William Henry Giles Kingston (1814-1880) was the son of a merchant in Oporto, where he spent much of his youth. His books are mainly written for young boys. One of his early ones, Peter the Whaler (1851), was successful and was followed by more than 150 similar books which had simple plots and were full of adventures and escapes. They tend to have a high moral tone. He also made numerous translations of other authors works, including Jules Verne, which remain standards to the present day. His books went through many editions and revisions, and continued to be published well into the 20th century. Many of his novels are not copyright in many countries and some are available as free eBooks in the online store..
Age of Sail: Fiction
AOS Naval Fiction
Series: Three Officers
The Three Midshipmen : Three school friends join the Royal Navy
The Three Lieutenants : The Friends fight slaving in the Caribbean
The Three Commanders : Action in East Africa, the Crimea and the Pacific.
The Three Admirals : Further adventures of the friends and their young followers
Series: n/a
Old Jack: A Man-of-War's-Man and South-Sea Whaler : An old sailor's account of his own adventures, during times of peace and of war, in many parts of the world
Marmaduke Merry, The Midshipman: or My Early Days at Sea : The memoirs of a midshipman during the Napoleonic wars
Hurricane Hurry: or, The Adventures of a Naval Officer Afloat and on Shore : A Royal Naval officer participates in the American war of Independence
True Blue: or, The Life and Adventures of a British Seaman of the old School : True Blue, born on a Royal Navy ship, serves all his life at sea, participating in various notable events.
Ben Burton; or, Born and Bred at Sea : Ben Burton's story from birth to a senior Naval rank
Salt Water; The Sea Life and adventures of Neil D'Arcy, the Midshipman : The adventures of a young boy who joins the Royal Navy as a midshipman
Will Weatherhelm; or the Yarn of an Old Sailor, about his early life and adventures : Maritime adventures of a Shetlander before and during the Napoleonic wars
Ronald Morton; or, The Fire Ships: A story of the Last Naval War : A story of a Shetland families inheritance.
Paul Gerrard, the Cabin Boy : The adventures of a Cabin Boy
Adrift in a Boat : Adventures of a Midshipman and his friend
Sunshine Bill : Adventures in the West Indies
The Child of the Wreck; or, the Loss of the Royal George : Based on the life of a survivor of the loss of the Royal George
Saved from the Sea; Or, The Loss of the Viper, and her Crew's Saharan Adventures : Adventures of a shipwrecked crew
The Boy who sailed with Blake : Adventures around the career or Admiral Blake
Paddy Finn; or, The Adventures of a Midshipman Afloat and Ashore : The adventures of a Midshipman
The Heir of Kilfinnan: A Tale of the Shore and Ocean : The story of a naval officer and his eventual inheritance.
From Powder Monkey to Admiral - A Story of Naval Adventure : A boys rise through the naval ranks
John Deane of Nottingham - Historic Adventures by Land and Sea : A fictionalised biography
The Boatswain's Son: a tale of the sea : A 14 year old is promoted to Midshipman after distinguishing himself in battle (short story)
The Story of Nelson : A story about Nelson (short story)
AOS Pirate Fiction
Series: n/a
The Pirate of the Mediterranean : A Greek Pirate who preyed mostly upon Italian, Greek and Turkish vessels
AOS Other Nautical Fiction
Series: n/a
The Voyages of the Ranger and Crusader : The stories of a troopship to India and an emigrant ship to New Zealand.
A Voyage Round the World : Adventures by sea and land, mainly set in South America, the South Sea Islands and Japan
Peter the Whaler : Adventures in the Arctic Regions and other parts of the World
The South Sea Whaler : The story of the loss of the Champion and the adventures of her crew
Additionally Kingston published several short stories which appeared in Ainsworth's Magazine (thanks to Dr. Charles G. Waugh for this information).
- "The Black Slaver" v. 14, 1848
- "The Cavern of Panama; or, the Pirate's Treasure" v. 15, 1849
- "The Demon Pilot" v. 11, 1847
- "The Father's Curse" v. 11, 1847
- "Jack Dory, The Free Trader" v. 19, 1851
- "Jonathon Johnson's Second Voyage" v. 11, 1847
- "Pepe the Pirate" v. 12, 1847
Non-Fiction
AOS Naval Non-Fiction
Series: n/a
The San Fiorenzo and her Captain : A factual account of one ship's experiences during the mutiny at the Nore
Captain Cook, his Life, Voyages and Discoveries : A Biography of the great Captain Cook
How Britannia Came to Rule the Waves : A history of the British Navy to 1876.