The Mariner's Mirror Podcast

The true story of Mary Ann Patten, a nineteen-year-old woman who, in the summer of 1856, took command of a clipper ship and navigated it around Cape Horn. What drives someone to leave behind security, reputation, and the expectations of society to sail into the unknown? In this episode, we explore To The Edge of the World with author Tilar Mazzeo—a gripping true story of adventure, obsession, and the irresistible pull of the sea. We discuss the extraordinary life at the heart of this book: a woman who refused to accept the limits placed on her and instead chose a life defined by risk, freedom, and relentless determination. Through treacherous waters, isolation, and moments of triumph and despair, Mazzeo paints a vivid portrait of what it means to chase a dream when the world insists you shouldn’t. Her journey is as much an inner reckoning as it is a physical voyage to the farthest reaches of the globe. Along the way, we discuss the book’s rich historical context, the emotional costs of ambition, and the complicated line between courage and obsession. This episode asks big questions about independence, belonging, and why the call of adventure can be so powerful that it demands everything in return. Whether you’re drawn to true stories of exploration, fascinated by lives lived outside convention, or simply curious about what lies beyond the horizon, this conversation will take you right to the edge of the world—and what it means to live there. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode explores the fascinating history of the Glenlee, a tall ship built in Glasgow 1896 and restored by the Clyde Maritime Trust. Originally a cargo ship, the Glenlee survived fifteen voyages around Cape Horn and later served as a Spanish Navy training vessel during the fascist dictatorial rule of Francisco Franco. After being neglected, she was rescued and restored, showcasing Scotland's maritime heritage. To find out more Dr Sam Willis spoke with Lauren Henning, the Glenlee's learning and museum manager. They discuss the ship's construction, her role in various maritime adventures, links with Spain's fascist history, and her significance in Glasgow's maritime past. The conversation also highlights the ship's educational programs and the efforts to preserve its authenticity. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr Sam Willis meets Katie Daysh, author of the acclaimed Nightingale & Courtney series. Her novels—rich with atmosphere, character, and emotional depth—have quickly earned a devoted following, and today we explore the world she’s so vividly created. Katie shares the inspirations behind her central figures, Hiram Nightingale and Arthur Courtney, exploring their powerful bond, the tensions of command, and the inner battles that shape them. We discuss the themes that give her books their distinct voice: trauma and recovery, the complexity of leadership, class and expectation, forbidden love, and the search for identity in an unforgiving world. Her stories shine a light on voices often overlooked in naval fiction, adding layers of humanity and nuance. We also explore the fascinating historical setting of her work—the Royal Navy of the last quarter of the eighteenth century, a period of revolution and shifting social structures. It’s an age of empire and upheaval, where duty and desire collide and where every decision at sea could mean survival or disaster. Katie brings this era to life with meticulous historical detail and a modern sensitivity that makes the past feel immediate and enthralling.

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Hubert Sagnières studies, collects, and publishes works on early explorers and has himself completed numerous explorations: In 2024, he piloted a single-engine plane on a circumnavigation of the globe, honoring the centenary of the first around-the-world flight in 1924 by the Douglas “Chicago” aircraft. He has traveled in the Indonesian archipelago, visiting remote islands and has spent time with the Dayak tribes of Borneo and the Mentawai people of Siberut Island. He has completed over 20 expeditions to the Canadian Arctic, many in very harsh winter conditions and has explored many remote Arctic regions such as the shores of Baffin Island, Ellesmere Island, and Axel Heiberg Island. In this episode we discuss Hubert's latest book 'For Glory, Not Gold: Expeditions Through Arctic Lands 1818-1876', a remarkable volume which chronicles ten major Arctic expeditions undertaken between 1818 and 1875, following the bold journeys of explorers from the United States, England, Scotland, Ireland, and France. These seafaring pioneers ventured into the ice and the unknown in pursuit of the elusive Northwest Passage. Drawing from the original journals and travel narratives of figures such as Sir Edward Parry, Sir John Ross, Sir John Franklin, Joseph René Bellot, John Rae, Sir Francis Leopold McClintock, Elisha Kent Kane, Charles Francis Hall, and Sir George Nares—along with the legendary voyage of the HMS Investigator—the book offers an intimate, firsthand look at their extraordinary quests. It features illustrations, engravings, maps, and rare documents selected from the author’s own collection of historic works. More than a record of exploration, this volume reminds us that beyond the commercial ambitions tied to northern trade routes, the Arctic and the North Pole have long stirred the human imagination—calling forth the daring nineteenth-century expeditions of explorers driven by an unquenchable urge to discover new worlds. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we explore the magic behind the Aubrey–Maturin novels—often hailed as the greatest naval fiction series ever written—and uncover what makes Patrick O’Brian’s storytelling so enduring, vivid, and beloved.

Dr Sam Willis speaks with Dean King, O’Brian’s acclaimed biographer and one of the foremost experts on the author’s life and work.

Together, we delve into the rich themes that define the books: the complex friendship between Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin; the interplay of duty, loyalty, and personal conscience; the transformative nature of life at sea; and the fine balance O’Brian strikes between high adventure and intimate human drama. We look at how he blends naval action with music, science, medicine, espionage, natural philosophy, and the deep emotional landscapes of his characters.

Dean also guides us through the thrilling and turbulent world of the Napoleonic Wars—an era of global conflict, revolutionary change, and unprecedented naval innovation. It’s a period bursting with dramatic sea battles, political intrigue, scientific discovery, and the human costs of empire, all rendered with O’Brian’s unmatched historical precision and wit.

Packed with insights into O’Brian’s craft, influences, and the real history behind the novels, this episode is a must-listen for long-time fans and newcomers alike.

We also speak with Peter Leech, who runs the hugely popular Patrick O'Brian Appreciation Society on Facebook, one of those rare online communities that genuinely reflects the spirit of the books it celebrates. It’s warm, knowledgeable, generous, and filled with people who love to share insights, nautical lore, historical tidbits, and favourite passages with genuine enthusiasm. The group balances deep expertise with a hugely welcoming approach, making it a place for newcomers just discovering Aubrey and Maturin while offering a treasure chest of scholarship, humour, and camaraderie for long-time readers...a finer crew of enthusiasts would be hard to find.
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