If you want a great book to read which is historical faction, set in the 19th C, about the story of a naval captain (who became an admiral and invented the term forecasting for weather (amongst many other things) and a certain naturalist, called Darwin; then you want to read '
This thing of darkness' by Harry Thompson. This book which was incredibly well researched and accurate-and i proved that for myself by doing my own research because i got so into the book...let me know what you think!