Jim Hawkins of Treasure Island is probably the most famous boy to go to sea. Less is known about his real life counterparts - the boys who joined the Georgian Navy. Many were orphaned, delinquent or just seeking adventure and saw a life at sea as an escape from a bleak and miserable existence on land. Roland Pietsch shows us the lives of boys who typically ended up as ships' servants.
Seafarer, Autumn 2010

Differing from mainstream naval histories of this period, this work is definately one for naval historians, amateur or professional, Recommended.
Nautical Magazine - Sept 09

The book is lavishly illustrated, with some very impressive double-page spreads. Hardly any page is without a picture or diagram of some sort, each well chosen to illustrate the text. This is a very impressive piece of work – a high quality monograph that does full justice to its subject. Kirsch has produced an essential read for anyone interested in naval warfare in the age of sail.
www.historyofwar.org