The Onedin Line (by Cyril Abraham)

(Amazon UK link)

This isn't really my kind of book. I knew nothing about Cyril Abraham, and had never watched the TV series - although I had heard of it. But it was sitting on my shelf, and had been for some time. I have no idea where I acquired it. But every so often I like to branch out into a different genre of novel.

'The Onedin Line' is, unsurprisingly, about the Onedin family. Robert Onedin inherits his father's shop as the story opens. His brother James wants to buy a boat; their sister Elizabeth hankers after riches and love.

Apparently this is just the first book of a series (subtitled, 'The Shipmaster'). But I thought there was rather too much business and shipping discussion, and wasn't inspired to read any more. However I did find it interesting in places, and kept reading to the end. 

Recommended in a low-key way if you're interested in the topic.

The book is now well out of print, though widely available second-hand. The television series, made in the 1970s, is available on DVD.