blends realism with philosophical reflection, exploring themes of authority, identity, and the loss of individual liberty within a military machine. Regarded as a significant precursor to his masterpiece "Moby-Dick," this work remains an essential piece of American maritime literature, celebrated for its authentic portrayal of the sailor's life and its influential advocacy for naval reform.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

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Book details

• Full title: White Jacket
• Subtitle: The World in a Man-of-War
• Author: Herman Melville
• Language: English
• Binding: Hardback
• Number of pages: 406
• EAN: 9781026080931
• ISBN: 1026080932
• ID: 52540315
• Publisher: Tradd Street Press
• Weight: 745 g
• Dimensions: 234 × 156 × 24 mm
• Date of publishing: 14. February 2026

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