Truly great sailing novels are few and far between, but fortunately there are a few gems out there that are really worth seeking out.
The Riddle of the Sands is perhaps the most obvious example. Widely recognised as a classic novel, it is a brilliant tale of espionage and intrigue, and it was also made into a very good movie, too. It is also notable for its author – Erskine Childers had a fascinating life and his story is worth a read for anyone interested in Irish history or politics.
Another novel that received broad critical acclaim is Outerbridge Reach by Robert Stone. Described by John Banville as a “tough, elegant, alarming novel”, he also says that “Stone writes superbly about the sea” before going on to compare it with works by Don DeLillo and John Updike – high praise indeed.
And if you like modern classics then Lila by Robert M. Pirsig could be for you. The sequel to his famous and hugely successful book Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. The New York Times reckons that it is an “endlessly stimulating sail through the cosmos of modern philosophy”.
If Pirsig’s book sounds a little heavy, then there are some excellent thrillers available – pacy, enjoyable page-turners. Bernard Cornwell is well known for his huge bestsellers (like the Sharpe series of novels), and his sailing novels are entertaining in just the same way. And if you enjoy these, then Sam Llewellyn’s sailing novels will likely be perfect for you too. Probably the most prolific author of sailing fiction, Llewellyn is frequently described as the Dick Francis of sailing novels, using his sailing knowledge in just the same way as Francis used his understanding of horse racing.
If you’re looking for something a little different, then you could do a lot worse than seeking out a copy of Luke Rhinehart’s book, Long Voyage Back. Famous for his novel The Dice Man, this sailing novel is a post-apocalyptic adventure that deals with human endurance and the desire to survive, and is described by Time Out as “a tremendous work of fiction – utterly gripping”.
In addition to all these, there are a few others worth a look. If you are interested in the America’s Cup, then Warwick Collins’ books will be right up your street; or there are the thrillers by Christine Kling that are exciting and fun; and, finally, there are a few other boat or water related novels that, whilst not necessarily sailing-related, are still superb and well worth your time.
Sailing Novels – A-Z by Author
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Tidewater Tales
John Barth
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The Sail
Landon Beach
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The Butterfly Effect
by Alex Blackwell
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The Naked Truth
by Daria Blackwell
A murder mystery at sea, set in the Atlantic Islands and the Caribbean
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The Voyage
Philip Caputo
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The Riddle of the Sands
by Erskine Childers
A bona fide classic, The Riddle of the Sands turns up on pretty much every list of sailing novels. A wonderful espionage novel, it provides plenty of tension and twists, and is definitely one that every sailor will enjoy.
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Challenge
by Warwick Collins
To be fair, the America’s Cup could be used as documentary proof that truth is stranger than fiction (it just isn’t always as exciting as fiction…). So if you want the best of both worlds, then Warwick Collins’ trilogy is just what you’re looking for.
And if you’re looking for further recomendations for this series, then check out this review from the Sailing Anarchy forums.
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New World
by Warwick Collins
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Death of an Angel
by Warwick Collins
The final part of Warwick Collins’ America’s Cup trilogy.
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The Sailing Thrillers
by Bernard Cornwell
Bernard Cornwell is an undisputed master thriller writer. He has written numerous best-sellers, and these sailing novels pack all the page-turning punch of his best fiction. You can buy the collection here, or the books are available individually as listed below.
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Scoundrel
by Bernard Cornwell
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Wildtrack
by Bernard Cornwell
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Stormchild
by Bernard Cornwell
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Crackdown
by Bernard Cornwell
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Sea Lord
by Bernard Cornwell
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The Repo
Bill Eidson
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Drift
by Frankk Fatt
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The Getaway
by J.M. Hartwig
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I Am Pilgrim
by Terry Hayes
OK. This isn’t actually a sailing-related novel. But the main protaganist is a Laser sailor. Read my full review here.
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Storm Warning
Jack Higgins
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Three Men in a Boat
by Jerome K. Jerome
If you haven’t read Three Men in a Boat then you need to rectify that oversight immediately. One of the funniest books (if not the funniest book) ever written.
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AKA
by Tristan Jones
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Circle of Bones
by Christine Kling
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Dragon’s Triangle
by Christine Kling
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Knight’s Cross
by Christine Kling
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The Celtic Ring
Bjorn Larsson
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Dead Reckoning
by Sam Llewellyn
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Blood Orange
by Sam Llewellyn
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Death Roll
by Sam Llewellyn
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Deadeye
by Sam Llewellyn
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Terror Submerged
Harold W. Long
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Before the Wind
Jim Lynch
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The Storm Prophet
by Hector MacDonald
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Life of Pi
Yann Martel
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Voyage to the North Star
by Peter Nichols
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Master and Commander
Patrick O’Brien
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Sail
by James Patterson
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Lila
by Robert Pirsig
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Swallows and Amazons
Arthur Ransome
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Long Voyage Back
Luke Rhinehart
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The Shipkiller
Justin Scott
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Lake Success
by Gary Shteyngart
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Outerbridge Reach
Robert Stone
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Force 12
James Thayer
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Coming About
by Roger Vaughan
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Coming Again
Roger Vaughan
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Floaters
by Joseph Wambaugh
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