Naporra's Omweg

More about the book

In 1757, Georg Naporra began chronicling his life, resulting in a unique autobiography that offers a detailed look at life aboard a Dutch East India Company ship. Discovered by historian Roelof van Gelder in the Rotterdam Maritime Museum, Naporra’s writings reveal his experiences as a sailor from his youth through his time at sea. Born into a free farming family in East Prussia, Naporra left for Amsterdam and joined the East India Company, eventually surviving voyages to the Dutch East Indies and back, unlike many of his comrades. Van Gelder reconstructs the division of labor on board, the dangers faced by the crew, and the relationships between officers and men, drawing on Naporra’s observations, including the week’s menu served to the crew. While discreet about the prevalence of sodomy and its punishments, Van Gelder provides insight into this aspect of life at sea. Naporra often lamented his life’s circumstances, yet his journey to the merchant navy is compellingly narrated. Feeling out of place on his father’s farm and unsuccessful as a merchant's assistant, he was drawn to the allure of the Orient and the promise of wealth. Ultimately, he became a prosperous merchant in Danzig, likely trading in spices. Although the second part of Naporra's autobiography is missing, Van Gelder’s extensive historical knowledge and engaging writing style vividly convey Naporra's later life, making it feel as if he is sharing his story d